Late renewal fees, state by state
Late fees for renewing an expired registration
In 28 of the 50 states and DC, the DMV charges a late, delinquency or penalty fee when you renew after your registration expires; in 21, it does not. In 2, the official sources do not settle it yet. It is a DMV charge, separate from any ticket; the table notes where a state ties it to being cited.
By Mario Bailey
This is the cost of renewing late, set by the DMV, not the fine on a ticket. If you were stopped, you may owe both: the late fee when you renew, and whatever the court assesses for the ticket unless your state dismisses it on proof of renewal.
Fees shown are for a standard passenger vehicle. Where a state sets the fee as a percentage or a sliding amount, the state page has the full rule.
State by state
| State | Late renewal fee |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $15 plus interest after renewal month |
| Alaska | None; renewal backdates to expiry |
| Arizona | $8, then $4 a month, $100 max |
| Arkansas | $3 per 10 days, capped at $17 to $30 |
| California | $10 + $10 + 10% of VLF at 1-10 days |
| Colorado | $25 a month after grace, $100 max |
| Connecticut | $10 if renewed after day 5 |
| Delaware | $20 at DMV once expired |
| District of Columbia | Unclear; law allows $100, DMV lists none |
| Florida | $5 or $10 for a typical car |
| Georgia | $5 plate penalty + 10% of ad valorem |
| Hawaii | $16 a year (Oahu, Hawaii County) |
| Idaho | None; lapsed months are lost |
| Illinois | SOS may add $20 after 1 month |
| Indiana | $15 administrative penalty |
| Iowa | 5% a month after grace, $5 min |
| Kansas | $1 a month after expiration |
| Kentucky | Tax penalty: 3%, or 10% after 30 days |
| Louisiana | At least $3, plus interest |
| Maine | None; renewal keeps the old month |
| Maryland | None; same MVA fee whenever you renew |
| Massachusetts | None in RMV fee schedule |
| Michigan | $10 added after expiration |
| Minnesota | None; renewal costs the same |
| Mississippi | 5% to 25% of the taxes after day 15 |
| Missouri | $5 delinquent penalty |
| Montana | None; renewal keeps your old month |
| Nebraska | No state late fee |
| Nevada | $6 per 30 days plus 10% tax penalty |
| New Hampshire | None; you pay for the lapsed months |
| New Jersey | None on the MVC fee schedule |
| New Mexico | $10, then 75% of fee from day 31 |
| New York | None in DMV fee schedule |
| North Carolina | $15 to $25, by months late |
| North Dakota | No late fee; renewal month not reset |
| Ohio | $10 after 30 days |
| Oklahoma | $1 a day after grace month, $100 max |
| Oregon | None at DMV |
| Pennsylvania | None |
| Rhode Island | None in DMV fee table |
| South Carolina | $10 to $75 by how late |
| South Dakota | None; no credit for lapsed months |
| Tennessee | Not settled by state sources |
| Texas | 20% if cited before renewing |
| Utah | None; you lose the lapsed months |
| Vermont | None in DMV fee list |
| Virginia | $10 at DMV once expired |
| Washington | None at DOL |
| West Virginia | None found; same fee as on time |
| Wisconsin | $10 if renewed after expiration |
| Wyoming | None; same price, same month |
Each state links to its full file: the statute, the fine, the dismissal path and every source. A first offense in an ordinary passenger vehicle.
Compare other rules
Grace period by stateDismissal once you renewMisdemeanor or not Fines in every state
Frequently asked questions
Which states charge a late fee for expired registration?
Alabama ($15 plus interest after renewal month), Arizona ($8, then $4 a month, $100 max), Arkansas ($3 per 10 days, capped at $17 to $30), California ($10 + $10 + 10% of VLF at 1-10 days), Colorado ($25 a month after grace, $100 max), Connecticut ($10 if renewed after day 5), Delaware ($20 at DMV once expired), Florida ($5 or $10 for a typical car), Georgia ($5 plate penalty + 10% of ad valorem), Hawaii ($16 a year (Oahu, Hawaii County)), Illinois (SOS may add $20 after 1 month), Indiana ($15 administrative penalty), Iowa (5% a month after grace, $5 min), Kansas ($1 a month after expiration), Kentucky (Tax penalty: 3%, or 10% after 30 days), Louisiana (At least $3, plus interest), Michigan ($10 added after expiration), Mississippi (5% to 25% of the taxes after day 15), Missouri ($5 delinquent penalty), Nevada ($6 per 30 days plus 10% tax penalty), New Mexico ($10, then 75% of fee from day 31), North Carolina ($15 to $25, by months late), Ohio ($10 after 30 days), Oklahoma ($1 a day after grace month, $100 max), South Carolina ($10 to $75 by how late), Texas (20% if cited before renewing), Virginia ($10 at DMV once expired) and Wisconsin ($10 if renewed after expiration). Each state's page cites the fee schedule or statute.
Does paying the late fee cancel an expired tags ticket?
No. The late fee is a DMV charge and the ticket is a court matter. In 9 of the 50 states and DC, proof of renewal can lead to the ticket being dismissed; the dismissal comparison lists them.
General legal information, not legal advice. Every row traces to the sources cited on that state's page.