RegistryFee

Cost to Register a Car After Moving to Minnesota

Moving to Minnesotameans re-titling and re-registering your vehicle as a new resident — and usually transferring your license and passing any required inspection first. Here's the full cost and the order to do it in, computed from Minnesota's current fee schedule.

One-time costs when you arrive

  • Title fee
    $8.25
  • One-time total$8.25

Your ongoing annual cost

For a typical three-year-old gas vehicle, expect about $475.50 per year — driving an EV changes that to $625.50. Minnesota's registration tax is value-based: 1.575% of your vehicle's base MSRP (for vehicles first registered since late 2020), multiplied by an age factor that starts at 100% and steps down to 10% in year ten — then a flat $20 from year eleven on. A new $45,000 vehicle owes about $700 in year one. Since January 2026 the EV surcharge is value-based too: 0.5% of depreciated MSRP with a $150 floor, and plug-in hybrids owe 0.25% with a $75 floor.

Inspection you'll need before Minnesota will register it

Minnesota does not require a safety or emissions inspection to register a car, so there's nothing extra to pass or pay for on that front.

Transfer your out-of-state driver's license

New residents also swap their license. In Minnesota a license runs $46.00 to transfer, then $41.00 to renew every 4 years, issued by the Minnesota DVS. A REAL ID-compliant license costs no extra. Do this before you register — most states want a local license or proof of residency on the registration application.

Registering in Minnesota: common questions

Why is Minnesota vehicle registration so expensive?

The registration tax is a value tax — 1.575% of the manufacturer's base MSRP, depreciating with age. It was raised from 1.285% by the 2023 transportation act, which is why renewals jumped for many owners in 2024.

Is Minnesota's registration tax deductible?

The value-based portion generally qualifies as a deductible personal property tax on a federal Schedule A. The $10 flat tax and filing fees do not.

How does Minnesota's EV surcharge work now?

Since January 1, 2026 it scales with vehicle value: the greater of 0.5% of your EV's depreciated MSRP or $150. Plug-in hybrids pay the greater of 0.25% or $75. The minimums are scheduled to drop to $100/$50 in July 2027.

Estimate your exact Minnesota cost

Your vehicle

Estimated annual cost
$475.50/ year
  • Flat registration tax
    $10.00
  • Value-based registration tax
    1.575% of base MSRP × 80% (year 4 factor)
    $441.00
  • Filing, technology & plate fees
    Statutory add-ons collected with renewal (approx.)
    $24.50
One-time fees (first registration)
  • Title fee
    $8.25
One-time total: $8.25

Estimate only — actual fees are set by your state and county at the time of registration. Data last reviewed 2026-07-16.

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All figures computed from official fee schedules — sources: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/168.013 — last reviewed 2026-07-16.