New Mexico car registration and title fees

• Title fee — $3.00. New Mexico's transaction fee for issuing a certificate of title. If you finance, your lender's lien goes on the same title and the MVD's fee schedule lists no separate lien fee. Whoever titles the car for you, this is the state's charge. (NMSA 66-6-19(A); MVD Fees Manual (revised 2026-08-24), Vehicle Title Fees)
• Registration (one year, by weight) — varies. One year of registration for a passenger car, by the car's gross factory shipping weight: $33.75 up to 2,000 lbs, $48.75 from 2,001 to 3,000 lbs and $70 over 3,000 lbs, which covers most cars and SUVs. Without the car's weight this uses 3,500 lbs. New Mexico raised these amounts 25% on July 1, 2026. You can also register for two years, which doubles the registration and surcharge amounts. (NMSA 66-6-2 as amended by 2026 SB 2, sec. 2 (effective 2026-07-01); MVD Fees Manual (revised 2026-08-24), Vehicle Registration Fees)
• Registration (one year, by weight) — varies. One year of registration for a passenger car, by the car's gross factory shipping weight: $33.75 up to 2,000 lbs, $48.75 from 2,001 to 3,000 lbs and $70 over 3,000 lbs. This car is under five years old by model year, so it pays the full amount; the lower rate starts once five years have passed since it was first registered, which the model year only approximates. Without the car's weight this uses 3,500 lbs. (NMSA 66-6-2 as amended by 2026 SB 2, sec. 2 (effective 2026-07-01); MVD Fees Manual (revised 2026-08-24), Vehicle Registration Fees)
• Registration (one year, by weight, car more than five years registered) — varies. One year of registration for a passenger car, by the car's gross factory shipping weight. Once five years have passed since the car was first registered, in New Mexico or elsewhere, the fee drops to $26.25 up to 2,000 lbs, $38.75 from 2,001 to 3,000 lbs and $56.25 over 3,000 lbs. The age is counted from the first registration, which the model year only approximates, so this is an estimate. Without the car's weight this uses 3,500 lbs. (NMSA 66-6-2 as amended by 2026 SB 2, sec. 2 (effective 2026-07-01); MVD Fees Manual (revised 2026-08-24), Vehicle Registration Fees)
• Registration (truck, one year, by declared gross weight) — varies. One year of registration for a truck, by declared gross vehicle weight: $40 up to 4,000 lbs, $55 to 6,000, $69 to 8,000 and $84 to 10,000, rising to $201 at 26,000 lbs. It drops to 80% once five years have passed since the first registration. Without the weight this uses 7,000 lbs, a typical half-ton pickup. The MVD decides whether a vehicle is a truck or a passenger car. (NMSA 66-6-4(B), (C); MVD Fees Manual (revised 2026-08-24), Vehicle Registration Fees)
• Registration surcharges — $4.00. Three small charges the MVD adds to every one-year registration of a car or light truck: $2 for the financial responsibility (insurance) enforcement program, $1.50 for tire recycling and $0.50 for litter control. (NMSA 66-6-6.1, 66-6-2(D), 66-6-6.2; MVD Fees Manual (revised 2026-08-24))
• MVD administrative service fee — $2.00. A $2 service fee the MVD or its agents add to every transaction, charged once however many items are done at the same visit. (NMSA 66-2-16(A); MVD Fees Manual (revised 2026-08-24))
• Electric vehicle registration fee — $70.00. An added annual registration fee on a passenger electric car, charged at the first registration and at every renewal for each twelve-month period. It starts January 1, 2027 and steps up each January until 2029. (2026 SB 2, sec. 3 (new section of the Motor Vehicle Code, effective 2027-01-01))
• Electric vehicle registration fee — $80.00. An added annual registration fee on a passenger electric car, charged at the first registration and at every renewal for each twelve-month period. It starts January 1, 2027 and steps up each January until 2029. (2026 SB 2, sec. 3 (new section of the Motor Vehicle Code, effective 2027-01-01))
• Electric vehicle registration fee — $90.00. An added annual registration fee on a passenger electric car, charged at the first registration and at every renewal for each twelve-month period. It starts January 1, 2027 and steps up each January until 2029. (2026 SB 2, sec. 3 (new section of the Motor Vehicle Code, effective 2027-01-01))
• Plug-in hybrid registration fee — $35.00. An added annual registration fee on a passenger plug-in hybrid, charged at the first registration and at every renewal for each twelve-month period. It starts January 1, 2027 and steps up each January until 2029. (2026 SB 2, sec. 3 (new section of the Motor Vehicle Code, effective 2027-01-01))
• Plug-in hybrid registration fee — $40.00. An added annual registration fee on a passenger plug-in hybrid, charged at the first registration and at every renewal for each twelve-month period. It starts January 1, 2027 and steps up each January until 2029. (2026 SB 2, sec. 3 (new section of the Motor Vehicle Code, effective 2027-01-01))
• Plug-in hybrid registration fee — $45.00. An added annual registration fee on a passenger plug-in hybrid, charged at the first registration and at every renewal for each twelve-month period. It starts January 1, 2027 and steps up each January until 2029. (2026 SB 2, sec. 3 (new section of the Motor Vehicle Code, effective 2027-01-01))

• New Mexico does not charge an annual property tax on a registered car. Your yearly costs are the registration renewal and insurance. Renewing online, at a kiosk or by phone takes 5% off the base registration fee.
• Registration renews every one or two years at the same weight-based amount. The fee drops by about 20% once five years have passed since the car was first registered. A one-year renewal of a 3,500-pound car is $70 plus surcharges in its first five years and $56.25 after that.
• If you live in Bernalillo County (Albuquerque), a used car needs a passing emissions test at the change of ownership, and again at renewal. Stations set their own price, usually about $30 plus tax. A new car bought from a dealer is exempt for four years while you own it, and electric cars are exempt. The dealer's price does not include this.
• You have 30 days to apply for the title. After that the MVD adds a $20 late fee. If you wait more than 90 days it adds a 50% penalty to the excise tax, which raises the 4% to 6%.

• From January 1, 2027 an electric car pays an added annual registration fee: $70 in 2027, $80 in 2028 and $90 from 2029, at the first registration and every renewal.
• From January 1, 2027 a plug-in hybrid pays an added annual registration fee: $35 in 2027, $40 in 2028 and $45 from 2029, at the first registration and every renewal. A hybrid without a plug does not pay it.

• New Mexico charges no sales tax on a car. It charges a 4% motor vehicle excise tax on the price you pay, due when the car is titled. It is the same everywhere in the state: no city or county adds to it, and it has no minimum or cap. The dealer usually collects it and sends it to the state.
• Registration is set by the car's weight and age. For a passenger car the one-year base is $33.75, $48.75 or $70, and it drops about 20% after five years. Surcharges add $4, the MVD adds a $2 service fee and a $3 title fee. A typical new 3,500-pound car pays $79 for title and one year of registration. Trucks pay by declared gross weight, from $40 to $84 for pickups up to 10,000 lbs. Fees rose 25% on July 1, 2026.
• Registering the car: a dealer that is an MVD partner, or that uses a licensed title service, can title and register the car at the sale. Otherwise it gives you a temporary permit valid up to 30 days and you go to the MVD. If no lien is placed on the car, the dealer has to tell you in writing that you can register it yourself without paying its transfer service fee.
• Electric cars and plug-in hybrids pay an added annual registration fee starting January 1, 2027: $70 and $35, rising to $80 and $40 in 2028 and $90 and $45 from 2029.

Source: New Mexico Taxation & Revenue Department — Motor Vehicle Excise Tax · rules last verified Oct 11, 2026. Methodology.