Overview
On top of the registration tax itself, every plate carries an $8 filing fee, a $2.25 technology surcharge, and a $1 administrative fee - about $11.25 that doesn't depend on your vehicle at all. Add a county wheelage tax (up to $20/year, adopted by roughly half of Minnesota's 87 counties) and, for EVs and plug-in hybrids, a dedicated surcharge that can run well above its stated minimum on pricier vehicles. Enter your numbers below.
01 - Official fees
Minnesota registration fees fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Registration tax | $10 + base value × 1.575% | depreciates yearly per schedule |
| Statutory minimum (year 10+) | $20 | |
| Filing fee | $8.00 | renewal transactions |
| Technology surcharge | $2.25 | |
| Administrative fee | $1.00 | |
| County wheelage tax | $0–$20/yr | roughly 40+ of 87 counties |
| BEV registration surcharge | greater of $150 or 0.5% × depreciated value | |
| PHEV registration surcharge | greater of $75 or 0.25% × depreciated value |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your local deputy registrar office (MN Driver and Vehicle Services) - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How Minnesota calculates your registration tax
- 1
Start from the vehicle's original base value - MSRP plus destination charge, not what you paid.
- 2
Apply the depreciation percentage for its current registration year (100% down to 25% across years one through nine).
- 3
Multiply by 1.575% (or 1.54% for vehicles continuously registered since before Nov. 16, 2020) and add the $10 base fee.
- 4
Compare the result to the $20 statutory minimum that applies from year ten on - whichever is higher is your tax.
- 5
Add the flat filing fee, technology surcharge, county wheelage tax if any, and an EV/PHEV surcharge if it applies.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Minnesota vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Minnesota registration fees FAQ
How is Minnesota's registration tax actually calculated?
Statute 168.013 sets it at $10 plus 1.575% of the vehicle's base value (MSRP + destination) for vehicles first registered on or after November 16, 2020 - older continuously-registered vehicles use a 1.54% legacy rate. The base value depreciates yearly: 100%, 95%, 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 25% across years one through nine.
What happens after year nine?
From the tenth registration year on, nearly every vehicle's calculated tax falls below Minnesota's $20 statutory minimum, so $20 becomes the effective tax - a 15-year-old car and a 25-year-old car often pay the identical $20.
My new EV's registration seems way higher than $150 - why?
The $150 (BEV) / $75 (PHEV) figures set in place January 1, 2026 are minimums, not flat fees. The actual surcharge is 0.5% (BEV) or 0.25% (PHEV) of the same depreciating base value used for the regular registration tax - on a new $55,000 EV that can compute to $275 or more.
What's the wheelage tax, and does every county charge it?
It's a county-option add-on capped at $20/year; roughly half of Minnesota's 87 counties have adopted it, including the full $20 in Hennepin and Ramsey counties and $10 in Dakota County. Counties that haven't adopted it add nothing.
Does the $20 minimum apply to every vehicle type?
It applies to passenger-vehicle registration tax specifically. Motorcycles use a separate flat $10 tax that never depreciates, and heavier trucks/trailers follow their own weight-based schedules not covered here.
Can I estimate my registration tax without knowing the exact MSRP?
DVS's own renewal notice already shows the calculated tax; for a rough estimate before buying, use the original window-sticker MSRP - not the negotiated price - since that's the number the formula actually uses.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.