Frequently Asked Questions

When are your busiest and slowest times?

• We strive to provide the quickest service in the Metro area regardless of when you come in to our office. We like to think that, even during certain typically busy times of the day or month, you’ll get in and out of our office quicker then you would at any other License Services in the area.

• Some of the busier times may be:
  
  • End of the month, 1st of the month, 10th of the month
  • Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays
  • Lunch rush – roughly 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or so.
  • End of day rush – roughly 4:30 p.m. until close of business.
    
    

How can I get my tabs if I don’t have that little reminder notice the state sends out?

• If you do not have your renewal notice from the state, you can purchase your tabs from us if you are the registered owner and you bring us your driver's license (DL) and license plate number.
  
  

My drivers license/state ID is lost or stolen. How can I get a duplicate?

• We can help you replace your lost or stolen Minnesota driver’s license or state Minnesota photo and signature on file. The cost is $13.50.
  
  

I need to register my car in Minnesota for the first time. What do I do?

• The following is a checklist of the items we’ll need in order to help you register your vehicle in Minnesota for the first time:
  
  • Your current ID from Minnesota or another state;
  • If you purchased your car in another state, and will be transferring the car into your name in Minnesota, we need the title or manufacturer’s certificate of origin, signed off by the seller or dealership you purchased the car from;
  • If you are already the registered owner, and you’re moving to Minnesota from another state, we need the title and/or most current registration from the state you’re leaving; and,
  • If you have a loan on your vehicle, we need the bank’s name and address, and the date the loan began.
    
    

How do I transfer a Title?

• It takes a title to transfer a title. If the title cannot be located, the current registered owner needs to apply for a duplicate title. You can apply for a duplicate title at our office.
• Be very careful when filling out the title. Any alteration or erasure voids the title. This applies to any information you might write on the title – sales date, mileage, names of buyers/sellers, boxes you might check off, etc. If you’re not sure, wait until you’re in our office. We’ll help you fill everything out safely and correctly.
• If there is a lienholder listed on the title, the seller needs to obtain a notarized lien release form from the bank before the transfer can take place. This is necessary even if you paid the loan off years ago. If the bank is still listed on the title, a lien release is required.
• All current registered owners must sign off as sellers before the transfer can be completed.
• Although the seller(s) are not required to be here in person, it is often wise to accompany your buyer to our office to witness the transfer for yourself. Until the title is turned in and the sales tax and other fees are paid, you remain the registered owner. This means that you might be liable for any legal actions involving that car – unpaid parking tickets, property damage, etc.
• The buyer needs to show us a current drivers license or state ID.
• On all vehicles 10 years old or newer, the mileage as it appears on the odometer needs to be recorded.
• A private party can “gift” a vehicle to another private party, and have the sales tax waived. All sellers and all buyers must have their notarized signatures on a gift affidavit form, swearing that no money exchanged hands. We have those forms here in our office. Notary services are also available. (Please note that this only applies to private parties. In most situations, you can not “gift” a car to or from a company, trust, non-profit agency, church, etc.)
• Click here for an idea of how much the transfer fees might be.
  
  

How Much Is It Going To Cost?

• Each of the following links is intended to give you a general idea of what your costs will be for that kind of transaction. Keep in mind that these are NOT exact quotes. For many of the services we provide, we won’t know an exact cost until you’re here in person and we’ve had a chance to look at all your paperwork.
  
  

Title Transfers
These are the general costs involved in transferring title to a vehicle within the state of Minnesota. Although this is a fairly accurate guide, it is not 100% complete or guaranteed. The state changes their policies from time to time, and there are an infinite number of factors that can come into play when transferring a title – more than we could illustrate here.

• 6.5% sales tax (also referred to as “excise tax”) based on the purchase price or current market value – whatever number turns out to be higher.
• $30-40 in transfer fees.
• If the tabs need to be renewed, registration will be added to the sales tax and transfer fees. Click here for an idea of what your tab renewal will cost.
• Once a car is ten years old or older, a flat fee of $10.00 is charged for sales tax unless the purchase price is $3,000 or more.

Bringing your vehicle to Minnesota for the first time

• If you are already the registered owner, and have a title in your name, you’ll pay no sales tax as long as you weren’t a Minnesota resident at the time of purchase. You’ll pay $30-40 dollars in transfer fees and your registration. For an estimate of your registration fees click here.
• If you purchased a car in another state, and need to transfer ownership into your name here in Minnesota, you’ll pay 6.5% sales tax, $30-40 in transfer fees, and your registration costs.
• If you paid sales tax in another state, be sure to bring the original copy of your bill of sale with you. Minnesota will credit you for documented sales tax paid in another state. If there is a difference between that state’s tax rates and Minnesota’s, you’ll be charged the difference. Make note that, in some states, you might have been charged local or county taxes that Minnesota will not credit you for.
• Click here for more info on the costs of transferring ownership into your name.
• Click here for more information on what you’ll need to bring with you when you come to our office.

Registration Costs

Passenger Class (cars, vans and pickups under 1 ton)
Please contact us  for assistance in determining tax.

• The tax due when a vehicle is registered for the first time in Minnesota is determined in part upon the base value of the vehicle as provided by manufacturer when the vehicle was new and the vehicle age. The amount of first–time registration can vary a lot. The newer and more expensive your vehicle is, the more registration you’ll pay.
• Subsequent renewals will gradually decrease in cost each year. Once your vehicle is ten years old or older, you’ll pay a flat rate of $35 to renew your auto tabs.

Drivers License and ID costs

• Regular passenger class drivers license $24
• Instruction Permit $12
• Class B commercial $35
• Class A commercial $43
• State ID $18
• Senior state ID $11.00
• Duplicate Drivers license or ID $13.50
• Need to replace your lost or stolen DL or ID? Click here to find out how!

• You must present either a Minnesota driver’s license, identification card or instruction permit that is current or not expired more than five years if it has a color image of the applicant.
• A Minnesota driver’s license, identification card or instruction permit that is current or not to be expired more than one year if it does not have a color image of the applicant.
  
  If you do not have such a document you must present one primary document AND one secondary document.

PRIMARY DOCUMENTS

• Certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a government bureau of vital statistics or board of health in the United States, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
• United States Department of State Certificate of Birth Abroad, FS-545 or DS-1350
• United States Embassy Report of Birth Abroad of a United States Citizen, FS-240
• Certified copy of an adoption certificate from a United States court
• Unexpired United States Department of Defense identification card DD-2
• Valid unexpired US passport
• Valid unexpired passport from a country other than the US with a valid unexpired INS I-94 arrival and departure form or an unexpired I-551 stamp
• A Canadian birth certificate or naturalization certificate with a valid I-94 form attached. Must be presented with a photo Secondary Document issued by a Canadian government agency.
• One of the following unexpired documents issued by the United State Department of Justice:
  
  • Certificate of Naturalization, N-550, N-570, N-578
  • Certificate of Citizenship, N-560, N-561, N-645
  • US Citizen Identification card, I-179, I-197
  • Permanent Resident or Resident Alien Card, I-551 or I-151 that is valid
  • Northern Mariana Card, I-873
  • American Indian Card, I-872
  • Employment Authorization card with photo, I-688, I-688A, or I-688B or I-766
  • Re-entry Permit/Refugee Travel Document, I-571
  • All documents are subject to verification and may not be altered.
  • Any document not in English must be accompanied by an approved English translation.
  • The name of the state-issued document will be that on the Primary document unless other documents are presented showing a change in legal name.

SECONDARY DOCUMENTS

• Another primary document
• Driver's license, identification card, or permit issued by a U.S. state other than Minnesota, by the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or a Canadian province or territory, expired for more than one year but not more than five years, with a color image of the applicant.
• Photo driver's license, state identification card or permit issued by a U.S. state other than Minnesota, or by the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or a Canadian province or territory, that is current or expired for not more than five years
• Certified copy of a United States or Canadian court order with full legal name and date of birth
• United States or Canadian government jurisdiction employee photo identification card
• Certified copy of a birth certificate from a government jurisdiction other than the United States, District of Columbia, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico
• Current Department of Defense identification card, DD-1173 or DD-214
• Certified copy of applicant’s government issued marriage certificate
• Unexpired permit to carry a firearm or concealed weapon issued with photo by a United States police department or sheriff
• Current pilot’s license issued by the FAA
• Certified secondary or post-secondary school transcript containing full legal name and date of birth
• United States nonmetal, non-laminated social security card or Canadian social insurance card
• Current secondary school student identification card with student’s name, a photograph, and date of birth or unique identification number

Northwest Metro
530 W. Main Street, Suite 5
Anoka, MN 55303
Tel: (763) 422-3401

Written test: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Road test: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

North Metro
5400 Old Highway #8 (35W & County Road 1)
Arden Hills, MN 55112
Tel: (651) 639-4057

Written test: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Road test: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Motorcycle and moped tests: Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.

Southwest Metro
418 Pine Street S, Suite B
Chaska, MN 55318
Tel: (952) 448-3740

Written test: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Road test: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

South Metro
2070 Cliff Road
Eagan, MN 55122
Tel: (651) 688-1870

Written test: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Road test: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

 

Southeast Metro
217 Ramsey St.
Hastings, MN 55033

Written test: Mon. - Tues., Thurs. - Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Road test: Mon. - Tues., Thurs. - Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Motorcycle only road tests report to Hastings Armory

 

Midtown/Minneapolis
2929 Chicago Ave. So.
Minneapolis, MN 55407
Tel: (612) 348-4884

Written test ONLY: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.

West Metro
2455 Fernbrook Lane
Plymouth, MN 55447
Tel: (952) 476-3042

Written test: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Road test: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Midway/St. Paul
1472 University Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104
Tel: (651) 639-4057

Written test ONLY: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.