Official fees
Arkansas motorcycle fee chart
Motorcycle, 250cc and over
$7.00
annual
Motor-driven cycle, under 250cc
$3.00
annual
Title fee (new purchase)
$10.00
State sales tax - used, under $4,000
$0
same bands as cars
State sales tax - used, $4,000–$9,999.99
3.5%
State sales tax - used $10,000+ / new
6.5%
Local city & county tax
capped at first $2,500
of taxable price
Figures verified July 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your local Arkansas DFA Revenue Office - counties can add small local fees.
- Base registration
- $7/yr (250cc+)
- Under 250cc
- $3/yr
- Title fee
- $10.00
- Sales tax
- Same price bands as cars
- Local tax
- Capped at first $2,500
Overview
Buying a bike still triggers the same tax machinery as a car: the used-vehicle price bands (0% under $4,000, 3.5% from $4,000–$9,999.99, 6.5% at $10,000 and up) apply to motorcycles exactly as they do to cars and trucks, and local city/county tax is still capped at the first $2,500 of the price. Add the $10 title fee on a new purchase, and the numbers below cover it all.
Same state, other costs
More Arkansas vehicle costs
Common questions
Arkansas motorcycle fees FAQ
- Is $7 a year really the full registration cost for a motorcycle in Arkansas?
- That's the base state registration fee, yes - genuinely among the cheapest in the US. You'll still separately owe the annual county personal property assessment and tax, and the $10 title fee if you just bought the bike.
- Do motorcycles get the same used-vehicle tax bands as cars in Arkansas?
- Yes - a used motorcycle priced under $4,000 owes no state sales tax, one from $4,000 to $9,999.99 is taxed at the reduced 3.5% rate, and $10,000 and above pays the full 6.5%, identical thresholds to cars and trucks under Act 1013.
- What counts as 'under 250cc' for the cheaper $3 rate?
- Engine displacement as listed on the title or manufacturer specs - small-displacement bikes, scooters, and some mopeds fall into this motor-driven cycle category. Anything at or above 250cc pays the standard $7 motorcycle rate.
- Does the $2,500 local tax cap apply to motorcycle purchases?
- Yes - motorcycles are motor vehicles licensed for highway use, so the same rule that caps car and truck local tax to the first $2,500 of price applies to bikes too, regardless of the sale price.
- How do I register a custom-built or imported motorcycle in Arkansas?
- A DFA-assigned VIN and an approved inspection are required before the normal title-and-registration process at a Revenue Office, similar to any assembled or previously out-of-state vehicle. Budget extra time for the inspection appointment.
Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.
