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Washington car registration fee calculator

How much does it cost to register a car in Washington? Car tabs start at $83 a year: a $30 license fee, a weight fee of $35 to $96 by the car's empty weight, and $18 in filing, service and plate technology fees. Electric cars pay $225 more at renewal and hybrids $75. Inside the Sound Transit district you also pay 1.1% of the car's depreciated value, and many cities add a local fee. Buying a car adds title fees ($64.50 at a dealer), plates ($104) and sales tax: 7% state plus your local rate.

Your vehicle

Washington licenses trucks, pickups included, by declared gross weight instead of the car license and weight fees.
Empty weight plus the most you'll carry (and any trailer you tow). Over 105,500 lbs isn't covered.
Extra electric and hybrid fees are charged at renewal: $225 a year for electric, $75 for hybrids, $30 for electric motorcycles.
$
For sales or use tax. On a private sale the DOL uses fair market value when it is higher than the price.
$
%
State 6.5% + 0.5% motor vehicle tax + your local rate (the dealer's location, or your address for a private sale). Leave blank to see the state part only.
$
Credited against Washington use tax.
days
After 15 days a penalty starts: $50 on day 16, then $2 a day, up to $125.
$
Base price without options, taxes or delivery. Trucks use the latest purchase price instead.
This year minus the model year, plus 1.
$
Your city or county's fee from your renewal notice ($0 to $100). Not charged on trucks over 6,000 lbs.
Estimated total
$2,351.50

Example for a $30,000 car. Enter your own price to update it.

  • License fee (1 yr)Passenger car or SUV$30.00
  • Weight fee (1 yr)By scale weight$35.00
  • Filing and service fees$6 filing + $11 service + $0.75 license serviceRCW 46.17.005, 46.17.040 and 46.17.025 (filing fees $6 registration / $6.50 title; service fees $11 registration / $18 title; license service fee $0.75) · checked Oct 20, 2026$17.75
  • Plate technology feeEvery registration application$0.25
  • Title fees$40 application + $6.50 filing + $18 service$64.50
  • License platesTwo plates at $50 + $2$104.00
  • Sales tax (state part)6.5% + 0.5% motor vehicle tax$2,100.00
  • Local sales taxEnter your combined ratenot available

Total excludes items marked "not available".

What you'll pay later

Renewal at today's rates: $83.00/yr

Year 1 $2,351.50 · Years 2–5 $83.00/yr · 5-year total $2,683.50 + items not available

Estimate only, at today's rates for the same car.

Estimate only. Rates checked October 20, 2026 · Washington. Confirm with the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL).

How we calculate each line

FeeHow it's worked outSource
License and weight fee$30 license fee + weight fee by scale weight: $35 / $65 / $82.50 / $96.RCW 46.17.365Checked October 20, 2026
Truck license feeBy declared gross weight, 4,000 to 105,500 lbs (statute table x 1.02 from July 1, 2026; Schedule B for trucks towing a trailer, higher above 40,000 lbs); +$10 at 12,000 lbs or less; +15% freight project fee over 10,000 lbs.RCW 46.17.355Checked October 20, 2026
Filing and service feesRegistration $6 + $11 + $0.75 = $17.75, plus the $0.25 plate technology fee; title $6.50 + $18 plus the $15 or $40 application fee.RCW 46.17.005, 46.17.040 and 46.17.025Checked October 20, 2026
Electric and hybrid feesAt renewal: electric $225, hybrid $75, electric motorcycle $30.RCW 46.17.323 and 46.17.324Checked October 20, 2026
RTA tax1.1% of 85% of base MSRP (cars) or purchase price (trucks), depreciated by year of service.Washington DOL – Regional Transit AuthorityChecked October 20, 2026
Plates$50 + $2 per plate (two for cars and trucks), $22 for a motorcycle.RCW 46.17.200Checked October 20, 2026
Sales or use tax6.5% state + 0.5% motor vehicle tax (7%) + your local rate, on the price less a dealer trade-in.Washington Department of Revenue, motor vehicle sales/use taxChecked October 20, 2026

Totals add up every line that has an amount; lines marked "not available" are left out. More on our method: how we calculate.

Washington vehicle fees at a glance (2026)

License fee$30/yr (cars, SUVs, motorcycles)
Weight fee$35 – $96/yr by scale weight
Filing and service fees$17.75 per registration
Truck license fee$54.05 (4,000 lbs) – $3,376.20 (105,500 lbs; $3,468 towing a trailer) a year
Electric / hybrid fee (renewals)$225 / $75 a year
Title fees$64.50 (dealer sale) / $39.50
License plates$104 (two) / $22 motorcycle
RTA tax (Sound Transit district)1.1% of depreciated value
Sales tax6.5% + 0.5% motor vehicle tax + local

Download this fee summary (PDF)

What this estimate does and does not include

  • Washington changed its fees on January 1, 2026: the weight fee went from $25-$72 to $35-$96, the filing fee from $4.50 to $6, the service fee from $8 to $11 and the license service fee to $0.75. The title application fee on a dealer sale or lease became $40 on October 1, 2026 ($15 for other title applications). Older pages show the old amounts. The DOL's tab fee page still lists a $43.25 basic fee: that is the pre-2026 stack ($30 + $4.50 filing + $8 service + $0.50 license service + $0.25 plate technology).
  • Trucks, pickups included, pay a license fee by declared gross weight instead of the $30 license and weight fees: from $81.60 at 6,000 lbs to $3,376.20 at 105,500 lbs (Schedule A) after the 2% increase of July 1, 2026 (statute amounts x 1.02, rounded to 5 cents). Trucks that tow a trailer use Schedule B, which costs more only above 40,000 lbs ($3,468 at 105,500 lbs). Trucks at 12,000 lbs or less add $10; over 10,000 lbs add a 15% freight project fee. Farm trucks aren't covered.
  • Electric and hybrid fees are collected at renewal: electric cars and plug-in hybrids with 30+ electric miles pay $100 + $50 + $75 a year, hybrids $75 and electric motorcycles $30. We don't show a hybrid fee for motorcycles because the statute doesn't settle it.
  • RTA tax (Sound Transit district only): 1.1% of the vehicle's value: for cars 85% of the base MSRP, for trucks the latest purchase price, reduced by the state depreciation schedule each year of service. Outside the district it is $0.
  • Sales tax: a dealer charges the rate for its location, made up of 6.5% state sales tax + 0.5% motor vehicle tax (0.3% before January 1, 2026) + local tax, on the price less any trade-in. Private and out-of-state purchases and new residents pay use tax at the rate for their address, less sales tax paid to another state. If you leave the rate blank we show the 7% state part and mark the local part as not available.
  • Local transportation benefit district fees ($0 to $100) are set city by city; enter yours from your renewal notice. There is no DOL late fee for renewing tabs late, and no emissions test (the program ended January 1, 2020).
  • Not included: specialty and personalized plates, quick title ($50), trucks over 105,500 lbs and farm trucks.
Official sources · Last checked October 20, 2026 · Next monthly check: November 2026

Washington registration questions

How much are car tabs in Washington?

At least $83 a year: $30 license fee + $35 weight fee (up to 4,000 lbs) + $18 in filing, service and plate technology fees ($6 + $11 + $0.75 + $0.25). Heavier cars pay $65, $82.50 or $96 in weight fee. Electric cars add $225 and hybrids $75, and the Sound Transit district adds 1.1% of the car's value.

How much does it cost to register a truck in Washington?

Trucks pay by declared gross weight: $81.60 at 6,000 lbs, $112.20 at 8,000 lbs and $1,774.80 at 80,000 lbs after the July 2026 adjustment, plus $10 at 12,000 lbs or less, a 15% freight project fee over 10,000 lbs and $18 in fees. A 6,000-lb pickup renews for $109.60.

How much is motorcycle registration in Washington?

$83 a year: $30 license fee + $35 weight fee + $18 in fees. A new motorcycle plate is $22.

How is the RTA tax calculated in Washington?

Inside the Sound Transit district: 1.1% of 85% of the car's base MSRP, reduced each year by the state schedule (81% in year 2, 55% in year 5). A new $30,000 car pays $280.50 in its first year.

How much is sales tax on a car in Washington?

6.5% state sales tax plus 0.5% motor vehicle tax plus the local rate: 7% before local tax, or $2,100 on a $30,000 car. A dealer trade-in lowers the taxed price.

Is there a late fee for Washington car tabs?

Not from the DOL: tabs simply expire, and driving on them is a traffic ticket. A late title transfer does cost extra: $50 on the 16th day, then $2 a day up to $125.

Washington guides

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