Last verified: November 8, 2026. By Joe Bjorklund · How we check · Report an error
Key Takeaways
- Registering a typical 3,500-pound car in New York City costs $136.50 for two years: the $56.50 state fee, a $30 city vehicle use tax and a $50 MCTD supplemental fee (NYS DMV; NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation).
- Buying a $35,000 car in NYC adds $3,106.25 in sales tax at the 8.875% combined rate (NYS DTF; NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation).
- MTA bridge and tunnel tolls are $7.46 with a New York E-ZPass and $12.03 by mail at major crossings, and entering Manhattan below 60th Street adds a $9 peak congestion toll (MTA).
- Parking in a Manhattan garage carries an 18.375% tax, or $91.88 on every $500 of parking; elsewhere in the city it is 10.375% (NYS DTF; NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation).
- A yearly safety and emissions inspection in the New York City area costs up to $37 (NYS DMV).
How much does it cost to register a car in NYC?
New York charges passenger vehicle registration by weight for two years at a time, from $26.00 for cars up to 1,650 pounds to $140.00 for 6,951 pounds or more, according to the NYS DMV. A car weighing 3,451 to 3,550 pounds pays $56.50. New York City residents also pay a $30 city vehicle use tax and a $50 Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District supplemental fee every two years.
That brings a typical car to $136.50 for two years, or $68.25 a year. A first registration also costs $25.00 for plates and $50.00 for a title certificate (NYS DMV; NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation).
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Registration, 3,451–3,550 lb car (2 years) | $56.50 |
| NYC vehicle use tax (2 years) | $30.00 |
| MCTD supplemental fee (2 years) | $50.00 |
| License plates (new registration) | $25.00 |
| Title certificate (new registration) | $50.00 |
| Safety + emissions inspection, NYC area (yearly maximum) | $37.00 |
How much are tolls in NYC?
The MTA’s major bridges and tunnels, including the RFK, Throgs Neck, Bronx-Whitestone and Verrazzano-Narrows bridges and the Queens Midtown and Hugh L. Carey tunnels, charge cars $7.46 with a New York E-ZPass and $12.03 by mail, effective January 4, 2026 (MTA). Registered Staten Island residents pay an effective $2.75 on the Verrazzano through the MTA rebate program.
Driving into Manhattan at or below 60th Street adds the congestion toll: $9.00 at peak hours and $2.25 overnight with E-ZPass, at most once a day. See NYC congestion pricing.
| Crossing | NY E-ZPass | Tolls by Mail |
|---|---|---|
| RFK, Throgs Neck, Bronx-Whitestone, Verrazzano-Narrows bridges | $7.46 | $12.03 |
| Queens Midtown and Hugh L. Carey tunnels | $7.46 | $12.03 |
| Henry Hudson Bridge | $3.42 | $8.87 |
| Cross Bay and Marine Parkway bridges | $2.80 | $6.02 |
| Congestion Relief Zone (car, peak, once a day) | $9.00 | $13.50 |
How much is parking tax in NYC?
Parking, garaging or storing a car in New York City is taxed at 18.375% in Manhattan, which includes an 8% Manhattan parking tax, and 10.375% in the other four boroughs, according to the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance. Manhattan residents who park long-term near home can apply to be exempt from the 8% portion.
| Where you park | Tax rate | Tax on $500 of parking |
|---|---|---|
| Manhattan | 18.375% | $91.88 |
| Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island | 10.375% | $51.88 |
What does it cost to drive a car in NYC each year?
Regular gasoline averaged $3.86 a gallon in the New York City metropolitan area in NYSERDA’s July 14, 2026 update of the federal EIA survey. A driver covering 5,000 miles a year in a car that gets 25 miles a gallon would spend about $772 on gas (NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation; prices change weekly).
Adding registration and inspection, the fixed government fees plus fuel come to about $877 a year before insurance, parking, tolls and repairs. Buying the car also adds sales tax: $3,106.25 on a $35,000 vehicle at the 8.875% combined NYC rate. Compare transit on MTA fares, where the weekly cap is $35.
| Cost | Per year |
|---|---|
| Registration, use tax and MCTD fee (per year) | $68.25 |
| Inspection | $37.00 |
| Gasoline, 5,000 miles at 25 mpg | $772 |
| Total before insurance, parking, tolls and repairs | $877 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to register a car in NYC?
For a typical 3,500-pound car, registration in New York City costs $136.50 for two years: the $56.50 state weight-based fee, a $30 city vehicle use tax and a $50 MCTD supplemental fee, according to the NYS DMV (NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation). New registrations add $25 for plates and $50 for a title certificate.
How much is the parking tax in Manhattan?
Parking, garaging or storing a vehicle in Manhattan is taxed at 18.375%, including the 8% Manhattan parking tax, according to the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance. In the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island the rate is 10.375%. Manhattan residents can apply for an exemption from the 8% portion for long-term parking.
How much are bridge tolls in NYC?
Cars pay $7.46 with a New York E-ZPass and $12.03 by mail at the MTA’s major crossings, including the RFK, Throgs Neck, Bronx-Whitestone and Verrazzano-Narrows bridges, effective January 4, 2026 (MTA). The Henry Hudson Bridge is $3.42 with E-ZPass, and the Cross Bay and Marine Parkway bridges are $2.80.
How much is a car inspection in NYC?
A yearly safety and OBD II emissions inspection for a passenger car in the New York Metropolitan Area costs up to $37: a $10 safety fee plus a $27 emissions fee, according to the NYS DMV inspection fee chart. Stations may charge less but not more. Outside the metro area the emissions fee is $11.
Is it cheaper to own a car or take the subway in NYC?
For most trips, transit costs less. OMNY caps subway and local bus fares at $35 a week (MTA). Before insurance, parking and tolls, a car’s registration, inspection and about 5,000 miles of gas run roughly $877 a year, and a single month of 20 peak congestion tolls is $180 (NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation).
Related: NYC congestion pricing · MTA fares · Staten Island cost of living · NYC sales tax · NYC cost of living FAQ · NYC cost index
Sources
- NYS Department of Motor Vehicles, Passenger vehicle registration fees, use taxes and supplemental fees (accessed Nov 8, 2026)
- NYS Department of Motor Vehicles, Inspection groups and fee chart (VS-77) (2026)
- MTA Bridges and Tunnels, Tolls by vehicle type (effective Jan 4, 2026), including the Staten Island Resident Rebate Program (Jan 4, 2026)
- MTA, Congestion Relief Zone toll rates, crossing credits, discounts and exemptions (public webinar deck) (Dec 2024; rates in effect 2026)
- NYS Department of Taxation and Finance, Sales tax rates, additional sales taxes and fees (TB-ST-825) (Apr 6, 2026)
- NYSERDA (from U.S. EIA survey), Weekly average motor gasoline prices (updated July 14, 2026)
- MTA, Fares and tolls (Jan 4, 2026)