AutoTaxCalculatorHow much is car registration in Minnesota?
Minnesota registration tax = $10 + 1.575% of the MSRP × the age percentage for cars first registered in Minnesota on or after November 16, 2020. A new car with a $35,000 MSRP pays $561.25. By year 11 it's a flat $30.
Pair this page with our Minnesota car sales tax calculator and you have a full MN vehicle tax and title calculator: the 6.875% sales tax there, the registration tax here. Together they work as a tax, title and license calculator for MN. The Minnesota registration tax replaces a property tax on cars. The law says vehicles using public roads are taxed "in lieu of all other taxes," except local wheelage taxes. The tax is based on the manufacturer's suggested retail price, not on what you paid or what the car is worth today, and it shrinks on a fixed schedule as the car gets older.
The age schedule
The percentage of the MSRP that's taxed depends on the year of the vehicle's life:
| Year of vehicle life | % of MSRP taxed | Tax on a $35,000 MSRP |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100% | $561.25 |
| 2 | 95% | $533.69 |
| 3 | 90% | $506.13 |
| 4 | 80% | $451.00 |
| 5 | 70% | $395.88 |
| 6 | 60% | $340.75 |
| 7 | 50% | $285.63 |
| 8 | 40% | $230.50 |
| 9 | 25% | $147.81 |
| 10 | 10% | $65.13 |
| 11 and later | flat | $30.00 |
The amounts include the $10 base. The registrar uses the manufacturer's published list price, and options added separately aren't included.
Cars registered before November 16, 2020
Vehicles first registered in Minnesota before November 16, 2020 are taxed on 1.54% of the MSRP plus the destination charge, using the same age schedule. Newer registrations use 1.575% of the MSRP alone. In practice the two produce similar totals, because the slightly lower rate is applied to a slightly higher base. Tick the box in the calculator if your car falls in the older group.
Worked example
Renewing a 5-year-old car with a $35,000 MSRP
- Year 5 → 70% of MSRP: $35,000 × 70% = $24,500
- $24,500 × 1.575% = $385.88
- Registration tax: $10 + $385.88 = $395.88, plus any county wheelage tax and filing fee
Wheelage tax and other fees
Minnesota counties may impose a wheelage tax, which is collected along with the registration tax and shown separately on your renewal notice. Deputy registrar offices also charge a filing fee, and new plates or specialty plates add their own fees. These depend on your county and transaction, so add them from your notice.
Buying a car in Minnesota
When you buy a vehicle, the registration tax is separate from the motor vehicle sales tax you pay when you title it. Your first registration may be prorated to line up with the registration period the registrar assigns.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Minnesota registration so expensive on a new car?
The tax is based on the car's full MSRP in its first year. It drops each year, to 40% of the MSRP by year 8 and 10% by year 10.
Is the Minnesota registration tax deductible?
The value-based part of the registration tax can count as a deductible personal property tax on a federal return if you itemize. The $10 base and fixed fees don't. Our guide are vehicle registration fees tax deductible? covers every state.
What is the cheapest Minnesota registration tax?
$30 a year for passenger cars in their 11th year or later: the $10 base plus the flat $20.
Where can I get my exact Minnesota tab fees?
Your renewal notice lists them, and Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services offers an online estimator.
Sources
This calculator gives an estimate. Minnesota DVS or your deputy registrar calculates the final amount. How we calculate