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Indiana driver guide · Michigan City Ford · Michigan City, IN
Indiana Vehicle Excise Tax, Explained
Every Indiana registration includes an annual vehicle excise tax. Here is how the BMV sets it by class and age, the full passenger vehicle table, flat rates, local vehicle taxes and how credits and refunds work, from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).
Annualpaid with every Indiana registration
17 classesset by the original retail price
$12 to $532passenger tax range at age 0
Age 9+oldest column in the BMV table
The short answer
Indiana vehicle excise tax is an annual tax paid when you register a vehicle. For passenger vehicles, the BMV sets it by class (from the manufacturer's original retail price) and age (registration year minus model year). At age 0 it ranges from $12 to $532, and it generally drops as the vehicle ages.
What Indiana vehicle excise tax is
Vehicle excise tax is an annual tax you pay to register a vehicle in Indiana, according to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). Whether you are registering a vehicle for the first time or renewing, you pay an annual excise tax and a registration fee. Most vehicles are subject to it, and it is either a flat rate or based on the vehicle's value and age. The BMV says excise taxes are generally used to maintain roads, streets, highways, bridges and other infrastructure.
From the BMV's Vehicle Registration Fees & Taxes and Excise Tax Information pages, read November 10, 2026.
How the passenger vehicle excise tax is figured
Class
The vehicle's class is based on its value as determined by the manufacturer's original retail price.
Age
Age is the calendar year the vehicle is due to be registered minus its model year. A vehicle in its model year is age 0.
Find the cell
Match the class row to the age column in the BMV table below to see the state passenger vehicle excise tax.
From the BMV's Excise Tax Information page, read November 10, 2026.
Indiana passenger vehicle excise tax table
| Class | Original retail price | Age 0 | Age 1 | Age 2 | Age 3 | Age 4 | Age 5 | Age 6 | Age 7 | Age 8 | Age 9+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | $0 to $1,499 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 |
| Class 2 | $1,500 to $2,249 | $36 | $30 | $27 | $24 | $18 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 |
| Class 3 | $2,250 to $2,999 | $50 | $50 | $42 | $33 | $24 | $18 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 |
| Class 4 | $3,000 to $3,999 | $50 | $50 | $50 | $50 | $48 | $36 | $24 | $18 | $12 | $12 |
| Class 5 | $4,000 to $5,499 | $66 | $57 | $50 | $50 | $50 | $50 | $42 | $24 | $12 | $12 |
| Class 6 | $5,500 to $6,999 | $84 | $74 | $63 | $52 | $50 | $50 | $49 | $30 | $18 | $12 |
| Class 7 | $7,000 to $8,499 | $103 | $92 | $77 | $64 | $52 | $50 | $50 | $40 | $21 | $12 |
| Class 8 | $8,500 to $9,999 | $123 | $110 | $93 | $78 | $64 | $50 | $50 | $50 | $34 | $12 |
| Class 9 | $10,000 to $12,499 | $150 | $134 | $115 | $98 | $82 | $65 | $52 | $50 | $40 | $12 |
| Class 10 | $12,500 to $14,999 | $172 | $149 | $130 | $112 | $96 | $79 | $65 | $53 | $50 | $12 |
| Class 11 | $15,000 to $17,999 | $207 | $179 | $156 | $135 | $115 | $94 | $78 | $64 | $50 | $21 |
| Class 12 | $18,000 to $21,999 | $250 | $217 | $189 | $163 | $139 | $114 | $94 | $65 | $50 | $26 |
| Class 13 | $22,000 to $24,999 | $300 | $260 | $225 | $184 | $150 | $121 | $96 | $65 | $50 | $30 |
| Class 14 | $25,000 to $29,999 | $350 | $304 | $265 | $228 | $195 | $160 | $132 | $91 | $50 | $36 |
| Class 15 | $30,000 to $34,999 | $406 | $353 | $307 | $257 | $210 | $169 | $134 | $91 | $50 | $42 |
| Class 16 | $35,000 to $42,499 | $469 | $407 | $355 | $306 | $261 | $214 | $177 | $129 | $63 | $49 |
| Class 17 | $42,500 and over | $532 | $461 | $398 | $347 | $296 | $242 | $192 | $129 | $63 | $50 |
Passenger vehicle excise tax amounts from the BMV's Excise Tax Information page, read November 10, 2026. Recreational vehicles use a separate table. County and municipal taxes and registration fees are extra.
Flat-rate vehicle excise taxes
| Vehicle | Flat excise tax |
|---|---|
| Model year 1980 or older passenger vehicles, trucks with a declared gross weight of not more than 11,000 pounds, and motorcycles | $12.00 |
| Mini-trucks | $30.00 |
| Motor driven cycles (MDCs) | $10.00 |
| Vehicles registered as military vehicles | $8.00 |
| Trailers with a declared gross weight of 9,000 pounds or less | $8.00 |
From the BMV's Excise Tax Information page, read November 10, 2026.
County and municipal vehicle taxes
Depending on where you live, you may also pay a county vehicle tax, a municipal vehicle tax or a wheel tax, per the BMV. A county tax applies when the county where the vehicle is registered has adopted one by ordinance, and it may be a flat rate or a percentage. A municipal tax applies when the municipality has adopted one, and it is a flat rate. The BMV's Quick Quote tool estimates the cost of your registration.
Registrations also carry fees, including the Transportation Infrastructure Improvement Fee on all motor vehicle registrations and a supplemental registration fee for hybrid and electric vehicles, with some exemptions listed by the BMV.
From the BMV's Vehicle Registration Fees & Taxes and Excise Tax Information pages, read November 10, 2026.
Excise tax credits and refunds
If you sell a vehicle, it is destroyed (a total loss), or you register it in a different state, the BMV says you may apply for a credit or refund of a portion of the Indiana vehicle excise taxes with State Form 55296. Only vehicles charged vehicle excise tax, recreational vehicle excise tax, or county or municipal vehicle excise tax are eligible. Proof is required, such as a copy of the assigned title, a statement from the insurance company that includes the VIN, or the new state's registration.
From the BMV's Vehicle Registration Fees & Taxes page, read November 10, 2026.
Keep your vehicle road-ready at Michigan City Ford
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check. Registering a vehicle? See our Indiana title and registration guide.
Schedule service online and see our service specials first. Michigan City Ford is at 3930 Franklin St. in Michigan City. Get directions.
Michigan City Ford service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Sat | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Sun | closed |
From Michigan City Ford's website, November 10, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.
Indiana vehicle excise tax FAQ
What is Indiana vehicle excise tax?
It is an annual tax you pay to register a vehicle in Indiana. It is either a flat rate or based on the vehicle's value and age, and you pay it along with a registration fee each year.
How is Indiana excise tax calculated?
For passenger vehicles, the BMV uses the vehicle's class, based on the manufacturer's original retail price, and its age, which is the registration year minus the model year.
How much is excise tax on a new car in Indiana?
It depends on the class. For an age 0 passenger vehicle, the BMV table runs from $12 in Class 1 to $532 in Class 17 (original retail price of $42,500 and over).
Does Indiana excise tax go down as a car gets older?
For most classes, yes. In Class 17, for example, the BMV table drops from $532 at age 0 to $50 at age 9 and older.
Do I pay county or city vehicle taxes too?
Possibly. Some counties and municipalities in Indiana charge a county vehicle tax, a municipal vehicle tax or a wheel tax, depending on where the vehicle is registered.
Can I get an Indiana excise tax refund if I sell my car?
The BMV says you may apply for a credit or refund of a portion of the excise tax with State Form 55296 if you sell the vehicle, it is a total loss, or you register it in another state, with proof.
Just registered a vehicle?
Schedule a checkup at Michigan City Ford, or read our vehicle recall guide.
Sources
Excise tax rules, the passenger vehicle table, flat rates, local taxes and refunds are from the Indiana BMV's Excise Tax Information and Vehicle Registration Fees & Taxes pages, read November 10, 2026. Tax amounts are state figures, not dealer prices. Service details, address and hours are from Michigan City Ford's own website, checked the same day.
- Excise Tax Information, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), read November 10, 2026
- Vehicle Registration Fees & Taxes, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), read November 10, 2026
- General service: The Works, Michigan City Ford, November 10, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Michigan City Ford, November 10, 2026