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Oregon DMV

Four-year Vehicle Registration

Overview

This page provides information about four-year vehicle registrations.
 
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Applicable Vehicles
The very first registration period for some new vehicles is four years.  When you title and register a vehicle for the first time with a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin, you are required to pay for four years of registration for these vehicles:
  • Passenger
  • Light trailer
  • Moped
  • Motorcycles (except hybrid or electric-powered)
After the four-year registration period is over, it will be time to renew the registration.  The second registration period, and all that follow, will be for two years.
 
Note: Vehicles subject to Multnomah County registration fees are required to pay an additional $19 per year.  Multnomah County registration fees are due at initial registration and renewal for registrations expiring on or after September 1, 2010.  Visit Multnomah County's web site for more information.  

Special Plate Surcharges
Some plates have surcharge fees in addition to registration and other fees.   When four-year registration is required and you choose a special plate, various surcharges apply:
  • If you choose Crater Lake plates, you pay a $20 surcharge fee once, and there is no further surcharge fee at any time.  Crater Lake plates are issued only to passenger vehicles.
  • If you choose Cultural plates, you pay a plate surcharge of $30, which covers the initial four-year period.  After the four-year period, you will pay a surcharge of $30 for a two-year period at each registration renewal.  Cultural plates are issued only to passenger vehicles.
  • If you choose Custom plates, you pay a surcharge of $200, which covers the initial four-year period.  After the four-year period, you will pay a surcharge of $100 for a two-year period at each registration renewal.  Custom plates are issued to several vehicle types.  Passenger, moped, and motorcycle are the only vehicle types subject to four-year registration which also may be issued custom plates.
  • If you choose Higher Education Group plates, you pay a surcharge of $64, which covers the initial four-year period.  After the four-year period, you will pay a surcharge of $32 for a two-year period at each registration renewal.  Higher education group plates are issued only to passenger vehicles.
  • If you choose Non-Profit Group plates, for most types you pay a surcharge of $20, which covers the initial four-year period.  After the four-year period, you will pay a surcharge of $10 for a two-year period at each registration renewal.  Fallen Public Safety Officer plates are $64 for four-year registration and $32 for the two-year registration renewal periods.  Keep Kids Safe plates are $60 for four-year registration and $30 for two-year registration. Share the Road plates are $20 for four-year registration and no surcharge is due at renewal.  Non-profit group plates are issued only to passenger vehicles.
  • If you choose Pacific Wonderland plates, you pay a surcharge of $100 once, and there is no further surcharge fee at any time.  Pacific Wonderland plates are issued only to regular passenger vehicles and the custom plate option is not available.
  • If you choose Salmon plates, you pay a surcharge of $60, which covers the first four-year period.  After the four-year period is over, you will pay a surcharge of $30 for a two-year period at each registration renewal. Salmon plates are issued only to passenger vehicles.
  • If you choose Veteran plates, the surcharge varies depending on the type of Veteran plate selected.  See the Veteran & Military Service-related plates page for more info.  Four-year registration fees are listed if applicable.
  • If you choose Wine Country plates, you pay a surcharge of $30, which covers the initial four-year period. After the four-year period, you will pay a surcharge of $30 for a two-year period at each registration renewal. Wine Country plates are issued only to passenger vehicles.
Related Information
Additional information that may be relevant includes: