Overview
Beyond a standard sale, Massachusetts prices a few related title actions separately: a duplicate title (lost or damaged original) is $25, adding or removing a lienholder is $25, and salvage titling runs $50 for the initial salvage title plus $75 for the reconstructed title once the vehicle passes its salvage inspection. Use the calculator below to total a standard purchase transfer, including any late-filing penalty.
01 - Official fees
Massachusetts title transfer fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Original or transferred title | $75 | |
| Duplicate title (lost/damaged) | $25 | |
| Add or remove a lienholder | $25 | |
| Salvage title | $50 | plus sales tax if applicable |
| Reconstructed title (after salvage inspection) | $75 | |
| Late sales/use tax penalty | 1% of tax / month | capped at 25%, plus interest |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with the Massachusetts RMV - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How to transfer a title in Massachusetts
- 1
Get the title properly signed over by the seller, with a bill of sale showing the price.
- 2
Get insured first - your insurance agent must complete and certify the Registration and Title Application before the RMV will accept it.
- 3
File the application, title, and bill of sale at an RMV Service Center within 10 days of the purchase date.
- 4
Pay the $75 title fee plus 6.25% sales/use tax (on price, or NADA book value if higher for a private sale) and the registration fee together.
- 5
For a lienholder change or a lost title instead, file the corresponding $25 form - no tax involved for those transactions.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Massachusetts vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Massachusetts title transfer FAQ
How much does it cost to transfer a car title in Massachusetts?
The title itself is $75. Add 6.25% sales/use tax on the purchase (or the NADA book value if higher, on a private sale) and the $60 registration fee, and the full transfer transaction is usually $75 + tax + $60.
What happens if I transfer the title after the 10-day deadline?
The sales/use tax accrues a 1%-per-month failure-to-pay penalty (up to 25% of the tax owed) plus interest at the state's underpayment rate. On a $15,000 purchase (about $937.50 in tax), being two months late adds roughly $19 in penalty alone, growing every month you wait.
Can I transfer a Massachusetts title online?
No - titling a newly purchased or transferred vehicle requires an in-person visit to an RMV Service Center (by appointment), since the physical title, insurance certification, and payment all need to be processed together. Registration renewals, by contrast, can be done online.
How much is a duplicate title if I lost mine?
$25, filed with the RMV along with proof of identity and vehicle ownership. It doesn't reopen the sales tax question - that's only assessed on an actual change of ownership.
What does it cost to title a salvage or rebuilt vehicle?
$50 for the initial salvage title, then a mandatory salvage inspection, then $75 for the reconstructed title once it passes. Budget for both fees plus the inspection appointment before the vehicle can be legally driven again.
Do I pay the title fee again if I just add my spouse as a lienholder or co-owner?
Adding or removing a lienholder is a $25 transaction, not a full $75 re-title - as long as the ownership itself isn't changing. A genuine ownership change (even between spouses) requires the full title transfer, though a spousal transfer likely qualifies for the MVU-26 family tax exemption.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.