Overview
Layer on your county's wheel tax or surtax - dozens of Indiana counties have adopted one, Marion County (Indianapolis) currently charges $77.50 combined for a passenger car, plenty of others charge nothing - and "registration" in Indiana is really four or five separate numbers added together. Pick your vehicle's original price class, its age, and your county below.
01 - Official fees
Indiana registration fees fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base registration (passenger vehicle) | $21.35 | |
| Transportation Infrastructure Improvement Fee | $15.00 | every vehicle, every year |
| Excise tax, Class I (oldest/cheapest) | $12.00 | |
| Excise tax, Class XVII ($42,500+, Year 1) | $532.00 | |
| County wheel tax / surtax | $0–$77.50+ | only where adopted |
| Electric vehicle supplemental fee | $221.00 | annual |
| Hybrid supplemental fee | $74.00 | annual |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How Indiana calculates your registration
- 1
Find the vehicle's original MSRP (window sticker price when new) - that sets its excise tax class.
- 2
Count how many registration years have passed since the model year - the excise tax drops as the vehicle ages.
- 3
Check whether your county has adopted a wheel tax or surtax; the BMV branch or myBMV shows the exact local add-on for your plate class.
- 4
Add the flat $21.35 base fee and $15 infrastructure fee - these never change with value or age.
- 5
If the vehicle is electric or hybrid, add the $221 or $74 supplemental fee on top of everything else.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Indiana vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Indiana registration fees FAQ
How much does it cost to register a car in Indiana?
For a gas-powered car with no county wheel tax: $21.35 base + $15 infrastructure fee + excise tax (anywhere from $12 to over $500 depending on the car's original price and age) - roughly $50 to $560+ a year. Add your county's wheel tax or surtax if it has one, and $221 or $74 more for an EV or hybrid.
What is the excise tax and why is mine so high?
It's Indiana's annual tax on owning the vehicle, based on its original MSRP sorted into one of the BMV's 17 price classes, and its age - newer, pricier vehicles pay the most, and the tax steps down every year until it hits a low floor. A nearly-new vehicle in the top class can owe over $500 in year one alone.
Does the excise tax use what I paid or the original sticker price?
The original manufacturer's suggested retail price when the vehicle was new - not your purchase price if you bought it used, and not today's market value. Two identical-trim vehicles from the same model year land in the same excise class regardless of what either owner paid.
Which counties charge a wheel tax or surtax?
Dozens do, and rates vary widely - Marion County (Indianapolis) currently charges $77.50 combined for a passenger car, while a county like Hamilton adopted one decades ago and later rescinded it, charging nothing today. Check your specific county; the BMV lists current local rates by plate class.
Do trucks and RVs pay the same way?
The base fee differs by vehicle type and weight class - trucks and RVs carry their own base registration fees - but the same excise tax and county wheel tax/surtax framework applies on top. Heavier commercial trucks use a separate weight-based excise schedule entirely.
Is there a way to lower my excise tax?
Not by negotiating - it's set by class and age in state law, not by branch discretion. The only way it drops is time: every additional registration year moves the vehicle further down its class's schedule.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.