How Much Does It Cost To Register a Car in New York in 2025
Vehicle registration costs in New York vary significantly based on vehicle weight, county of residence, and vehicle type. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) administers registration fees statewide, but local county use taxes and Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD) fees create substantial regional variations in total costs.
Base Registration Fees by Vehicle Type
Passenger Vehicle Registration Fees
New York passenger vehicle registration fees are based on vehicle weight and calculated for two-year periods. The fee schedule includes a minimum fee for vehicles with six or more cylinders or electric vehicles.
| Vehicle Weight (lbs) | Two-Year Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| 0 to 1,650 | $26.00 |
| 1,651 to 1,750 | $27.50 |
| 1,751 to 1,850 | $29.00 |
| 1,851 to 1,950 | $31.00 |
| 1,951 to 2,050 | $32.50 |
| 2,051 to 2,150 | $34.00 |
| 2,151 to 2,250 | $35.50 |
| 2,251 to 2,350 | $37.50 |
| 2,351 to 2,450 | $39.00 |
| 2,451 to 2,550 | $40.50 |
| 2,551 to 2,650 | $42.00 |
| 2,651 to 2,750 | $43.50 |
| 2,751 to 2,850 | $45.50 |
| 2,851 to 2,950 | $47.00 |
| 2,951 to 3,050 | $48.50 |
| 3,051 to 3,150 | $50.00 |
| 3,151 to 3,250 | $52.00 |
| 3,251 to 3,350 | $53.50 |
| 3,351 to 3,450 | $55.00 |
| 3,451 to 3,550 | $56.50 |
| 3,551 to 3,650 | $59.00 |
| 3,651 to 3,750 | $61.50 |
| 3,751 to 3,850 | $64.00 |
| 3,851 to 3,950 | $66.50 |
| 3,951 to 4,050 | $69.00 |
| 4,051 to 4,150 | $71.00 |
| 4,151 to 4,250 | $73.50 |
| 4,251 to 4,350 | $76.00 |
| 4,351 to 4,450 | $78.50 |
| 4,451 to 4,550 | $81.00 |
| 4,551 to 4,650 | $83.50 |
| 4,651 to 4,750 | $85.50 |
| 4,751 to 4,850 | $88.00 |
| 4,851 to 4,950 | $90.50 |
| 4,951 to 5,050 | $93.00 |
| 5,051 to 5,150 | $95.50 |
| 5,151 to 5,250 | $98.00 |
| 5,251 to 5,350 | $100.50 |
| 5,351 to 5,450 | $102.50 |
| 5,451 to 5,550 | $105.00 |
| 5,551 to 5,650 | $107.50 |
| 5,651 to 5,750 | $110.00 |
| 5,751 to 5,850 | $112.50 |
| 5,851 to 5,950 | $115.00 |
| 5,951 to 6,050 | $117.00 |
| 6,051 to 6,150 | $119.50 |
| 6,151 to 6,250 | $122.00 |
| 6,251 to 6,350 | $124.50 |
| 6,351 to 6,450 | $127.00 |
| 6,451 to 6,550 | $129.50 |
| 6,551 to 6,650 | $131.50 |
| 6,651 to 6,750 | $134.00 |
| 6,751 to 6,850 | $136.50 |
| 6,851 to 6,950 | $139.00 |
| 6,951 and over | $140.00 |
Special Note: Vehicles with six or more cylinders or electric vehicles have a minimum two-year fee of $32.50, regardless of weight.
Commercial Vehicle Registration Fees
Commercial vehicles weighing 18,000 pounds or less are charged using a formula of $3.60 per 500 pounds (rounded up), with fees rounded to the nearest 25 cents. The commercial fee schedule shows two-year registration fees:
| Vehicle Weight (lbs) | Two-Year Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| 0 to 500 | $7.00 |
| 501 to 1,000 | $14.50 |
| 1,001 to 1,500 | $21.50 |
| 1,501 to 2,000 | $29.00 |
| 2,001 to 2,500 | $36.00 |
| 2,501 to 3,000 | $43.00 |
| 3,001 to 3,500 | $50.50 |
| 3,501 to 4,000 | $57.50 |
| 4,001 to 4,500 | $65.00 |
| 4,501 to 5,000 | $72.00 |
| 8,001 to 8,500 | $122.50 |
| 8,501 to 9,000 | $129.50 |
| 12,001 to 12,500 | $180.00 |
| 15,001 to 15,500 | $223.00 |
| 17,501 to 18,000 | $259.00 |
Commercial vehicles weighing 18,001 to 80,000 pounds are registered annually with fees capped at $576.00.
Diesel Commercial Vehicle Surcharge
Diesel-powered commercial vehicles weighing 8,501 pounds or more pay an additional 3.25% fee under the Heavy Duty Vehicle Emissions Reduction Act. This surcharge is rounded to the nearest 25 cents.
Trailer Registration Fees
Trailer registration fees are calculated at $5.39 per 500 pounds (or fraction thereof) of maximum gross weight, with a minimum annual fee of $14.38. Fees are prorated daily based on registration date.
Local and County Fees
County Use Tax by Weight
Most New York counties outside of New York City impose vehicle use taxes based on vehicle weight:
Standard County Use Tax (Most Counties):
| Vehicle Weight | Annual Use Tax | Two-Year Use Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 3,500 lbs or less | $5.00 | $10.00 |
| 3,501 lbs or more | $10.00 | $20.00 |
The following counties charge the standard rates: Albany, Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Cortland, Erie, Franklin, Genesee, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Orleans, Oswego, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Schuyler, Steuben, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Wyoming, and Yates.
Higher County Use Tax Areas
Nassau County:
- All vehicle weights: $15.00 per year ($30.00 for two years)
Suffolk County and Westchester County:
- 3,500 lbs or less: $15.00 per year ($30.00 for two years)
- 3,501 lbs or more: $30.00 per year ($60.00 for two years)
New York City Counties (Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond):
- All passenger vehicles: $15.00 per year ($30.00 for two years)
Counties with MCTD Fees Only
Orange County:
- No county use tax
- MCTD supplemental fee only
Dutchess County, Putnam County, and Rockland County:
- Standard county use tax rates
- Plus MCTD supplemental fee
Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD) Supplemental Fee
Residents of the following 12 counties pay an additional MCTD supplemental registration fee:
MCTD Counties: Bronx, Dutchess, Kings (Brooklyn), Nassau, New York (Manhattan), Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond (Staten Island), Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester.
MCTD Fee: $25.00 per year ($50.00 for two years)
Processing and Administrative Fees
Mandatory Processing Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| License plates (new vehicle) | $25.00 |
| License plate transfer | $10.00 |
| Single plate (trailers/motorcycles) | $12.50 |
Title Fees
New York title fees are standardized statewide:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Title certificate | $50.00 |
| Duplicate title | $20.00 |
| Lien recording | $5.00 |
Regional Variations and Special Requirements
Commercial Vehicle Use Tax Variations
Commercial vehicles face different use tax rates by county:
Standard Commercial Use Tax (Most Counties):
- All weights: $10.00 per year ($20.00 for two years)
Higher Commercial Use Tax Areas:
- Nassau County: $40.00 per year ($80.00 for two years)
- Suffolk and Westchester Counties: $30.00 per year ($60.00 for two years)
New York City Commercial Vehicle Use Tax:
- Vehicles 10,000 lbs or less: $40.00 per year ($80.00 for two years)
- Livery and for-hire vehicles: $400.00 per year
Commercial Vehicle MCTD Surcharge
Most diesel-powered commercial vehicles weighing 8,501 pounds or more in MCTD counties pay an additional $25.00 annual MCTD supplemental registration fee.
These totals exclude sales tax, inspection fees, and any applicable penalties for late registration.
For current fee calculations and county-specific requirements, use the official New York DMV fee calculator or visit the New York State DMV website.
