Verified 75 Pa.C.S. §1301 · Checked October 2026 · 6 sources
What an expired-registration ticket costs in Pennsylvania
First offense 75 Pa.C.S. §1301
$25 if lapsed under 60 days; else $75+
Verified October 2026 against the sources on this page
Driving an unregistered vehicle in Pennsylvania is a summary offense with a two-tier fine: $25 if the vehicle was registered in the Commonwealth within the previous 60 days, otherwise $75 or double the registration fee, whichever is greater (75 Pa.C.S. §1301(d)). A registration expires on the last day of the month shown on the card (75 Pa.C.S. §1307(d)) with no grace period in the statute, and neither the fee chapter of Title 75 (Chapter 19) nor PennDOT’s fee schedule (Form MV-70S) lists a late-renewal fee, so renewing late costs the standard fee.
By Mario Bailey
What to do now
- 1
Renew your registration
The fine turns on the 60-day tier: $25 if the vehicle was registered in Pennsylvania within the previous 60 days, otherwise $75 or double the registration fee, whichever is greater (75 Pa.C.S. §1301(d)).
- 2
Expect a fine-only summary offense
A summary offense is Pennsylvania’s lowest criminal grade, fine-only under the §1301(d) schedule, plus court costs.
Pennsylvania at a glance
- Grace period
- None
- Misdemeanor?
- No, summary offense
- Jail, first offense
- No, fine only
- Dismissed if you renew?
- No written path found
- Late renewal fee
- None
First offense, ordinary passenger vehicle. Each label compares Pennsylvania with every verified state.
Is driving on expired tags a crime in Pennsylvania?
A summary offense, Pennsylvania’s lowest criminal grade. The 60-day tier is what matters financially: a short lapse costs $25; a long one costs at least $75 or double your registration fee. No jail is authorized: §1301(d) prescribes only a fine, and Title 18’s jail terms for summary offenses do not apply to Vehicle Code offenses (75 Pa.C.S. §6502(c)).
Frequently asked questions
How much is an expired-registration ticket in Pennsylvania?
$25 if the vehicle was registered in Pennsylvania within the 60 days before the offense; otherwise $75 or double the registration fee, whichever is greater, under 75 Pa.C.S. §1301(d), plus court costs.
Is driving an unregistered vehicle a crime in Pennsylvania?
It is a summary offense, the lowest criminal grade, fine-only under the §1301(d) schedule.
Sources
This summary was checked against the following sources on the date shown above. Fines and fees change, verify before relying on specifics.
- 75 Pa.C.S. §1301, official text (PA General Assembly)
- 75 Pa.C.S.A. §1301 (FindLaw)
- 75 Pa.C.S. §1307, period and expiration of registration, official text (PA General Assembly)
- 75 Pa.C.S. Chapter 19, fees, official text (PA General Assembly)
- Form MV-70S, Bureau of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees, rev. 4-26 (PennDOT)
- 75 Pa.C.S. §6502, summary offenses, official text (PA General Assembly)
Read next
- Va. Code 46.2-646, plainly: what Virginia's expired registration law says and costs
- How to Get an Expired Registration Ticket Dismissed
- How much is a ticket for driving without registration? Eight states, from the statutes
- Pulled over on expired tags: the ticket, the late fee, the tow, and the points
Other tickets in Pennsylvania
Driving Without Insurance in Pennsylvania
Expired Registration: other states
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General legal information, not legal advice. Statutes and penalty schedules summarized from the sources above as of October 2026.