Official fees
Massachusetts motorcycle fee chart
Motorcycle registration
$20
renews every year, not every 2 years
Motorcycle inspection sticker
$15
annual
Certificate of title (new purchase)
$75
Sales/use tax (new purchase)
6.25%
NADA clean trade-in floor applies to private sales
Municipal excise (annual, separate bill)
$25 / $1,000 of MSRP
same schedule as cars
Figures verified July 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with the Massachusetts RMV - counties can add small local fees.
- Registration
- $20/yr
- Renews
- Every year (not 2)
- Inspection
- $15/yr
- Title (new purchase)
- $75
- Sales tax
- 6.25% + book-value floor
Overview
Buying a bike triggers the same tax rules as a car: 6.25% sales tax, with the NADA clean trade-in book-value floor applying to private-party motorcycle sales the same way it does to cars, plus the flat $75 title fee. One motorcycle-specific step that doesn't touch the registration bill: Massachusetts requires a Class M license endorsement and DOT-approved helmet to ride, verified separately from anything the RMV charges here.
Same state, other costs
More Massachusetts vehicle costs
Common questions
Massachusetts motorcycle fees FAQ
- How much is motorcycle registration in Massachusetts per year?
- $20 for registration plus $15 for the annual inspection - $35 a year to the RMV and inspection station combined, not counting the separate annual excise bill from your city or town.
- Why does a motorcycle renew every year when cars renew every 2 years?
- Massachusetts simply sets a shorter registration cycle for motorcycles - 1 year instead of 2. The $20 fee is lower per transaction than a car's $60, but because it comes around twice as often, the annualized cost isn't far off from a car's $30/year equivalent.
- Does the book-value tax rule apply to a private motorcycle sale?
- Yes - the same 830 CMR 64H.25.1 rule that taxes private car sales on the higher of price or NADA clean trade-in value applies to motorcycles too. A private-party bike sale gets compared against its own book value, not just your receipt.
- Do motorcycles get inspected the same way as cars?
- Same annual requirement, cheaper fee: $15 instead of $35, checking lights, brakes, tires, and exhaust rather than the full car safety-and-emissions combination. It's due every 12 months regardless of your registration renewal date.
- Are mopeds and scooters registered like motorcycles in Massachusetts?
- If it's capable of more than 30 mph or has an engine over 50cc, yes - same $20 annual registration and title process. Slower mopeds may qualify for a limited moped registration instead; check with the RMV before assuming the full motorcycle process applies.
- Do motorcycles owe the annual excise tax too?
- Yes - motorcycles are billed the same municipal excise as cars, at $25 per $1,000 of MSRP on the same age-based depreciation schedule, mailed separately by your city or town.
Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.
