Renewing your Minnesota tabs online, by mail, or in person

Minnesota sends you a renewal notice 30 to 45 days before your tabs expire. You can renew through the Minnesota Secretary of State website, by mail using that notice, or at any Deputy Registrar office. Most people renew online because it takes about five minutes and you can do it from home. You'll need your vehicle identification number (VIN), current registration number, and a payment method — credit card, debit card, or electronic check.

Your tabs are valid for one or two years depending on what you chose when you first registered. The renewal notice tells you which applies to your vehicle. When you renew, you can switch from one-year to two-year tabs or stay with what you have, though two-year tabs cost more upfront.

The state mails new tabs to you after you pay. They arrive within 7 to 10 business days for online and mail renewals. If you need tabs when ready, you can renew at a Deputy Registrar office and walk out with them the same day.

Key Takeaways

  • Minnesota sends a renewal notice 30 to 45 days before your tabs expire, and you can renew online, by mail, or at a Deputy Registrar office.
  • Online renewal through the Secretary of State website takes about five minutes and requires your VIN, registration number, and a payment method.
  • New tabs arrive by mail within 7 to 10 business days after you pay online or by mail, but you can get them the same day at a Deputy Registrar office.
  • You can renew up to one year early, so you can renew before your notice arrives if you want to get ahead of the important date.
  • If your registration has changed — new address, owner, or vehicle — you may need to update your registration before renewing tabs.

Renewing online through the Secretary of State website

Go to mn.gov/secretary-of-state and select "Vehicle Registration" from the main menu. Click "Renew Registration" and enter your vehicle identification number and current registration number. The system will pull up your vehicle information and show you the renewal fee.

You'll see two options: renew for one year or two years. The one-year renewal costs less but you'll renew again sooner. The two-year renewal costs more but covers two years of tabs. Choose which one you want, then enter a payment method — Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, or an electronic check from a U.S. bank account.

After you pay, you'll get a confirmation number on screen. Write it down or take a screenshot. The state will mail your new tabs within 7 to 10 business days. You can keep driving on your old tabs until the new ones arrive, as long as the old ones haven't expired yet.

Renewing by mail with your renewal notice

Your renewal notice comes with a payment stub and instructions. Fill in the stub with the payment amount shown, write a check or money order for that amount, and mail both to the address printed on the notice. Do not send cash.

Mail your payment at least two weeks before your tabs expire to make sure it arrives in time. The state processes mail renewals in the order they receive them, so earlier is safer. Include your renewal notice with your payment — the state uses it to match your payment to your vehicle record.

New tabs arrive within 7 to 10 business days after the state receives and processes your payment. If your tabs expire before the new ones arrive, you are driving illegally and can be stopped. If you're cutting it close, renew online or at a Deputy Registrar office instead.

Renewing in person at a Deputy Registrar office

Minnesota has Deputy Registrar offices in most cities and towns. You can find the one nearest you on the Secretary of State website by entering your city or zip code. Bring your renewal notice, your vehicle's current registration, and a payment method — cash, check, debit card, or credit card.

The Deputy Registrar will verify your information, take your payment, and print your new tabs on the spot. You walk out with them and can put them on your vehicle when ready. This is the fastest option if your tabs are about to expire or already have.

Deputy Registrar offices have different hours and some are only open certain days of the week. Call ahead or check the website to confirm hours before you go. Bring your renewal notice so the staff can process you quickly — they can renew without it, but it takes longer.

What happens if your tabs expire before you renew

Driving with expired tabs is illegal in Minnesota. A police officer can stop you, and you can be cited. The fine for expired tabs is $25 to $100 depending on how long they've been expired and whether you have other violations.

If your tabs expired and you haven't renewed yet, renew when ready at a Deputy Registrar office so you get new tabs the same day. If you're waiting for tabs to arrive by mail, you can ask the Deputy Registrar to print temporary tabs while you wait, though this varies by office — call first to confirm they offer it.

If you were stopped with expired tabs, you can renew before your court date and show proof of renewal to the judge. Many judges reduce or dismiss the fine if you renew promptly.

Renewing early and changing your renewal cycle

You can renew your tabs up to one year before they expire. This is useful if you want to switch from one-year to two-year tabs, or if you're about to move and want to renew before your address changes. When you renew early, your new tabs are valid starting the day your old ones expire, so there's no gap.

If you have one-year tabs and want to switch to two-year tabs, renew online or at a Deputy Registrar office and select the two-year option. The cost is higher but you won't renew again for two years. If you have two-year tabs and want to go back to one-year, you can do that at your next renewal.

Some people renew early to avoid renewing during a busy season or to time it with other vehicle maintenance. There's no penalty for renewing early — you straightforward get tabs that start when your current ones end.

Scam alert: Fake renewal notices and phishing emails

Scammers send fake renewal notices and emails that look like they're from the Minnesota Secretary of State. They ask you to click a link, enter your vehicle information, and pay a fee. The link goes to a fake website that steals your information and payment.

The real Minnesota Secretary of State website is mn.gov/secretary-of-state. If you get an email asking you to renew, do not click the link. Instead, go directly to the Secretary of State website by typing the address into your browser. If you get a paper notice in the mail that looks suspicious — misspelled words, odd formatting, a payment address that's not in Minnesota — call the Secretary of State at 651-296-2805 to confirm it's real before you pay.

The state never asks for payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. If someone claiming to be from the Secretary of State asks for payment in any of those ways, it's a scam. Report it to the Minnesota Attorney General at 651-296-3353.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I renew my tabs if I moved to a new address?

If you moved within Minnesota, you can renew your tabs at your new address. You'll need to update your registration first through the Secretary of State website or at a Deputy Registrar office. Bring proof of your new address — a utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement. After you update your address, you can renew your tabs online or by mail.

What if I lost my renewal notice?

You don't need the renewal notice to renew online or at a Deputy Registrar office — you just need your VIN and current registration number. If you're renewing by mail and lost the notice, call the Secretary of State at 651-296-2805 and they can mail you a new one or tell you the renewal fee so you can send a check without the stub.

Do I have to renew in person or can someone else do it for me?

You can renew online or by mail without going anywhere. If you want to renew in person at a Deputy Registrar office, someone else can do it for you if they bring your renewal notice and registration, but you'll need to sign a power of attorney form. It's easier to renew online yourself.

What if my registration is suspended or revoked?

You cannot renew your tabs if your registration is suspended or revoked. This usually happens because of unpaid tickets, unpaid registration fees, or a lapsed inspection. Contact the Secretary of State at 651-296-2805 to find out why your registration is suspended and what you need to do to clear it before you can renew.

How much does it cost to renew tabs in Minnesota?

The cost depends on your vehicle's weight and whether you choose one-year or two-year tabs. One-year renewals typically range from $35 to $200, and two-year renewals cost roughly double. Your renewal notice shows the exact fee for your vehicle. You can see the fee before you pay if you start the online renewal process.