RegistryFee

EV Registration Fees in Rhode Island

Rhode Islandis one of the states that charges electric vehicles extra at registration — typically justified as replacing the gas taxes EVs don't pay. Here's exactly what it adds for a two-year-old $45,000 vehicle:

Fuel typeAnnual registration costvs. gas
Gas$50.00—
Plug-in hybrid$150.00+$100.00
Battery EV$250.00+$200.00

The EV-specific line items

  • Electric vehicle fee
    $200.00

Rhode Island registers passenger vehicles by weight, billed per two-year cycle: $30/yr up to 4,000 lbs, stepping up with weight, plus a $40-per-two-year DOT surcharge. The municipal car tax was fully phased out in 2022–2023. New for January 2026: EVs pay $200/yr, plug-in hybrids $100, and hybrids $50. The title fee is $52.50.

Rhode Island: common questions

How much is car registration in Rhode Island?

$30/yr for a car up to 4,000 lbs (about $60 per two-year cycle) plus a $40 DOT surcharge per cycle. Heavier vehicles pay more by weight.

Estimate your exact Rhode Island cost

Your vehicle

Registration due now
$100.00
Covers 2 years — averages $50.00 per year.
Each renewal (2 years)
  • Registration fee
    By weight
    $60.00
  • DOT surcharge
    $40 per 2-year cycle
    $40.00
One-time fees (first registration)
  • Title fee
    $52.50
One-time total: $52.50

Estimate only — actual fees are set by your state and county at the time of registration. Data last reviewed 2026-07-21.

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All figures computed from official fee schedules — sources: https://dmv.ri.gov/media/561/download · https://dmv.ri.gov/registrations-plates-titles/registration/registration-title-fees — last reviewed 2026-07-21.