How Much Does It Cost To Register a Car in Massachusetts in 2025
Massachusetts vehicle registration costs consist of base registration fees determined by vehicle type and plate preference, mandatory annual safety inspections, emissions testing requirements, title fees, and annual motor vehicle excise taxes collected by local municipalities. The state operates on both annual and biennial registration periods depending on vehicle classification.
Base Registration Fees by Vehicle Type
Massachusetts uses a comprehensive classification system for vehicle registration with fees varying by vehicle type, plate style, and registration period. The Massachusetts RMV fee schedule outlines current fees effective May 2025.
Passenger Vehicles
Massachusetts passenger vehicles are registered biennially with fees based on plate type:
| Plate Type | Registration Fee | Special Fee | Total Fee | Renewal Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Passenger | $60.00 | - | $60.00 | Biennial |
| Reserved Passenger | $60.00 | $40.00 | $100.00 | Biennial |
| Vanity Passenger | $30.00 | $50.00 | $80.00 | Annual |
| Year of Manufacture | $30.00 | $20.00 | $50.00 | Annual |
Passenger Special Plates (Charitable Organizations)
Massachusetts offers numerous specialty plates supporting charitable organizations, all requiring biennial registration:
| Organization Type | Registration Fee | Special Fee | Total Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALS One | $60.00 | $40.00 | $100.00 |
| Basketball Hall of Fame | $60.00 | $40.00 | $100.00 |
| Blackstone Valley | $60.00 | $40.00 | $100.00 |
| Cape & Islands | $60.00 | $50.00 | $110.00 |
| Choose Life | $60.00 | $40.00 | $100.00 |
| Conquer Cancer | $60.00 | $40.00 | $100.00 |
| Cure Breast Cancer | $60.00 | $40.00 | $100.00 |
| Firefighters Memorial | $60.00 | $40.00 | $100.00 |
| Fish & Wildlife | $60.00 | $40.00 | $100.00 |
| Olympic Spirit | $60.00 | $50.00 | $110.00 |
| Pan-Mass Challenge | $60.00 | $40.00 | $100.00 |
| Red Sox | $60.00 | $40.00 | $100.00 |
| UMASS | $60.00 | $40.00 | $100.00 |
Government Plates
| Plate Type | Registration Fee | Special Fee | Total Fee | Renewal Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor's Council | $30.00 | $20.00 | $50.00 | Annual |
| House of Representatives | $30.00 | $20.00 | $50.00 | Annual |
| Senate | $30.00 | $20.00 | $50.00 | Annual |
| US Congress | $30.00 | $20.00 | $50.00 | Annual |
| US Senate | $30.00 | $20.00 | $50.00 | Annual |
Medical and Disability Plates
| Plate Type | Registration Fee | Special Fee | Total Fee | Renewal Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disabled | $60.00 | - | $60.00 | Biennial |
| Emergency Vehicles | No Fee | - | No Fee | Annual |
| Medical Doctor | $60.00 | $40.00 | $100.00 | Biennial |
Military Plates
| Plate Type | Registration Fee | Special Fee | Total Fee | Renewal Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disabled Veteran | No Fee | - | No Fee | Biennial |
| Bronze Star | No Fee | - | No Fee | Biennial |
| Medal of Honor | No Fee | - | No Fee | Annual |
| Purple Heart | No Fee | - | No Fee | Biennial |
| Veteran | $60.00 | $40.00 | $100.00 | Biennial |
| National Guard | $60.00 | $40.00 | $100.00 | Biennial |
Other Passenger Plates
| Plate Type | Registration Fee | Special Fee | Total Fee | Renewal Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antique | $30.00 | $20.00 | $50.00 | Annual |
| Antique Vanity | $30.00 | $50.00 | $80.00 | Annual |
| Electric | $60.00 | - | $60.00 | Biennial |
| Ham Radio Operator | $30.00 | $20.00 | $50.00 | Annual |
| Limited Use | $60.00 | - | $60.00 | Biennial |
| Low Speed | $60.00 | - | $60.00 | Biennial |
Commercial Vehicles
Massachusetts commercial registration fees are calculated based on vehicle weight:
Commercial Normal (Up to 5,000 pounds)
- Fee Structure: $40.00 per 1,000 pounds
- Renewal Period: Biennial
- Snow Removal: Annual registration (expires September 30th)
Commercial Normal (Over 5,000 pounds)
- Fee Structure: $20.00 per 1,000 pounds
- Renewal Period: Annual
Commercial Reserved
- Same base fees as normal commercial
- Additional Fee: $40.00 (up to 5,000 lbs) or $20.00 (over 5,000 lbs)
Commercial Vanity
- Base Fee: $20.00 per 1,000 pounds
- Vanity Fee: $50.00
- Renewal Period: Annual
Motorcycles
| Plate Type | Registration Fee | Special Fee | Total Fee | Renewal Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Motorcycle | $20.00 | - | $20.00 | Annual |
| Reserved Motorcycle | $20.00 | $20.00 | $40.00 | Annual |
| Antique Motorcycle | $20.00 | $20.00 | $40.00 | Annual |
| Vanity Motorcycle | $20.00 | $50.00 | $70.00 | Annual |
| Year of Manufacture | $25.00 | $20.00 | $45.00 | Annual |
Other Vehicle Types
Buses (per seat including driver)
- 7 seats or less: $6.00 per seat (biennial)
- 8 seats or more: $8.00 per seat (biennial)
- DPU: $2.00 per seat (biennial)
Trailers
- Minimum Fee: $20.00 annually
- Weight-based: $20.00 per 1,000 pounds
- Semi-trailers: $300.00 (5-year registration)
Specialty Vehicles
- Auto Home Normal: $50.00 annually
- Ambulance: $25.00 annually
- School Bus: $20.00 biennially
- Taxi: $60.00 annually
- Moped: $40.00 biennially
Local and Municipal Fees
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
Massachusetts requires all municipalities to collect annual motor vehicle excise tax at a uniform statewide rate. The motor vehicle excise tax system applies the same rate across all cities and towns.
Statewide Excise Tax Rate:
- $25.00 per $1,000 of vehicle valuation
- Applied uniformly across all 351 Massachusetts municipalities
- No local variations or additional municipal fees
Excise Tax Calculation: Vehicle valuation is determined by the manufacturer's list price adjusted for age:
- Year 1: 50% of manufacturer's list price
- Year 2: 60% of manufacturer's list price
- Year 3: 65% of manufacturer's list price
- Year 4: 70% of manufacturer's list price
- Year 5: 75% of manufacturer's list price
- Year 6 and older: 100% of manufacturer's list price
The remaining Massachusetts cities and towns do not charge local registration fees beyond the uniform excise tax requirement.
Late Excise Tax Payment Fee
When vehicle owners are delinquent on excise tax payments, the RMV charges an additional $20.00 processing fee to remove the non-renewal status from registration records.
Mandatory Processing Fees
Registration Transaction Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Amend Registration | $25.00 |
| Duplicate Registration | $25.00 |
| Registration Gift Transfer | $25.00 |
| Transfer Registration | $25.00 |
| Reinstatement (Insurance Cancellation) | $50.00 |
| Reinstatement (Other Reasons) | $100.00 |
| Replacement Plate | $10.00 |
Inspection Fees
Massachusetts requires annual safety inspections for all registered vehicles:
| Vehicle Type | Inspection Fee |
|---|---|
| Motor Vehicle Annual Inspection | $35.00 |
| Motorcycle Annual Inspection | $15.00 |
| Commercial Vehicle Inspection | $35.00 + labor |
| 7D Inspection (Bi-annual) | $35.00 |
Dealer and Service Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Dealer Registration (minimum) | $100.00 |
| Additional Dealer Plates | $20.00 each |
| Repair Shop Registration | $100.00 |
| Transport Registration | $100.00 |
Regional Variations and Special Requirements
Statewide Inspection Requirements
Massachusetts requires annual safety and emissions inspections for all registered vehicles. Unlike many states, Massachusetts does not have county-specific emissions testing areas—requirements apply statewide based on vehicle specifications.
Emissions Testing Requirements
The Massachusetts Vehicle Check program requires emissions testing for:
Vehicles Subject to OBD Testing:
- Model year 2011 and newer passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs
- Model year 2011 and newer light-duty diesel vehicles (GVWR ≤ 8,500 pounds)
- Model year 2011 and newer medium-duty diesel vehicles (GVWR 8,501-14,000 pounds)
- Model year 2011 and newer medium-duty non-diesel vehicles (GVWR 8,501-14,000 pounds)
Vehicles Subject to Opacity Testing:
- Model year 1984 and newer medium/heavy-duty diesel vehicles (GVWR ≥ 10,001 pounds) without OBD systems
Emissions Testing Exemptions:
- Vehicles manufactured before model year 2011
- Light-duty diesel vehicles (GVWR < 8,500 pounds) before model year 2011
- Medium-duty vehicles either before model year 2011 or 15+ years old
- New vehicles delivered to Massachusetts owners
- Motorcycles and mopeds
- Electric vehicles
- Tactical military vehicles
Commercial Vehicle Requirements
Commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVWR require specialized commercial inspections that satisfy both state and federal DOT requirements. Not all inspection stations perform commercial inspections.
Out-of-State Inspection Requirements
Massachusetts requires out-of-state verification forms when vehicles are operated outside the state during inspection periods, with specific timeframes for reinspection upon return.
Title Fees
Massachusetts requires certificates of title for most vehicles. The RMV title fee structure includes:
Standard Title Services
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Certificate of Title | $75.00 |
| Duplicate Certificate of Title | $25.00 |
| Amend Title | $25.00 |
| Add/Delete Lienholder | $25.00 |
Specialty Title Services
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Salvage Title | $50.00 |
| Reconstructed Title | $75.00 |
| Recovered Theft Title | $75.00 |
| Owner/Prior Owner Retained Title | $75.00 |
| Salvage Inspection | $50.00 |
| Mass Assigned VIN Application | $50.00 |
Title Search and Record Services
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Lienholder Search | $5.00 |
| Title History Search | $5.00 |
| Photocopy of Title Application | $10.00 |
Current registration requirements and fee schedules are maintained by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle inspection information is available through Mass Vehicle Check. Motor vehicle excise tax details are provided by Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
Massachusetts operates RMV branch offices and AAA partner locations throughout the state for vehicle registration services. Many registration renewals can be completed online through the Mass.gov portal, and the RMV Contact Center provides assistance at (857) 368-8000.
