Official fees
Pennsylvania motorcycle fee chart
Motorcycle registration - 1 year / 2 years
$25.00 / $50.00
Moped / motor-driven cycle - 1 year / 2 years
$11.00 / $22.00
County fee for local use
$5.00/yr
~25 of 67 counties
Title fee (new purchase)
$72.00
Sales tax (new purchase)
6% – 8%
dealer trade-in credit applies; private sales do not
Figures verified July 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with an authorized PennDOT agent, notary, or online messenger service (PennDOT itself has no walk-in tag counters) - counties can add small local fees.
- Motorcycle, 1 yr
- $25.00
- Motorcycle, 2 yr
- $50.00
- Moped/motor-driven cycle
- $11.00/yr
- Title (new purchase)
- $72.00
- Sales tax
- 6% – 8%
Overview
Buy a bike and the same title-and-tax rules apply as any vehicle purchase: a $72 title fee and Pennsylvania's 6% sales tax (7% in Allegheny County, 8% in Philadelphia), based on where you register it, with a dealer trade-in credit but none for private sales. One PA-specific note riders should know separately from the registration bill: motorcycles need their own PennDOT-approved safety inspection annually, same as cars, at a licensed private garage rather than a dedicated 'motorcycle-only' inspection network.
Same state, other costs
More Pennsylvania vehicle costs
Common questions
Pennsylvania motorcycle fees FAQ
- How much is motorcycle registration in Pennsylvania per year?
- $25 for a standard year, or $30 in a county that charges the extra $5 local-use fee. Two-year registration runs $50 ($55 with the county fee), locking in the rate for both years.
- Do motorcycles pay the same sales tax as cars in Pennsylvania?
- Yes - the same 6%–8% structure by registration county, with the same dealer trade-in credit and the same fair-market-value scrutiny on suspiciously low-priced private sales.
- Are mopeds and motor-driven cycles cheaper to register than full motorcycles?
- Yes - mopeds and motor-driven cycles register at $11 a year (or $22 for two), less than half a full motorcycle's $25 rate, because PennDOT classifies them separately based on engine size and speed.
- Do motorcycles need the annual safety inspection too?
- Yes - Pennsylvania requires an annual safety inspection for motorcycles just like cars, performed at a licensed PennDOT-approved station. There's no separate motorcycle-only inspection network; most full-service garages that inspect cars also inspect bikes.
- Is there an EV fee for electric motorcycles in Pennsylvania?
- PennDOT's published Road User Charge schedule applies to electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids registered in the standard passenger classes - it does not list a separate electric-motorcycle rate, so check directly with PennDOT if you're titling one, since the fee schedule can be updated.
- How do I register a custom-built or imported motorcycle?
- You'll need PennDOT to assign a VIN and complete the standard title and registration process through an authorized agent, the same 20-day title deadline and $72 fee as any other purchase, plus any inspection requirements for a vehicle that didn't arrive with a manufacturer's certificate of origin.
Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.
