Official fees
Vermont tax, title & license fee chart
Purchase & Use Tax
6%
of price or J.D. Power/NADA value, whichever is higher, minus trade-in
Certificate of title
$42.00
Lien recording (each lien)
$14.00
Registration (1 year, car/truck)
$91.00
flat statewide
Registration (2 years, car/truck)
$167.00
EV infrastructure fee (BEV)
+$89.00/yr
on top of base registration
EV infrastructure fee (PHEV)
+$44.50/yr
on top of base registration
Figures verified July 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with the Vermont DMV - counties can add small local fees.
Step by step
How to pay Vermont TTL
- 1
Get the signed-over title (or dealer paperwork) and a bill of sale showing the price.
- 2
Look up the vehicle's J.D. Power (NADA) clean trade-in value - the DMV compares it to your price.
- 3
If your price is fairly below that value, arrange a Dealer Appraisal Form (VD-012) from a licensed dealer or appraiser.
- 4
Complete the Vermont Registration, Tax & Title Application (VD-119) and bring it, the title, and ID to a DMV office (or file online for renewals).
- 5
Pay the 6% Purchase & Use Tax, the $42 title fee, and registration together in one transaction.
- Purchase & Use Tax
- 6% flat
- Taxed on
- Higher of price or book value
- Title fee
- $42
- Registration
- $91/yr or $167/2yr
- Pay at
- Vermont DMV
Overview
There's an escape hatch. If the car's real condition justifies a lower price - accident damage, high miles, a blown transmission - a licensed Vermont dealer or state-licensed appraiser can complete a Dealer Appraisal Form (VD-012) at registration, or within 30 days after for a refund, and that appraised value replaces the book figure as your tax base.
On top of the tax, budget a flat $42 title fee and $91 a year (or $167 for two years) in registration - the same everywhere in the state, since Vermont has no county add-on. Enter your numbers below for the full out-the-door total.
Same state, other costs
More Vermont vehicle costs
Common questions
Vermont tax, title & license FAQ
- How much is tax, title and license on a $20,000 car in Vermont?
- About $1,333 if your price matches or exceeds the book value: $1,200 in Purchase & Use Tax (6%), $42 for the title, and $91 for a one-year registration. If the vehicle's J.D. Power value is higher than $20,000, the tax is based on that higher figure instead.
- Why is Vermont taxing me on more than I actually paid?
- Vermont's Purchase & Use Tax is charged on whichever is greater: your purchase price or the vehicle's J.D. Power (formerly NADA) average clean trade-in value. It exists to stop underreported private-sale prices, but it also catches genuine bargains and rough-condition cars bought cheap for a legitimate reason.
- How do I fight the book-value number if I got a real deal?
- Get a Dealer Appraisal Form (VD-012) completed by a Vermont-licensed dealer or a licensed appraiser, documenting the vehicle's actual condition-based value. Submit it with your registration, or within 30 days afterward to claim a refund of the extra tax paid.
- Does a trade-in lower my Vermont tax bill?
- Yes - the trade-in allowance (or other allowable credit) is subtracted after the price-vs-book-value comparison, so you're taxed on the net amount. This applies at dealer sales; private-party trades between individuals don't get the same documented credit.
- Is there a cap on Purchase & Use Tax for heavy trucks?
- Yes. For motor vehicles over 10,099 lbs, the tax is capped at $2,486 regardless of price or book value - a flat ceiling instead of an open-ended 6%.
- I'm a new Vermont resident who already paid tax on this car elsewhere - do I pay 6% again?
- No, not the full rate. Vermont credits tax already paid to another state; you only owe the difference if Vermont's 6% is higher than what you paid. If you paid nothing (say, a private sale in a no-sales-tax state), Vermont's 6% applies in full - there's no credit for tax you never actually paid.
- Do county fees apply anywhere in Vermont?
- No. Unlike states such as Texas or California, Vermont's registration and title fees are identical everywhere in the state - there's no county road fee, no local surcharge, and no district tax to look up.
Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.
