Based on official Utah State Tax Commission data (effective October 1, 2025)
Understanding Utah vehicle registration costs can be confusing. Between sales tax, registration fees, corridor fees, and alternative fuel surcharges, calculating your total DMV costs requires knowing multiple variables and formulas.
This comprehensive guide explains exactly how Utah vehicle taxes and fees are calculated using the official Utah Vehicle Tax Calculator. We’ll walk through each fee component with real-world examples, show you the mathematical formulas used, and provide authoritative references from official Utah government sources.
Understanding the Total Cost Formula
When you register a vehicle in Utah, your total cost includes seven distinct components. Here’s the complete formula:
TOTAL COST = Sales Tax + Registration Fee + Corridor Fee + APC Fee + Driver Ed Fee + Uninsured Motorist Fee + Alternative Fuel Fee
Each component applies differently depending on your vehicle type, fuel type, and location. Let’s break down each one with detailed examples.
Step 1: Calculate Sales Tax (Varies by Location)
Sales tax is the largest cost component for most vehicle purchases. Utah uses location-based tax rates that range from 6.35% to 9.05% depending on your county and city.
Formula:
Sales Tax = Purchase Price × (Sales Tax Rate ÷ 100)
Tax Rates Across Utah:
| Location | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Salt Lake County | 7.45% |
| Salt Lake City | 8.45% |
| Park City | 9.05% (highest) |
| Davis County | 7.15% |
| Utah County | 7.25% |
| St. George | 7.65% |
| Carbon County | 6.35% (lowest) |
Example 1: Passenger Car in Salt Lake County
Purchase Price: $25,000 Location: Salt Lake County (7.45%) Sales Tax = $25,000 × (7.45 ÷ 100) Sales Tax = $25,000 × 0.0745 Sales Tax = $1,862.50
Example 2: Truck in Park City
Purchase Price: $40,000 Location: Park City (9.05%) Sales Tax = $40,000 × (9.05 ÷ 100) Sales Tax = $40,000 × 0.0905 Sales Tax = $3,620.00
Note: The location difference between Carbon County (6.35%) and Park City (9.05%) means a $2,700 difference in sales tax on a $40,000 vehicle!
Step 2: Determine Registration Fee (By Vehicle Type)
Utah charges different base registration fees depending on your vehicle classification. The fee structure is defined in Utah Code Title 41, Chapter 1a.
| Vehicle Type | Base Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| Passenger Car | $150.00 |
| SUV / Light Truck | $165.00 |
| Motorcycle | $45.00 |
| RV / Motorhome | $180.00 |
| Trailer | $40.00 |
Commercial Vehicle Weight-Based Fees
Commercial vehicles use a special weight-based fee structure per Utah Code 41-1a-1206:
IF Weight ≤ 12,000 lbs: Fee = $44.00 IF Weight ≤ 14,000 lbs: Fee = $69.50 IF Weight > 14,000 lbs: Fee = $69.50 + ($19.00 per 2,000 lbs over 14,000)
Example 1: Light Commercial Truck (8,000 lbs)
Weight: 8,000 lbs (≤ 12,000) Registration Fee = $44.00
Example 2: Heavy Commercial Truck (26,000 lbs)
Weight: 26,000 lbs (> 14,000) Weight Over 14,000 = 26,000 – 14,000 = 12,000 Increments = CEILING(12,000 ÷ 2,000) = 6 Fee = $69.50 + (6 × $19.00) Registration Fee = $183.50
Step 3: Calculate Corridor Fee ($10 in Select Counties)
The Transportation Corridor Fee applies to vehicles registered in 11 Utah counties, primarily along the Wasatch Front urban corridor.
Counties with $10 Corridor Fee:
- Salt Lake County
- Davis County
- Utah County
- Weber County
- Summit County
- Wasatch County
- Iron County
- Box Elder County
- Washington County
- Tooele County
- Morgan County
Example 1: Vehicle in Salt Lake County
County: Salt Lake (✓ in corridor counties list) Corridor Fee = $10.00
Example 2: Vehicle in Carbon County
County: Carbon (✗ not in corridor counties list) Corridor Fee = $0.00
Step 4: Calculate Air Pollution Control (APC) Fee
The APC fee supports emissions testing programs in select counties. It applies to most vehicles but has specific exemptions.
Formula:
IF (Vehicle Type ≠ “Motorcycle”) AND (Fuel Type ≠ “Electric”): APC Fee = County Rate ELSE: APC Fee = $0.00
| County | APC Fee |
|---|---|
| Salt Lake | $3.00 |
| Davis | $3.00 |
| Cache | $3.00 |
| Utah | $2.00 |
| Weber | $2.00 |
| All Others | $0.00 |
Example 1: Gasoline Car in Salt Lake County
Vehicle: Passenger Car (not motorcycle ✓) Fuel: Gasoline (not electric ✓) County: Salt Lake APC Fee = $3.00
Example 2: Electric Vehicle
Vehicle: Passenger Car (not motorcycle ✓) Fuel: Electric (is electric ✗ EXEMPT) APC Fee = $0.00
Step 5: Calculate Driver Education Fee ($2.50)
This fee funds driver education programs statewide and applies to nearly all vehicles except motorcycles.
Example 1: Standard Vehicle
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car (not motorcycle ✓) Driver Ed Fee = $2.50
Example 2: Motorcycle
Vehicle Type: Motorcycle (is motorcycle ✗) Driver Ed Fee = $0.00
Step 6: Uninsured Motorist Identification Fee ($1.00)
This universal fee applies to all vehicle registrations with no exceptions.
Uninsured Motorist Fee = $1.00 (all vehicles)
Step 7: Calculate Alternative Fuel Fee
Utah charges alternative fuel fees to offset lost gas tax revenue. This is the “Option 2” flat fee system (Utah also offers a mileage-based “Option 1” system).
| Fuel Type | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Electric (BEV) | $120.00 |
| Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) | $60.00 |
| Hybrid (HEV) | $0.00 |
| Gasoline | $0.00 |
| Diesel | $0.00 |
Example 1: Electric Vehicle
Fuel Type: Electric (BEV) Alternative Fuel Fee = $120.00
Example 2: Standard Gasoline Vehicle
Fuel Type: Gasoline Alternative Fuel Fee = $0.00
Complete Worked Examples
Example 1: 2024 Honda Civic in Salt Lake County
Vehicle Details:
- Purchase Price: $25,000
- Location: Salt Lake County
- Type: Passenger Car
- Fuel: Gasoline
Step-by-Step Calculation: Sales Tax = $25,000 × 0.0745 = $1,862.50 Registration Fee = $150.00 (Passenger Car) Corridor Fee = $10.00 (Salt Lake in corridor counties) APC Fee = $3.00 (Not motorcycle, not electric, Salt Lake) Driver Ed Fee = $2.50 (Not motorcycle) Uninsured Fee = $1.00 (All vehicles) Alt Fuel Fee = $0.00 (Gasoline) TOTAL = $2,029.00
Example 2: Electric SUV in Provo, Utah County
Vehicle Details:
- Purchase Price: $45,000
- Location: Provo, Utah County
- Type: SUV / Light Truck
- Fuel: Electric
Step-by-Step Calculation: Sales Tax = $45,000 × 0.0745 = $3,352.50 Registration Fee = $165.00 (SUV/Light Truck) Corridor Fee = $10.00 (Utah County in corridor counties) APC Fee = $0.00 (Electric vehicle EXEMPT) Driver Ed Fee = $2.50 (Not motorcycle) Uninsured Fee = $1.00 (All vehicles) Alt Fuel Fee = $120.00 (Electric vehicle) TOTAL = $3,651.00
Key Insight: The electric vehicle avoids the $2 APC fee but pays a $120 alternative fuel fee, resulting in a net increase of $118 compared to a similar gasoline SUV.
Official References & Data Sources
Authority & Accuracy
All calculations and fee structures in this guide are based on official Utah government sources:
Primary Sources:
- Utah State Tax Commission
Combined Sales and Use Tax Rates (Effective October 1, 2025)
Official source for all location-based sales tax rates
https://tax.utah.gov/sales - Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
Vehicle Registration Fee Schedule
Official fee structures for vehicle types and weights
https://dmv.utah.gov/register/registration-taxes-fees/
Phone: (801) 297-7780 or 1-800-DMV-UTAH - Utah Code Title 59, Chapter 12
Sales and Use Tax Act
Legal framework for vehicle sales taxation
https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title59/Chapter12/ - Utah Code Title 41, Chapter 1a, Section 1206
Registration Fees by Gross Laden Weight
Commercial vehicle weight-based fee structure
https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title41/Chapter1a/41-1a-S1206.html - Utah DMV Summary of Common Fees
Comprehensive listing of all vehicle-related fees
https://dmv.utah.gov/register/registration-taxes-fees/summary-of-common-fees/ - Utah Alternative Fuel Fee Information
Electric and hybrid vehicle fee structures (Options 1 & 2)
https://dmv.utah.gov/register/registration-taxes-fees/ - Utah Transportation Corridor Preservation
Counties subject to the $10 corridor fee
Utah Code § 72-2-121
Why Location Matters: Cost Comparison
Registering the same $30,000 vehicle in different Utah locations can result in dramatically different costs:
| Location | Sales Tax | Total Fees | Grand Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon County (6.35%) | $1,905.00 | $153.50 | $2,058.50 |
| Salt Lake County (7.45%) | $2,235.00 | $166.50 | $2,401.50 |
| Park City (9.05%) | $2,715.00 | $166.50 | $2,881.50 |
The difference between the lowest (Carbon County) and highest (Park City) tax locations is $823 on a $30,000 vehicle purchase.
How to Use the Utah Vehicle Tax Calculator
Our calculator automates all these calculations for you. Simply:
- Enter your vehicle purchase price
- Select your county or city location
- Choose your vehicle type
- Select your fuel type
- For commercial vehicles, enter registered weight
The calculator instantly computes all seven fee components and provides a complete breakdown showing exactly where each dollar goes.
Important Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates based on current Utah law and tax rates as of October 1, 2025. Tax rates and fee structures are subject to change. For official quotes and the most current information, contact:
- Utah Division of Motor Vehicles: (801) 297-7780 or 1-800-DMV-UTAH
- Utah State Tax Commission: (801) 297-2200 or 1-800-662-4335
Additional fees may apply for title transfers, temporary permits, or specialty plates. Always verify final costs with your local DMV office before completing a vehicle purchase.
Conclusion: Transparency Through Calculation
Understanding how Utah calculates vehicle taxes and fees empowers you to make informed decisions when purchasing or registering a vehicle. Whether you’re buying a fuel-efficient hybrid, a commercial work truck, or a family SUV, knowing the exact cost breakdown helps you budget accurately and choose the right location for registration.
The Utah Vehicle Tax Calculator takes the complexity out of these calculations, using the same formulas and official data sources that the Utah DMV and State Tax Commission use. Every fee is transparent, every calculation is documented, and every result is backed by authoritative government sources.
Ready to calculate your vehicle costs? Use our free calculator to get an instant, accurate estimate of your total registration expenses based on the latest Utah tax rates and DMV fees.