AutoTaxCalculatorHow Wyoming registration fees are calculated
Wyoming registration = 3% × (age percentage × factory price) + $30 state fee. A new car with a $40,000 factory price pays $750 in its first year and $210 from its sixth year on.
Under W.S. 31-3-101, each registration carries a county registration fee and a state registration fee. The county fee does most of the work: it's 3% of a share of the car's factory price plus the value of any special equipment, with a $5 minimum. That share falls each year:
| Year of service | Share of factory price | County fee ($40,000) | With $30 state fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st year | 60% | $720.00 | $750.00 |
| 2nd year | 50% | $600.00 | $630.00 |
| 3rd year | 40% | $480.00 | $510.00 |
| 4th year | 30% | $360.00 | $390.00 |
| 5th year | 20% | $240.00 | $270.00 |
| 6th year and later | 15% | $180.00 | $210.00 |
A car of the current model year is always treated as being in its first year of service, regardless of when you bought it. So a 2026 model bought in late 2026 pays the full 60% rate.
What "factory price" means
The factory price is the manufacturer's suggested retail price for the vehicle's make, model and trim when new, not counting federal excise taxes or transportation costs. It's recorded on the title, so it doesn't change when the car is resold. A used car bought for $15,000 is still charged on its original MSRP, reduced only by the year-of-service percentage. Special equipment added to the vehicle is included in the base.
Did Wyoming change registration fees in 2026?
Not for passenger cars. House Bill 30 in the 2026 session would have cut the county fee for older vehicles to 10% of factory price in the seventh year and 5% from the eighth year. It failed introduction in the House on February 10, 2026, so the 15% floor from year six onward still applies.
Electric and plug-in hybrid fees
Wyoming adds a yearly decal fee for vehicles that use little or no gasoline: $100 for an all-electric vehicle and $50 for a plug-in hybrid. The decal carries the bucking horse and rider emblem, and it's charged on top of the county and state fees.
Sales tax when you title a purchase
The county clerk won't deliver a Wyoming title until you show a receipt for the sales or use tax due on the purchase. Wyoming's state rate is 4%, and counties may add a local option tax. Enter your total local rate and the price in the calculator to include it. The title itself costs $15 for an original or a duplicate. A vehicle coming from another state needs a VIN inspection, which costs $10.
Worked examples
New $40,000 pickup in its first year
- County fee: $40,000 × 60% × 3% = $720.00
- State fee: $30.00
- Yearly registration: $750.00
Eight-year-old SUV with a $52,000 factory price, bought for $18,000 at 5% total tax
- County fee: $52,000 × 15% × 3% = $234.00, plus $30 state = $264.00 registration
- Sales tax: $18,000 × 5% = $900.00, plus the $15 title fee
- Total at the county: $1,179.00
Transfers and family registrations
When a vehicle moves between joint owners, or to a spouse, child, brother, sister or parent, the county treasurer can issue a new registration for $4 and you keep the same plates for the rest of the registration year. If you move your plates from a vehicle you sold to one you bought, you pay the new vehicle's fees less a credit for the unused part of the old registration. There's no refund if the old fee was higher.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Wyoming registration so expensive on a new car?
Because the county fee is based on 60% of the factory price in year one. On a $60,000 truck that's $1,080 before the state fee. It falls by more than half by year four.
Do I pay registration to the county or the state?
Both are paid at your county treasurer's office.
What does it cost to replace lost plates or stickers?
New plates after loss or damage cost $8, new validation stickers $6, and a duplicate registration certificate $4.
Sources
- Wyoming Statutes Title 31 (W.S. 31-3-101 registration fees, 31-3-102 miscellaneous fees) (PDF)
- Wyoming Legislature: 2026 HB0030, vehicle registration fees amendments (failed)
This calculator gives an estimate. Your county treasurer calculates the final amount. How we calculate