Late Car Registration Penalty by State (2026)
Late-registration penalties vary widely: some states charge a flat $10–$25 fee, others go per day (Oklahoma: $1/day up to $100) or per month, and several charge nothing at the DMV — they just ticket you for driving on expired tags. Find your state below.
Verified July 2026 from official DMV/revenue sources. Penalties in some states are set at the county or municipal level — confirm with your local office.
| State | Late registration penalty |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $15 flat plus interest (20-day grace on new purchases) |
| Alaska | $10 late fee |
| Arizona | $8 first month + $4/month, capped at $100 |
| Arkansas | $3 per 10 days late, capped at $100 |
| California | 10–60% of the license fee plus flat reg + CHP late fees, by lateness |
| Colorado | $25/month, capped at $100 |
| Connecticut | $10 administrative late fee |
| Delaware | $20 + $1/day (about $40 cap) |
| Florida | $5–$15 flat, by registration-tax bracket |
| Georgia | 10% of ad valorem tax + 25% of tag fees (min $5) |
| Hawaii | ~$16 flat (varies by county), plus back tax for missed years |
| Idaho | No state renewal late fee (late title transfer is $20) |
| Illinois | $20 administrative fee after a 30-day grace |
| Indiana | $15 administrative penalty |
| Iowa | 5% of the renewal fee per month (min $5), after a 3-month window |
| Kansas | No state late fee (set by county) |
| Kentucky | 3% first 30 days, then 10%, plus a $2 clerk fee and interest |
| Louisiana | 5% of tax per 30 days, capped at 25%, plus interest |
| Maine | No state fee within a 30-day grace (municipal penalties vary) |
| Maryland | No flat state fee; unpaid debt goes to collections (17% fee) |
| Massachusetts | No fee schedule — expired registration is a criminal offense |
| Michigan | $10 late fee |
| Minnesota | 10% surcharge (1–12 months late); full back tax beyond |
| Mississippi | 5% + 5% per 30 days (max 25%); +$250 if over 60 days late |
| Missouri | $5 registration penalty; separate title penalty $25/30 days (cap $200) |
| Montana | ~10% of the renewal fee (min ~$5) if over 30 days |
| Nebraska | No admin late fee (expired operation is a misdemeanor) |
| Nevada | $6/month plus a 10% penalty on the Governmental Services Tax |
| New Hampshire | No statewide late fee (town fees vary) |
| New Jersey | No state late fee (expired-operation fine up to $100) |
| New Mexico | $10 flat under 31 days; 75% of the registration fee after |
| New York | $10 late fee (scaled for 60+ days late) |
| North Carolina | $15 / $20 / $25 flat, by lateness |
| North Dakota | No fixed state late fee |
| Ohio | $10 late fee after a 30-day grace |
| Oklahoma | $1/day, capped at $100 |
| Oregon | No state late fee (traffic citation only) |
| Pennsylvania | No state late fee (citation about $75) |
| Rhode Island | $10 late fee |
| South Carolina | $10 / $25 / $50 / $75 flat, by lateness |
| South Dakota | Excise-tax interest + late-title fees (mainly on new purchases) |
| Tennessee | $10 late penalty (county-administered) |
| Texas | 20% of the registration fee if cited for late registration |
| Utah | Late fees vary by county beyond a 60-day new-resident grace |
| Vermont | No admin late fee (citation only) |
| Virginia | $10 late fee (waived if renewed within 30 days) |
| Washington | No state late fee (citation only) |
| West Virginia | No statewide late fee (some localities charge) |
| Wisconsin | No late fee |
| Wyoming | No state late fee |
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I register my car late?
It depends on your state. Some charge a flat late fee ($10–$25), some charge per day (Oklahoma is $1/day up to $100) or per month, and several charge nothing at the DMV but ticket you for driving on expired tags. A handful treat expired registration as a criminal offense.
Which states have no late registration fee?
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Vermont, and a few others don't charge a DMV administrative late fee — but driving on expired tags is still a traffic violation with its own fine.
Is there a grace period for registration renewal?
Some states offer one (Colorado and Illinois give about a month; Iowa gives a three-month window), but many don't. Even where there's no grace period, penalties often only kick in after the plates actually expire.