Overview
The math below itemizes every line a deputy registrar will charge you - Minnesota doesn't run DMV offices; titles and registrations are processed by deputy registrar offices operating under the Department of Public Safety's Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS). Two quirks worth knowing before you're at the counter: a car 10 model years or older worth under $3,000 owes a flat $10 in lieu of the 6.875% tax, and roughly half of Minnesota's 87 counties tack on a wheelage tax of up to $20 a year.
01 - Official fees
Minnesota tax, title & license fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Motor vehicle sales tax (MVST) | 6.875% | of price minus trade-in |
| In-lieu tax (10+ yrs old, under $3,000) | $10 | replaces the 6.875% rate |
| Collector/Classic/Street Rod/Pioneer in-lieu tax | $150 | flat, regardless of value |
| Title fee | $8.25 | |
| Transfer tax | $10.00 | flat, separate from MVST |
| Public Safety Vehicle fee | $3.50 | |
| Technology surcharge | $2.25 | |
| Filing fee | $12.00 | title transactions |
| Plate fee | $15.50 | new plates |
| Registration tax (1st year) | $10 + value × 1.575% | depreciates yearly, $20 minimum from year 10 |
| County wheelage tax | $0–$20/yr | roughly half of MN's 87 counties |
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 to title and register a vehicle in Minnesota
- 1
Get the signed-over title from the seller (or let the dealer handle the paperwork).
- 2
Bring the title, a completed Application to Title/Register a Vehicle (PS2000), proof of insurance, and ID to any deputy registrar office.
- 3
The deputy registrar calculates MVST - or the $10/$150 in-lieu rate if your vehicle qualifies - plus the title, transfer, and filing fees.
- 4
Pay the first year's value-based registration tax and any county wheelage tax in the same visit.
- 5
Most in-state transactions issue plates on the spot; out-of-state title transfers sometimes mail plates afterward.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Minnesota vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Minnesota tax, title & license FAQ
How much is tax, title and license on a $30,000 car in Minnesota?
About $2,062.50 in MVST (6.875%), roughly $35.75 in title/transfer/filing/tech fees plus a $15.50 plate fee, and a first-year registration tax that depends on the vehicle's original base value - often $350–$500+ on a new $30,000 vehicle. Run your own numbers above.
Why is my registration so much more than my neighbor's older car?
Minnesota's registration tax is value-based and depreciates: it's $10 plus 1.575% of the vehicle's original base value in year one, then that base value steps down through 95%, 90%, 80%... each year, bottoming out at a $20 statutory minimum once a vehicle hits its 10th registration year.
What is the $10 in-lieu tax?
If a passenger vehicle is 10 model years or older and both your purchase price and its average value are under $3,000, the deputy registrar charges a flat $10 instead of 6.875% MVST.
Does trading in my old car lower the sales tax?
Yes - Minnesota MVST is charged on the sales price minus your trade-in allowance, the same principle as general sales tax.
What is the wheelage tax, and do I always pay it?
It's an optional county add-on of up to $20 a year that roughly half of Minnesota's 87 counties have adopted - Hennepin and Ramsey charge the full $20; Dakota charges $10. It shows up folded into your registration bill, not as a separate invoice.
Where do I actually go to title and register a car - is there a Minnesota DMV?
There's no DMV. Minnesota processes titles and registrations through deputy registrar offices, which are county- or city-run but licensed by DVS. Any deputy registrar statewide can handle an out-of-county transaction.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.