Motor Vehicle Excise

To get a Plate Return Receipt, click here to visit the Massachusetts RMV website.

Motor Vehicle Abatement Application

Then please either email it to the Assessors Department at assessorsdept@westport-ma.gov or mail it to Town Hall, Assessors Department, 816 Main Road, Westport, MA 02790.

Applying for a Motor Vehicle Abatement

You are not entitled to an abatement if you:

  1. Cancel your registration and retain ownership of the vehicle.
  2. Move to another Massachusetts city or town during the same calendar year.

By law, you must notify the MA Registry of Motor Vehicles within 30 days of any change of residence, mailing, or garaging address.

You may be entitled to an abatement if your vehicle is:

  1. Sold or traded
  2. Stolen or a total loss
  3. Junked or donated
  4. Returned (Lemon Law)
  5. Garaged in a town other than Westport

Abatements

In order to apply for an abatement, you must provide the Westport Board of Assessors with the Plate Return Receipt and proof you no longer have the vehicle.

How is My Bill Computed?

Excise tax on Motor Vehicles principally garaged in Westport is levied by the Town of Westport and revenues become part of the community treasury.

Excise Tax Bill Computation

Excise Tax is assessed at the rate of $25.00 per thousand dollars of taxable value. The value of a motor vehicle is determined by the Commissioner of Revenue, based on the manufacturer’s list price (MSRP). Condition and market value are not considered in determining value. Percentages are determined as follows:

  • In the Year Prior to Model Year: 50%
  • In the Year of Manufacture (Model Year): 90%
  • Second Year: 60%
  • Third Year: 40%
  • Fourth Year: 25%
  • Fifth Year, Each Year Thereafter: 10%

Click here to see the Massachusetts RMV Change of Address page.

Click here to go to the Massachusetts RMV to cancel your plate.  You will then receive an e-mail with the Plate Return Receipt.  Please forward that to us.