The Most Expensive State To Register A Car Will Surprise You

North Dakota is best known for its wide-open skies, laid-back small-town vibe, and having one of the best budget vacation destinations. But in 2025 it has picked up a different kind of reputation — as one of the priciest places to register your car. Drivers in the state must pony up an average of $162 a year just to keep a standard passenger vehicle on the road, according to Compare.com. By comparison, drivers in Oregon pay between $122 and $152, depending on model year and miles per gallon, while Illinois drivers pay around $150.

Yet to register a new car, Oregon is actually the state where you will pay the highest fees — anywhere between $268.50 and $636.50 , while states like Illinois charge extra registration fees for electric vehicles, per Compare.com. However, unlike other states, North Dakota maintains a unique fee-calculation formula that uses both the age and weight of the vehicle, This means car owners pay registration fees anywhere from $49 to $274. With that said, most of the money for keeping the state's roads in shape comes from fuel taxes and registration fees. In a state that otherwise feels easy on the wallet, these costs could make locals think twice about owning a car, or even consider cars brands that cost the least over time.

North Dakota keeps it simple. To calculate your exact registration cost, the state's DMV looks at two things; when you first registered the car and how heavy the vehicle is. Under the 2025 fee schedule, from the North Dakota Department of Transportation, any passenger car registered for the first time in 2019 or later and weighing 3,199 pounds or less pays just $73 a year. Jumping up to between 3,200 to 4,499 pounds and the fee is $93. Cars and trucks that weigh between 7,000 to 7,999 pounds run $208 a year, while those between 8,000 to 8,999 pounds cost $241, and anything 9,000 pounds or more clocks in at $274 annually.

Vehicles registered in earlier years pay less. For cars first registered between 2017 and 2019, registration is just $65 a year for vehicles weighing 3,199 pounds or less, $81 for vehicles weighing between 3,200 to 4,499 pounds, $172 for those weighing between 7,000 to 7,999 pounds, $199 for those weighting 8,000 to 8,999 pounds, and vehicles 9,000 pounds or more costing $225. On top of this base registration fee, North Dakota also slaps on a 5% sales (or excise) tax, as well as a $5 title fee for those transferring ownership. 

North Dakota is often praised for having low taxes. In the Tax Foundation's 2025 State Tax Competitiveness Index, the state ranked ninth, an above average score because its income tax brackets are very low, its sales tax is moderate, and its property taxes sit below the national average. Therefore, it is generally assumed that owning anything in North Dakota will be comparatively inexpensive. However, registering a car doesn't quite align with the state's reputation.

North Dakota's vehicle registration fees, combined with other vehicle costs — like the rising cost of tire brands manufactured in the U.S – can create a heavier financial burden than most drivers might expect or be able to handle. Even with a reasonable vehicle property tax, and gas taxes at just 23 cents a gallon, per Kiplinger, North Dakota might still surprise you at the DMV. Plus, full-coverage insurance in the state runs about $1,819 annually, according to Bankrate. Add those up and owning a car can end up costing more in North Dakota than it does in other states.