The cost to register a car in the United States varies for each state. The final cost is comprised of registrations fees and use taxes for passenger vehicles. The weight of the vehicle is one of the most important factors in determining a registration fee. When registering a car for the first time, the total fees normally include the sales tax, vehicle plate fee (or registration transfer fee), title certificate fee, and vehicle use taxes in some counties.
Aside from calling your local DMV to get the exact cost to register a car, there are also online tools for assessing registration fees if you are a dealer. For example, the New York State DMV offers a Registration Fee Calculator to calculate the registration fees for a vehicle using variables, such as type of vehicle, unladen weight, maximum gross weight, type of fuel, and number of cylinders [1].
To get an idea of registration fees in the United States, below you will find how much it costs to register a passenger car in New York State [2]. The 2-year fees are based upon the weight of the vehicle in pounds.
0000 – 1650: $26.00
1651 – 1750: $27.50
1751 – 1850: $29.00
1851 – 1950: $31.00
1951 – 2050: $32.50
2051 – 2150: $34.00
2151 – 2250: $35.50
2251 – 2350: $37.50
2351 – 2450: $39.00
2451 – 2550: $40.50
2551 – 2650: $42.00
2651 – 2750: $43.50
2751 – 2850: $45.50
2851 – 2950: $47.00
2951 – 3050: $48.50
3051 – 3150: $50.00
3151 – 3250: $52.00
3251 – 3350: $53.50
3351 – 3450: $55.00
3451 – 3550: $56.50
3551 – 3650: $59.00
3651 – 3750: $61.50
3751 – 3850: $64.00
3851 – 3950: $66.50
3951 – 4050: $69.00
4051 – 4150: $71.00
4151 – 4250: $73.50
4251 – 4350: $76.00
4351 – 4450: $78.50
4451 – 4550: $81.00
4551 – 4650: $83.50
4651 – 4750: $85.50
4751 – 4850: $88.00
4851 – 4950: $90.50
4951 – 5050: $93.00
5051 – 5150: $95.50
5151 – 5250: $98.00
5251 – 5350: $100.50
5351 – 5450: $102.50
5451 – 5550: $105.00
5551 – 5650: $107.50
5651 – 5750: $110.00
5751 – 5850: $112.50
5851 – 5950: $115.00
5951 – 6050: $117.00
6051 – 6150: $119.50
6151 – 6250: $122.00
6251 – 6350: $124.50
6351 – 6450: $127.00
6451 – 6550: $129.50
6551 – 6650: $131.50
6651 – 6750: $134.00
6751 – 6850: $136.50
6851 – 6950: $139.00
6951 or more: $140.00
Sources:
[1] https://harmonia.dmv.state.ny.us/RegFeeCalc/rrorEnterVehInfo.cfm