Enter the vehicle price to see your estimate.
Total excludes items marked "not available".
Estimate only. Confirm with the Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State).
Michigan vehicle fees at a glance (2026)
| Registration fee, 1st year | $36 (MSRP up to $6,000) to $178 (MSRP $30,000), +$6 per $1,000 above |
|---|---|
| 2nd / 3rd / 4th+ year | 90% / 81% / 72.9% of the 1st-year fee |
| Electric vehicle fee | $267/yr |
| Plug-in hybrid fee | $113/yr |
| Title fee | $15 |
| Standard plate | $5 |
| Sales tax | 6% (trade-in credit up to $12,000) |
What this estimate does and does not include
- The registration fee follows the list-price table in MCL 257.801 for 1984 and newer passenger vehicles: $36 up to $6,000, $40 up to $7,000, then $6 more for each $1,000 (or part of $1,000) of list price. The 2nd year is 90% of the 1st, the 3rd is 90% of the 2nd, and the 4th and later years are 90% of the 3rd.
- Electric vehicle fee: the law adds $100 plus $5 for each cent the gas tax is above 19 cents. With the 2026 gas tax at 52.4 cents, that is $267. Plug-in hybrids: $30 plus $2.50 per cent, which works out to $113.50; the Secretary of State's 2026 notice gives $113, so we show $113. Vehicles over 8,000 lbs pay a higher base and are not covered here.
- Plate transfer instead of a new plate costs $10 to $15 according to the Secretary of State, so the exact amount is not available.
- Sales tax is 6% of the full price. At a dealer, the trade-in credit is capped at $12,000 in 2026 (Treasury Form 485).
- Transfers from a spouse, parent, sibling, child, step-relative, half-sibling, grandparent, grandchild, in-law (parent, sibling, son or daughter, grandparent), legal ward or legally appointed guardian are exempt from use tax (Form TR-11L). Treasury may ask for proof of the relationship.
- Not included: the optional Recreation Passport, a $15 late fee if the title isn't transferred within 15 days of the sale, a $10 late fee for renewing after expiration, and tax rules for new residents bringing a car from another state (not available).
- The Secretary of State's own registration fee calculator gives the exact amount for your vehicle.
- Michigan Legislature – MCL 257.801 (registration tax by list price, EV and plug-in hybrid fees, late fee)
- Michigan SOS – Title transfer and vehicle registration ($15 title fee, 6% sales tax, plate transfer)
- Michigan SOS – License plates and tabs (standard plate $5)
- Michigan Treasury – Form 485 (Rev. 1-26): 6% rate, $12,000 trade-in credit limit for 2026
- Michigan Treasury – Motor fuel tax rate effective January 1, 2026 (52.4 cents)
- Michigan SOS – Form TR-11L (Rev. 5/26): relatives exempt from use tax
Michigan registration questions
How much is car registration in Michigan?
It depends on the car's original list price (MSRP) and age. A car with a $30,000 MSRP pays $178 in its first registration year, $160.20 in the second, $144.18 in the third and $129.76 from the fourth year on.
How much is the title fee in Michigan?
$15, plus a $15 late fee if you transfer the title more than 15 days after the sale.
What is the Michigan electric vehicle registration fee?
In 2026, $267 a year on top of the regular registration fee for electric vehicles up to 8,000 lbs, and $113 for plug-in hybrids. The amount follows the state gas tax, so it changes when the gas tax changes.
Do I pay sales tax on a car from a family member in Michigan?
No, if the relative is on the state's list: spouse, parent, sibling, child, step-relatives, half-siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, certain in-laws, a legal ward or a legally appointed guardian.
Michigan guides
- EV registration fees by state in 202641 states charge an extra yearly fee to register an electric car in 2026, from $50 to $270. See every state's EV, plug-in hybrid and hybrid fee, with sources.
- Moving? How long you have to register your car, by stateDeadlines to register a car after moving: Florida 10 days, California and Pennsylvania 20, Texas, New York, Georgia and Virginia 30, Maryland 60.