Registering a Vehicle in Minnesota

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

Vehicle registration in Minnesota runs through one of 174 deputy registrar offices — privately operated counters the state contracts to handle title and tab work. Each of Minnesota's 87 counties has at least one deputy registrar, and the Twin Cities metro counties have many. Some are inside city halls, others are standalone storefronts or AAA branches. The DVS doesn't handle most title transactions directly; the deputy registrar does.

The 60-day deadline

New residents have 60 days from establishing residency to title and register a vehicle they bring with them. Residency is established at the date of moving — taking a job, signing a year-or-longer lease, or registering to vote, whichever comes first. Buyers purchasing a vehicle in Minnesota have 10 business days from the date of sale to file the title application; dealers usually file on behalf of the buyer, but private-party purchases require the buyer to file.

Documents to bring

The current title, signed by the seller (or out-of-state title for new residents).
Completed PS2000 Application to Title and Register.
Bill of sale showing the purchase price.
Current odometer reading (recorded on the title for vehicles 10 years old or newer).
A completed Damage Disclosure Statement (PS2031) if the vehicle is 6 model years old or newer.
Lien release if a previous loan was paid off without the title being issued clear.
Proof of Minnesota insurance meeting 30/60/10 liability and $40,000 PIP.
Government-issued photo ID for the new owner.
VIN inspection (PS2382) for vehicles previously titled outside Minnesota.

Sales and use tax

Minnesota's Motor Vehicle Sales Tax (MVST) applies at 6.5% of the purchase price. New residents transferring a vehicle from out of state pay use tax only on the difference between Minnesota's rate and the rate paid at original purchase. Dealer documentation showing prior tax paid is accepted. Some metro areas — including Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka, and Washington counties — add a Transit Sales Tax of 0.5% to vehicle purchases.

The annual tab tax

Minnesota does not call it a registration fee — it's the tab tax, and it has two components:

Registration tax (the value-based portion): for newer vehicles, calculated as 1.25% of the manufacturer's suggested retail price plus $10 base, with a $35 statewide minimum.
Filing fee, technology surcharge, and Air Pollution Control Fund fee: small fixed amounts totaling $20-$30.

For a $30,000 SUV in year one, the tab tax runs roughly $385. The value-based portion steps down each year by approximately 10% of the prior year's amount, so by year ten the registration tax has bottomed out near the $35 minimum. The decline is one of the more generous in the country and is one reason Minnesota tab renewals get progressively cheaper.

Title and registration fees

Standard fees collected at the deputy registrar:

Title fee: $11.
Filing fee: $11.
Technology surcharge: $2.25.
Plate fee: $7.50 for the standard plate (specialty plates carry additional fees).
Wheelage tax: $10-$20 in counties that levy it (most metro counties).
Tab tax: as above.
MVST: 6.5% of purchase price (plus 0.5% Transit Sales Tax in metro counties).

License plates

Standard Minnesota plates feature a green-on-white "Land of 10,000 Lakes" design. Drivers can choose specialty plates — military service, university alumni, environmental, organization-affiliated — for an additional fee. The state offers about 150 specialty options. Personalized plates carry a $100 first-year fee plus $25 annual renewal. See other vehicle registrations for trailer, motorcycle, and snowmobile details.

Inspection requirements

Minnesota does not require annual safety or emissions inspection for non-commercial vehicles — one of the more permissive regimes in the country. Vehicles previously titled out of state require a one-time VIN verification (PS2382) by a Minnesota law enforcement officer or licensed deputy registrar. Commercial vehicles operating across state lines require federal DOT inspections.

Renewal calendar

Tabs must be renewed annually by the date printed on the registration card. DVS mails a renewal notice 60 days before expiration, and most renewals can be completed online or by mail. The deputy registrar issues new tabs (the year sticker) at the office or by mail.

Wheelage tax

Counties in Minnesota are authorized to add a wheelage tax — typically $10 to $20 per vehicle per year — collected with the tab renewal and used for local road maintenance. Most metro counties (Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, Dakota, Scott, Washington) and several greater Minnesota counties have adopted wheelage. The tax is added automatically to the renewal calculation; drivers cannot opt out by registering in a non-wheelage county if their primary residence is in one that has it.

For first-time Minnesota residents transferring a vehicle from another state, the deputy registrar can also help with the address change for the driver license at the same visit if the office is co-located with a DVS station.