The cost of owning a vehicle in Ohio will increase starting January 1, 2026, due to new fees introduced in House Bill 96. The Ohio Department of Public Safety has announced that the annual motor vehicle registration fee for passenger cars will rise from $11 to $16. This change comes as part of a broader initiative to support the Ohio State Highway Patrol in administering and enforcing motor vehicle laws.
The increase primarily affects non-commercial cars, which will see an annual registration fee of $16. For commercial vehicles, the fee will rise from $30 to $35. In addition to the registration fee hike, the prorated multi-year registration service fee will increase from $5 to $8 per registered vehicle. This fee covers various services provided by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), including driver’s licenses and vehicle inspections. Overall, Ohio residents will pay an additional $8 annually for non-commercial vehicle ownership.
Additional Fee Increases and Comparisons
The state is also raising the general certificate of title fee from $15 to $20. These changes follow the approval of House Bill 96 by Governor Mike DeWine in June 2023, although the financial implications will take effect next year. Until then, all registration and service fees will remain at their current levels.
While Ohio’s increases are significant, they are relatively modest compared to other states. For instance, in Oregon, registration fees can range from $300 to $1,000 per vehicle. In Wisconsin, the vehicle registration fee has jumped from $28 to $40, and Maryland experienced a hike of up to 75% last year.
Despite the looming fee increases, there is some good news regarding a proposed federal yearly registration fee of $20 that was set to begin in 2031, which has now been dropped.
Focus on Hybrid Vehicles
In a move that could alleviate costs for hybrid vehicle owners, State Representatives David Thomas and Joe Miller recently introduced a bill aimed at eliminating the additional registration fees for hybrid vehicles. Currently, owners of regular hybrid cars pay an extra $100, while plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles incur additional fees of $150 and $200, respectively. Representative Thomas expressed his concerns regarding this fee structure, stating, “Just because you have a hybrid or plug-in doesn’t mean you use less gas, and I don’t think you should pay much higher fees for it.”
If this new bill passes, it would significantly reduce the financial burden on owners of regular hybrid vehicles in Ohio. Meanwhile, the standard fee of $1 for transferring a vehicle’s registration and license plate remains unchanged, although it will be waived for disabled veterans and individuals honored with military service awards.
As Ohio prepares for these changes, vehicle owners are advised to stay informed about the upcoming fee adjustments and their potential impacts on overall vehicle ownership costs.
