Overview
Once that's sorted, the money side is comparatively simple: Maryland doesn't charge sales tax on vehicles at all - instead you pay a 6.5% titling excise tax straight to the MVA (raised from 6% on July 1, 2025), a $200 title fee, and two-year registration priced by your vehicle's weight class ($241 to $383, plus a $40-a-year EMS surcharge baked in). There's no county tax office here - everything routes through an MVA branch, a licensed tag-and-title service, or myMVA Online Services.
The calculator below adds it all up for your numbers, including the dealer trade-in credit (private sales don't get one) and the electric-vehicle surcharge. If you're buying used and the title isn't already in your name, budget for the inspection separately - it's paid to the inspection station, not the MVA.
01 - Official fees
Maryland tax, title & license fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Titling excise tax | 6.5% | of price or NADA book value, min. taxable value $640 |
| Title fee | $200 | $40 for mopeds/scooters |
| Security interest filing (lien) | $40 | per lien recorded |
| Registration, ≤ 3,500 lbs | $241 / 2 yrs | |
| Registration, 3,501–3,700 lbs | $251 / 2 yrs | |
| Registration, > 3,700 lbs | $383 / 2 yrs | |
| EMS System surcharge | $40/yr | included in the registration figures above |
| Safety inspection (used/out-of-state cars) | $75–$150 | paid to the inspection station, not the MVA |
| ZEV / PHEV surcharge | $250 / $200 per 2 yrs | electric / plug-in hybrid only |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with the Maryland MVA - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How to title and register a car in Maryland
- 1
If the vehicle is used or coming from out of state, get a Maryland Safety Inspection at a licensed station (certificate is good for 90 days).
- 2
Gather the signed-over title (or notarized Bill of Sale, form VR-181, for a private sale without a clean title assignment) and your insurance ID card.
- 3
Complete the Application for Certificate of Title (VR-005) - dealers do this for you on a dealer sale.
- 4
Bring everything to an MVA branch, a licensed tag & title service, or file online through myMVA if eligible.
- 5
Pay the 6.5% excise tax, $200 title fee, and two-year registration (plus any lien fee) in one transaction; plates are issued on the spot or by mail.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Maryland vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Maryland tax, title & license FAQ
How much is tax, title and tags on a $30,000 car in Maryland?
About $2,341 for a vehicle in the ≤3,500-lb class: $1,950 excise tax (6.5%), a $200 title fee, and $241 for two years of registration (which already includes the $40/yr EMS surcharge). Add $75–$150 if the car needs its ownership-transfer safety inspection.
Why does Maryland call it 'excise tax' instead of sales tax?
Because it technically isn't sales tax - Maryland vehicles are exempt from the state's general 6% sales tax and instead pay a separate 6.5% titling excise tax collected by the MVA when you title the car, not by the Comptroller. The end math is similar, but the paperwork, the agency, and some of the exemptions (like family gifts) are different.
Do I really need an inspection just to put a used car in my name?
Yes, unless you're exempt. Maryland requires a passing Maryland Safety Inspection any time a vehicle changes ownership or is titled here for the first time - it's not an annual requirement like some states' emissions programs, it's a one-time transfer gate. Spouse-to-spouse and parent-child transfers are exempt from the inspection (not just the tax); everyone else pays for one.
Is there any trade-in tax break in Maryland?
Only at a licensed dealer - the excise tax applies to your price minus the trade-in allowance, and if the trade-in equals or exceeds the purchase price, the excise tax due is $0. Private-party sales get no trade-in credit at all.
I just moved to Maryland - do I pay excise tax again?
You get a credit for vehicle tax you already paid in your previous state, but only if you title and register in Maryland within 60 days of establishing residency. Miss that window and the credit is forfeited - you'll owe the full 6.5% with no offset.
Is the Maryland EV excise tax credit still available?
Technically yes on paper (up to $3,000 for qualifying plug-in and fuel-cell vehicles titled before July 2027), but the MVA has confirmed FY2026 funding is exhausted - new applicants go on a waiting list with no guaranteed payout date. Don't count on it reducing your bill this year.
Where do I actually go to pay this - the county, like Texas?
No - Maryland has no county tax office role in vehicle titling. Everything is handled centrally by the MVA: a branch office, a licensed tag-and-title service (private businesses authorized to process MVA paperwork for a small fee), or myMVA Online Services for eligible renewals.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.