Rhode Island Vehicle Registration Fee Calculator 2026

Below is the Complete Fees Chart and an In-Depth Explanation of how the costs are calculated for 2026.

How Rhode Island Registration Fees Are Calculated

Unlike states with a flat fee, Rhode Island’s formula consists of four main parts:

$$\text{Total Cost} = \text{Base Weight Fee} + \text{Surcharges} + \text{EV/Hybrid Fee (if applicable)} + \text{Title \& Tax}$$

1. Base Weight Fee: Determined by the gross vehicle weight (GVW).
2. DOT Surcharge: A fixed fee for highway maintenance (increased Jan 1, 2026).
3. Technology Fee: A fixed fee applied to every transaction.
4. EV/Hybrid Fee: A NEW annual fee for electric and hybrid vehicles (Effective 2026).

2026 Registration Fees Chart

Passenger Vehicles (2-Year Registration)

Most standard cars are registered for 2 years. The fees below include the 2-year weight fee.

Vehicle Weight (lbs)	2-Year Base Fee	DOT Surcharge	Tech Fee	Total Due
0 – 3,000	$60.00	$40.00	$3.50	$103.50
3,001 – 4,000	$80.00	$40.00	$3.50	$123.50
4,001 – 5,000	$96.00	$40.00	$3.50	$139.50
5,001 – 6,000	$112.00	$40.00	$3.50	$155.50
6,001 – 7,000	$128.00	$40.00	$3.50	$171.50
7,001 – 8,000	$140.00	$40.00	$3.50	$183.50
8,001 – 9,000	$156.00	$40.00	$3.50	$199.50
Over 9,000	+$16 per 1k lbs	$40.00	$3.50	Varies

Commercial Vehicles / Trucks (1-Year Registration)

Commercial plates are typically renewed annually.

Vehicle Weight (lbs)	1-Year Base Fee	DOT Surcharge	Tech Fee	Total Due
0 – 4,000	$34.00	$20.00	$3.50	$57.50
4,001 – 5,000	$40.00	$20.00	$3.50	$63.50
5,001 – 6,000	$48.00	$20.00	$3.50	$71.50
6,001 – 7,000	$56.00	$20.00	$3.50	$79.50

Motorcycles

Duration	Base Fee	DOT Surcharge	Tech Fee	Total Due
2-Year Reg	$26.00	$26.00	$3.50	$55.50

Additional Fees & Surcharges (The “Hidden” Costs)

New Electric & Hybrid Fees (Effective 2026)

If you drive an electric or hybrid vehicle, you must now pay an extra fee to offset lost gas tax revenue. This is added on top of the weight fees above.

Vehicle Type	Annual Fee	2-Year Cost (Added to Reg)
Battery Electric (BEV)	$200.00	+$400.00
Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV)	$100.00	+$200.00
Standard Hybrid	$50.00	+$100.00

Example: A 3,500 lb Tesla Model 3 would pay $123.50 (standard fees) + $400.00 (EV fee) = $523.50.

One-Time Fees (New Registration Only)

When registering a car for the first time (not a renewal), these fees apply:

• Title Fee: $53.50
• Sales Tax:7% of the purchase price (or NADA value, whichever is higher).
  • Trade-in Rule: Sales tax is calculated on the difference between the purchase price and trade-in value (for passenger cars).
• Lien Filing Fee: $53.50 (if financing the vehicle).

Special Plate Fees

• Preferred Plates (Vanity): +$60.00 (Initial) / +$60.00 (Renewal)
• Charity Plates: +$40.00 (Initial)

4. Calculation Example

Scenario: You bought a 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (Standard Hybrid, ~3,600 lbs) for $35,000. You are trading in a car worth $10,000.

1. Weight Fee (3,600 lbs): $80.00 (See Chart A)
2. DOT Surcharge: $40.00
3. Technology Fee: $3.50
4. Hybrid Fee: $100.00 ($50/year x 2 years)
5. Title Fee: $53.50
6. Sales Tax: ($35,000 – $10,000 Trade) × 7% = $1,750.00

Total Cost to Register:

$80.00 + $40.00 + $3.50 + $100.00 + $53.50 + $1,750.00 = $2,027.00

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