How much does it cost to register a car in Vermont?

A standard passenger auto registration in Vermont is $76 for one year or $140 for two years (2025). Vermont registration fees are flat by vehicle type and are not based on the vehicle's value or age, which makes them simpler to predict than in many other states.

Does Vermont charge a title fee?

Yes. Vermont charges a $35 title fee when you obtain a new title or transfer a title into your name — for example, after buying a vehicle. The title fee is separate from the annual registration fee and is paid once when ownership is established or changed.

How are Vermont truck registration fees calculated?

Truck registration in Vermont scales with the declared gross vehicle weight rather than a flat rate. Lighter trucks pay close to the passenger-auto fee, while heavier trucks pay progressively more, with an additional charge per 1,000 pounds above roughly 12,000 pounds. Always confirm the exact tier with the Vermont DMV for your specific weight.

Are registration fees based on the vehicle's value in Vermont?

No. Unlike some states that levy a value-based ad valorem or excise tax at registration, Vermont uses flat fees by vehicle type and, for trucks, by weight. The vehicle's purchase price affects the separate 6% purchase-and-use tax paid when you buy the car, not the annual registration fee.

Does Vermont add a county surcharge to registration?

No. Vermont vehicle registration is handled entirely at the state level through the Vermont DMV, and there is no additional county or municipal vehicle surcharge. The fee you pay is the state fee, so your estimate does not change based on which town you live in.

Vermont Vehicle Registration Fee Calculator

Email me this result

Get this tool's output sent to your inbox, plus one useful tool a week. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Registering a vehicle in Vermont is refreshingly predictable: rather than a value-based excise tax, Vermont charges flat registration fees by vehicle type, with trucks priced by weight. This calculator estimates your Vermont DMV registration cost for the term you choose, and adds the $35 title fee and any plate fee so you can budget the full counter total.

How it works

Vermont’s 2025 fee structure works like this:

Passenger auto — $76 for 1 year or $140 for 2 years.
Motorcycle — $48 for 1 year or $86 for 2 years.
Truck — priced by gross vehicle weight: lighter trucks pay near the auto fee, with the fee rising through weight tiers and adding roughly $19 per 1,000 lb above 12,000 lb.
Title fee — $35, paid when you title or re-title a vehicle.
Replacement plate — about $13 when needed.

The estimate simply sums the registration fee for your chosen type and term plus the optional title and plate fees.

Notes and example

Buying a used sedan and registering it for two years in Vermont costs $140 registration + $35 title = $175 at the counter, with no value-based component. A 9,500-lb pickup registered for one year falls into a higher truck tier (about $175) reflecting its weight.

Remember that the 6% Vermont purchase-and-use tax on the vehicle’s price is a separate charge paid when you buy — use the Vermont car sales tax calculator for that figure. Truck tiers above 12,000 lb and commercial classifications vary, so confirm your exact fee at dmv.vermont.gov before paying.