Overview
The one add-on to know about is the alternative-fuel vehicle (AFV) fee that took effect October 1, 2025: $110 a year for a fully electric car under 6,000 lbs, $85 for a plug-in hybrid, and $60 for a regular (non-plug-in) hybrid, replacing the gas-tax revenue those vehicles don't generate. Trailers scale by weight instead of a flat rate. Use the calculator below for your exact vehicle.
01 - Official fees
Delaware registration fees fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger car / truck | $40.00 | per year |
| Motorcycle | $15.00 | per year |
| Trailer, 0–1,000 lbs | $15.00 | per year |
| Trailer, 1,001–2,000 lbs | $20.00 | per year |
| Trailer, 2,001–5,000 lbs | $40.00 | per year |
| Fully electric vehicle surcharge | $110.00/yr | ≤6,000 lbs GVW |
| Plug-in hybrid surcharge | $85.00/yr | ≤6,000 lbs GVW |
| Hybrid (non-plug-in) surcharge | $60.00/yr | ≤6,000 lbs GVW |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How to register a vehicle in Delaware
- 1
Get Delaware liability insurance in place before you go - the DMV verifies it on the spot.
- 2
Bring the title (or dealer paperwork), proof of insurance, and ID to a DMV service center.
- 3
New-to-Delaware vehicles in their first 7 model years usually only need a VIN check, not a full inspection.
- 4
Pay the base registration fee plus any alternative-fuel surcharge that applies.
- 5
Plates and registration card are issued the same visit for most passenger vehicles.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Delaware vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Delaware registration fees FAQ
How much does it cost to register a car in Delaware?
$40 a year for a standard passenger car or truck - flat, statewide, no county fee. A fully electric car adds $110 a year, a plug-in hybrid adds $85, and a regular hybrid adds $60, all for vehicles up to 6,000 lbs GVW.
Why don't Delaware's fees vary by county the way other states' do?
Delaware only has three counties and runs vehicle registration entirely through the state DMV rather than county tax offices, so there's never been a mechanism for counties to add their own vehicle fee on top. What you see in the Delaware Code is what everyone pays.
What's the new alternative-fuel fee about?
Effective October 1, 2025 under 21 Del. C. §2151A, Delaware added an annual surcharge on EVs, plug-in hybrids, and regular hybrids to replace the gas-tax revenue those vehicles don't pay into the Transportation Trust Fund. It's billed alongside the regular $40 registration, not instead of it.
How much is it to register a heavier truck or a trailer over 5,000 lbs?
Trailers step up in $5-per-1,000-lb increments past the first 1,000 lbs ($15 base). Commercial trucks and heavier alternative-fuel vehicles move into higher weight brackets - up to $900 a year for an alt-fuel vehicle over 26,000 lbs - on a separate weight-tiered schedule from the passenger-car rate.
Do motorcycles pay the alternative-fuel surcharge too?
Yes, but it's a flat $15 a year regardless of weight class - electric, plug-in, or otherwise - on top of the $15 base motorcycle registration.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.