Use our free Vermont vehicle registration fee calculator to estimate registration, title, purchase and use tax, and EV fees in seconds.
Complete Fee Breakdown
First Registration| Base Registration (incl. Clean Air Fund fee) | $0.00 |
| Title Fee | $0.00 |
| Lien Recording Fee | $0.00 |
| New Vehicle Warranty Fee | $0.00 |
| Purchase & Use Tax | $0.00 |
| EV Infrastructure Fee | $0.00 |
| Late Penalty | $0.00 |
| Total Due | $0.00 |
Registering a vehicle in Vermont? Do not guess the cost. Use our free Vermont vehicle registration fee calculator above. It adds up your registration fee, title fee, purchase and use tax, and EV fee in seconds. You get one clear total before you ever visit the DMV. No sign-ups. No waiting. Just enter your details and see what you owe.
How to use the Vermont registration fees calculator?
Using the tool takes less than a minute. Here is how it works.
- Pick your mode at the top. Choose “First Registration” if you just bought a vehicle or moved to Vermont. Choose “Annual Renewal” if your tags are coming due.
- Select your vehicle type. Pick a passenger car, motorcycle, trailer, or truck by weight class from the drop-down menu.
- Select your fuel type. Choose gasoline or diesel, plug-in hybrid, or fully electric. Electric vehicles have an extra fee, so this step matters.
- Choose your term. One year or two years. Trailers can also pick five years.
- Enter the price. For a first registration, type the purchase price or the J.D. Power clean trade-in value. Add any trade-in credit you got.
- Answer the quick questions. Mark if a lien is being recorded and if the vehicle is new. The calculator adds the small fees for you.
- Read your total. You will see a full breakdown: registration, title, tax, and EV fee. You can print it, copy it, or share it.
That is it! The math happens instantly as you type.
How much is the registration fee for a vehicle in Vermont?
The base registration fee for a standard passenger car in Vermont is $91 per year. That price already includes the $2 Clean Air Fund fee. A two-year registration costs double the one-year rate.
Fees change based on what you drive. Here is the full list of one-year base rates used by our calculator:
- Passenger cars and trucks up to 6,099 lbs:Â $91 per year
- Motorcycles:Â $58 per year
- Trailers up to 1,500 lbs:Â $33 per year
- Trailers over 1,500 lbs:Â $63 per year
- Contractor’s trailers:Â $237 per year
- Trucks 6,100 to 7,099 lbs:Â $130 per year
- Trucks 8,100 to 9,099 lbs:Â $190 per year
- Trucks 10,100 to 11,099 lbs:Â $274.53 per year
- Trucks 15,100 to 16,099 lbs:Â $412.53 per year
- Trucks 20,100 to 21,099 lbs:Â $591.03 per year
- Trucks 26,100 to 27,099 lbs:Â $788.53 per year
Since January 1, 2025, fuel type also changes the price. A fully electric car or truck pays an extra $89 per year. A plug-in hybrid pays an extra $44.50 per year. This money goes to the EV infrastructure fund.
Remember, registration is only one part of a first-time total. You will also pay a $42 title fee, a 6 percent purchase and use tax, and small add-ons like a $14 lien fee or an $8 new vehicle warranty fee. For current rates, always check the official Vermont DMV fee schedule.
How are Vermont registration fees calculated?
Vermont builds your total from a few simple parts. Each part has its own rule.
Base registration. This is a flat fee set by vehicle type and weight, per 23 V.S.A. §361 and §367. Light passenger cars pay $91 per year. Heavy trucks pay more as weight goes up.
Term length. Multiply the base fee by the number of years. Two years costs exactly double one year for most classes.
Title fee. A flat $42, charged once at first registration.
Lien fee. $14 if a lender’s lien is recorded on the title.
New vehicle warranty fee. $8, only for brand-new vehicles.
Purchase and use tax. This is 6 percent of the purchase price or the J.D. Power clean trade-in value, whichever is greater. Your trade-in credit lowers the taxable amount. For trucks over 10,099 lbs, this tax is capped at $2,486. The Vermont Department of Taxes explains this tax in detail.
EV infrastructure fee. $89 per year for battery electric vehicles, or $44.50 per year for plug-in hybrids.
Late penalty. Good news here. The Vermont DMV charges $0 in late fees for renewals. But driving with expired tags can still get you a ticket, so renew on time.
Formula
Our Vermont vehicle registration fee calculator uses this exact logic:
Total Due = (Base Registration x Years) + Title Fee + Lien Fee + Warranty Fee + Purchase and Use Tax + (EV Fee x Years)
Where:
- Base Registration = the one-year rate for your vehicle type and weight
- Purchase and Use Tax = 6% x (greater of purchase price or J.D. Power value, minus trade-in credit)
- Tax cap = $2,486 maximum for trucks over 10,099 lbs
- EV Fee = $89 per year for electric, $44.50 per year for plug-in hybrid, $0 for gas or diesel
- Title Fee = $42 (first registration only)
- Lien Fee = $14 if a lien is recorded
- Warranty Fee = $8 if the vehicle is new
Example
Say you buy a used gas car for $35,000. You register it for one year, with no lien. Here is the math:
- Base registration: $91 x 1 year = $91
- Title fee: $42
- Purchase and use tax: 6% x $35,000 = $2,100
- Lien fee: $0
- Warranty fee: $0 (used vehicle)
- EV fee: $0 (gas car)
Total due: $91 + $42 + $2,100 = $2,233
Now picture the same car as a fully electric vehicle. The registration line becomes $91 + $89 EV fee = $180. Your total would be $2,322. Try both cases in the calculator above and watch the numbers change!
How often do you renew vehicle registration in Vermont?
You choose how often. Vermont lets most drivers renew for one year or two years. Trailer owners get a third option: a five-year registration.
Renewing is easy. You can do it online through the Vermont DMV, by mail, or in person. The state will usually send a renewal notice before your tags expire.
What if you forget? Vermont does not charge a late fee at the DMV. Still, an expired registration can earn you a traffic ticket on the road. Set a reminder, or use the renewal tab in our calculator to see your cost ahead of time.
FAQs
Are vehicle registration fees tax deductible in Vermont?
For most drivers, no. Vermont’s registration fee is a flat fee, not a tax based on your car’s value, so it does not qualify as a deductible personal property tax on your federal return. The 6 percent purchase and use tax is also not deductible for personal vehicles. If you use the vehicle for business, part of these costs may count as a business expense. Ask a tax professional about your situation.
How much does it cost to register a car in Vermont?
For a standard passenger car, registration costs $91 per year or double that for two years. A first-time registration costs more because it adds the $42 title fee and the 6 percent purchase and use tax. On a $35,000 car, the first-year total comes to about $2,233. Renewals cost only the registration fee, so $91 per year for most cars.
Why is Vermont car registration so expensive?
The registration fee itself is not the big cost. The 6 percent purchase and use tax is. On a $35,000 vehicle, that tax alone is $2,100. Your fees also fund specific programs. Two dollars of every registration goes to the Clean Air Fund, and electric vehicle owners pay extra toward road and charging infrastructure since they do not pay gas tax. The money keeps Vermont’s roads repaired and its air clean.
How much is tax, title, and license in Vermont?
Add three numbers together. Tax is 6 percent of the purchase price or J.D. Power value, whichever is higher. Title is a flat $42. License, meaning your registration and plates, is $91 per year for most cars. On a $35,000 car, that is $2,100 + $42 + $91, for a total of $2,233. Our calculator does this math for you instantly.
Can I estimate Vermont plate fees online?
Yes, and you are already in the right place. Use our Vermont vehicle registration fee calculator above. Your plates are included in the registration fee, so the total you see covers registration, plates, title, tax, and any EV fee. Enter your vehicle type, fuel type, and price. Your estimate appears in seconds, with no sign-up required.