Car Sales Tax Calculator
Your car purchase
Leave the rate blank to use your state's base sales tax rate. The trade-in is subtracted from the taxable price, but some states tax the full sale price even with a trade-in — check your state's rules. County and city tax is not included, so treat the result as an estimate.
Example: a $30,000 car in California at 7.25% → $2,175.00 tax, $32,175.00 total.
Behind the numbers
How car sales tax is calculated
Most states charge sales tax on the price of the car, and many let you subtract a trade-in first. The taxable price is the sale price minus the trade-in, the tax is that price times your state's base sales tax rate, and the total cost is the sale price plus the tax. The rate used here is the state base rate only — county and city taxes are added on top in most places, so the real amount at the dealer can be higher.
A $30,000 car in California at 7.25% with no trade-in: taxable price $30,000.00, tax = $30,000.00 × 7.25% = $2,175.00, total = $30,000.00 + $2,175.00 = $32,175.00. With a $5,000 trade-in the taxable price drops to $25,000.00, the tax to $1,812.50 and the total to $31,812.50.
Examples
Example car sales tax amounts
| Car price | State & rate | Trade-in | Sales tax | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | California, 7.25% | $0 | $2,175.00 | $32,175.00 |
| $25,000 | Texas, 6.25% | $0 | $1,562.50 | $26,562.50 |
| $30,000 | Oregon, 0% | $0 | $0.00 | $30,000.00 |
| $30,000 | California, 7.25% | $5,000 | $1,812.50 | $31,812.50 |
| $20,000 | Florida, 6% | $0 | $1,200.00 | $21,200.00 |
Tips before you buy
Ask the dealer for the out-the-door price: the state tax here is only part of it, and county tax, city tax, registration and dealer fees are added on top.
If you are trading in a car, ask whether your state taxes the full price or the price after trade-in — in states that allow the deduction, a bigger trade-in means less tax.
Oregon, Montana, Delaware and New Hampshire have no statewide sales tax, and Alaska has no state sales tax either, though some Alaska towns charge a local tax.
If you buy in one state and register in another, you usually pay tax where you register the car, not where you bought it — use your home state's rate.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Does a trade-in reduce the sales tax in every state?
No. Most states let you subtract the trade-in from the taxable price, but some — including California, Hawaii and Michigan in most cases — tax the full sale price even when you trade a car in. This calculator subtracts the trade-in, so if your state does not allow it, set the trade-in to 0.
Why is the tax at the dealer higher than this estimate?
This calculator uses the state base rate only. Most places also charge county and city sales tax, which can add several percent. The dealer total also includes registration, title and documentation fees, which are not sales tax.
Which states have no sales tax on cars?
Oregon, Montana, Delaware and New Hampshire have no statewide sales tax, and Alaska has no state sales tax, though some Alaska towns charge a local tax. Every other state charges at least its base rate on a car purchase.
Is the sales tax rate different for a used car?
Usually no — the same state rate applies to new and used cars in most states. What changes is the price: tax is charged on the sale price of the used car, which is normally much lower than a new one.