AutoTaxCalculatorMA vehicle registration cost
Registering a newly bought car in MA = 6.25% sales tax + $75 title + $60 passenger plate, then an excise bill from your town. A $40,000 car with a $10,000 trade-in comes to $2,010 at the RMV. The first year's excise on a $42,000 list price is about $945.
The RMV collects the registration, title and sales tax when you register. The motor vehicle excise is a separate local tax that your city or town bills later. If you don't pay it, the RMV flags your registration so it can't be renewed. The plate fees on this page come from the RMV's Schedule of Fees, revised May 2025, which lists every transaction and its fee.
Car registration cost in MA by plate type
| Plate | Reg fee | Special fee | Total | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger Normal | $60 | — | $60 | Every 2 years |
| Passenger Reserved | $60 | $40 | $100 | Every 2 years |
| Electric (passenger) | $60 | — | $60 | Every 2 years |
| Passenger Vanity | $30 | $50 | $80 | Annual, per the schedule |
| Year of Manufacture | $30 | $20 | $50 | Annual |
| Motorcycle Normal | $20 | — | $20 | Annual |
| Motorcycle Reserved | $20 | $20 | $40 | Annual |
Passenger Normal and Reserved fees are prorated every month. Motorcycle registration fees are cut in half on or after October 1. Commercial plates and trailers are priced by registered gross weight. Many charitable and special plates have their own special fee on top of the registration.
Other RMV registration fees
| Transaction | Fee |
|---|---|
| Certificate of title | $75 |
| Duplicate title / amend title | $25 |
| Transfer registration to another vehicle | $25 |
| Registration gift transfer (non-refundable) | $25 |
| Duplicate or amended registration | $25 |
| Replacement plate | $10 |
| Reinstatement after insurance cancellation | $50 |
| Clear a late-excise non-renew flag | $20 |
| Cancel an individual plate | $25 |
Veterans rated 100% disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pay no registration fee to issue, renew, duplicate or transfer a registration.
The excise you'll get after registering
Every registered vehicle owes the yearly motor vehicle excise to the city or town where it's kept: $25 per $1,000 of value. The value is a set percentage of the manufacturer's list price, which falls from 90% in the model year to 10% from the fifth year on. A car registered partway through the year is billed only for the months left. For the full rules, including abatements, see the Massachusetts sales tax and excise calculator.
Worked examples
$40,000 new car, $10,000 trade-in, list price $42,000, registered in January
- Sales tax: $30,000 × 6.25% = $1,875.00
- Title $75 + Passenger Normal plate $60
- At the RMV: $2,010.00
- Excise bill later: $42,000 × 90% ÷ 1,000 × $25 = $945.00
Moving your plate to a used car bought for $15,000 in September
- Sales tax $937.50 + title $75 + transfer $25 = $1,037.50
- Excise for September–December (4 months) on a third-year car listed at $30,000: $30,000 × 40% ÷ 1,000 × $25 × 4/12 = $100.00
Frequently asked questions
How often do I renew a Massachusetts registration?
Standard passenger plates renew every two years for $60. Several special types, including vanity and year-of-manufacture plates, are listed for annual renewal.
Why can't I renew my registration?
The most common reason is an unpaid excise bill. Pay the city or town first, then pay the RMV's $20 fee to remove the non-renew status.
What does a gift transfer cost?
The registration gift transfer fee is $25, non-refundable. The title fee and any sales tax rules for gifts still apply.
Sources
- Massachusetts RMV: Schedule of Fees (REV200, revised May 2025)
- Mass.gov: Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles Fees
- Mass.gov: A brief introduction to motor vehicle excise
This calculator gives an estimate. The RMV and your city or town calculate the final amounts. How we calculate