Car sales tax calculator, by state

Automotive sales tax

The 2% state automotive sales tax plus the automotive rates of the city and county where the dealer is; a yearly ad valorem tax at registration

2%

Home state, limited credit

You pay Alabama’s state and local use tax when you register at home, less tax paid to the other state, but no credit is given if that state doesn’t give Alabama the same credit.

Taxed before the rebate

A manufacturer rebate applied to the price doesn’t lower the tax; tax is figured on the price before the rebate.

Taxed

Yes, the doc fee is taxed at the vehicle sales tax rate.

Motor vehicle registration tax

No state sales tax; a flat registration tax by the car’s age where the municipality levies one (Anchorage), and local sales taxes, most capped on a vehicle sale, in some towns

Unverified

No single rate

No tax on the price

Alaska charges no state tax when you register a car bought in another state; a borough that has its own use tax must give credit for sales tax paid elsewhere.

Unverified

No tax on the price

There’s no sales tax on the car’s price in Anchorage, so a rebate doesn’t change any tax; a dealer may only call something a rebate if it’s a real manufacturer rebate with a stated dollar amount.

No tax on the price

Anchorage has no general sales tax, so the doc fee isn’t taxed there; in other towns each local code decides.

Unverified

Transaction privilege tax

State transaction privilege tax plus county and city taxes by the dealer’s location; a yearly vehicle license tax at registration

5.6%

Home state, with credit

You pay Arizona state and city use tax when you register at home, less sales tax paid to another state.

Depends on the rebate

A manufacturer rebate lowers the taxable price only if you assign it to the dealer at the sale; a rebate paid to you later doesn’t.

Depends

The doc fee isn’t taxed if it’s reasonable and shown as its own line on the invoice.

Gross receipts tax

State gross receipts tax plus city and county tax, paid at registration

6.5%

Home state, no credit

You pay Arkansas tax in full when you register at home, and no credit is given for sales tax paid to another state.

Taxed before the rebate

Manufacturer and dealer rebates count as part of the price, so tax is figured before the rebate.

Taxed

The doc fee (service and handling fee) is treated as taxable, as a charge for a service needed to complete the sale.

Unverified

Sales tax

State and district sales tax, paid once; use tax on a private purchase

7.25%

Home state, with credit

You owe California use tax when you bring a car bought elsewhere into the state, less sales tax paid to another state, up to the California tax due.

Taxed before the rebate

A manufacturer rebate doesn’t lower the taxable price, whether it goes to the dealer or to you.

Taxed

Yes, the doc fee is taxed.

Sales tax

State sales tax plus local taxes by the buyer’s address; a yearly specific ownership tax at registration

2.9%

Home state, with credit

You pay Colorado state and local use tax when you register at home, less sales tax paid to the state where you bought it.

Taxed before the rebate

A manufacturer rebate doesn’t lower the taxable price.

Taxed

Yes, documentation and processing fees are part of the taxable price.

Sales and use tax

State sales tax only, 7.75% on the whole price above $50,000; a town property tax is billed later

6.35%

Home state, with credit

You pay Connecticut tax at the DMV when you register at home, less sales tax paid to the other state.

Taxed before the rebate

A manufacturer rebate is taxable, so it doesn’t lower the taxable price.

Taxed

Yes, the conveyance or document fee is taxed.

Motor vehicle document fee

No sales tax: a one-time state document fee on the purchase price, paid at titling

5.25%

A different rule

A resident who buys elsewhere pays Delaware’s document fee when titling at home, unless the car was registered in the other state and that state’s tax was paid within 90 days before Delaware registration, in which case nothing is owed.

Taxed before the rebate

Only allowances given by the seller come off the price, so a manufacturer rebate is not taken off before the fee is figured.

Unverified

Taxed

The doc fee is part of what you pay the seller, so it is included in the price Delaware’s document fee is figured on.

Unverified

Sales and use tax

State sales tax plus a county surtax

6%

One detail unverified

Home state, with credit

A resident who buys in another state pays Florida’s tax, plus any county surtax, when titling at home, less credit for sales tax paid to the other state.

Taxed before the rebate

Tax is figured on the price before a manufacturer rebate, so the rebate does not lower it.

Taxed

The dealer’s fee is part of the taxable price of the car.

Title Ad Valorem Tax

A one-time title tax in place of sales tax and the yearly ad valorem tax

7%

Home state, no credit

A resident who buys elsewhere pays Georgia’s title tax in full when titling at home, with no credit for tax paid to another state.

Depends on the rebate

A manufacturer rebate lowers the taxable price on a new car but not on a used one.

Taxed

Doc fees are included in the price the title tax is figured on.

General excise tax

No sales tax; a general excise tax on the dealer, which it may pass on to the buyer at up to 4.712%

4%

Home state, with credit

A car bought out of state and shipped in owes Hawaii’s use tax at registration, with credit for sales or use tax paid to the other state, up to the Hawaii amount.

One detail unverified

Taxed before the rebate

The tax is on the full price the dealer receives, so a manufacturer rebate does not lower it.

Unverified

Taxed

The doc fee is the dealer’s own receipt, so the tax applies to it.

Sales tax

A state sales tax on the retail sale (use tax on a private or out-of-state purchase)

6%

Home state, with credit

A resident who buys from an out-of-state dealer pays Idaho’s use tax when titling at home, less credit for the other state’s sales tax.

Depends on the rebate

A manufacturer rebate lowers the taxable price only when it is used at the time of sale; a rebate taken later as cash does not.

Taxed

Dealer document fees are part of the taxable price.

Illinois sales tax (retailers’ occupation tax and use tax)

State sales tax plus local transit and city taxes, reported by the dealer

6.25%

Home state, with credit

If you buy out of state and register the car at home, you owe this state’s use tax, with credit for sales tax properly paid to the other state.

Taxed before the rebate

A manufacturer rebate doesn’t lower the tax: it’s figured on the price before the rebate, whether you keep the rebate or sign it over to the dealer.

Taxed

The doc fee is part of the taxable selling price.

Sales tax

State sales tax only, no local sales tax; a yearly vehicle excise tax and county surtax at registration

7%

One detail unverified

Home state, with credit

If you buy out of state, you pay this state’s tax when you title the car here, minus credit for sales tax you paid in the other state.

Taxed before the rebate

A manufacturer rebate doesn’t lower the tax: it counts as a form of payment, whether it goes to you or to the dealer.

Taxed

The doc fee is taxed as part of the sale.

Fee for new registration

A one-time registration fee in place of a sales tax: a percentage of the price plus $10 a vehicle

5%

Home state, limited credit

A resident who buys elsewhere pays Iowa’s registration fee at home, with credit only for the other state’s state-level tax, not its local taxes.

Depends on the rebate

A manufacturer cash rebate lowers the taxable price when it is applied to the purchase price at the time of sale.

Not taxed

The dealer’s doc fee is left out of the price the fee for new registration is figured on.

Retailers’ sales tax

State sales tax plus local, collected by the dealer at its location

6.5%

One detail unverified

Home state, with credit

If you buy from an out-of-state dealer, you pay this state’s tax at your home rate when you register, minus credit for sales tax legally paid to the other state.

Depends on the rebate

On a new car, a manufacturer rebate paid straight to the dealer as part of the sale lowers the tax; a rebate paid to you is taxed, and so are rebates on used cars.

Taxed

The dealer’s administrative or doc fee is taxed, whether or not it’s listed separately.

Motor vehicle usage tax

No sales tax on a car: a one-time 6% state usage tax, paid at titling

6%

Home state, limited credit

If you buy out of state, you pay this state’s tax when you title the car at home, with credit for the other state’s tax only if that state gives the same credit in return.

Depends on the rebate

A manufacturer or dealer rebate lowers the tax when it’s applied to the price at the time of purchase.

Taxed

No state source says so directly, but the doc fee is read as part of the taxed price.

Unverified

State and local sales tax

State sales tax plus the local tax of the buyer’s domicile, payable to the Office of Motor Vehicles at titling

5%

Home state, limited credit

If you buy out of state, you pay this state’s and your local tax when you register here, with credit for the other state’s tax only if that state gives the same credit in return.

One detail unverified

Depends on the rebate

On a new car, a manufacturer or dealer rebate comes off the taxable price; on a used car it doesn’t.

Taxed

No state source says so directly, but the doc fee is read as part of the taxed price.

Unverified

Sales tax

State sales tax on a dealer sale, plus a yearly municipal excise tax at registration

5.5%

Home state, with credit

If you buy from an out-of-state dealer, you owe this state’s use tax when you register here, with credit for sales or use tax you paid to the other state.

Taxed before the rebate

Tax is figured on the price before a manufacturer’s rebate, even if you assign the rebate to the dealer; a discount from the dealer does lower the taxed price.

Taxed

Yes, the dealer’s documentation or processing fee is taxed.

Motor vehicle excise tax

A one-time state excise tax at titling, in place of the sales and use tax

6.5%

Home state, no credit

A resident who buys out of state owes this state’s titling tax at home, and no credit for another state’s tax was found except for people who moved here in the last 60 days.

Unverified

Taxed before the rebate

Manufacturer rebates stay in the taxable price, so they don’t lower the tax.

Taxed

The dealer processing charge is part of the taxable price.

Motor vehicle sales tax

State sales tax only, no local tax; a yearly city or town excise is billed later

6.25%

Home state, limited credit

If you buy out of state, you pay this state’s use tax when you register, with credit only for sales tax paid to a state that gives the same credit in return.

Depends on the rebate

A manufacturer rebate lowers the tax when you apply it to the price at the time of sale, but not when it’s paid to you later.

Taxed

The doc fee is part of the taxable price, even when it’s listed separately or financed.

Sales tax

State sales tax only, no local tax; use tax on a private sale

6%

Home state, limited credit

If you buy in another state, you owe this state’s use tax when you title here, with credit for the other state’s tax only if that state gives the same credit for this state’s tax.

Unverified

Taxed before the rebate

A manufacturer’s rebate does not lower the tax, even when it is credited at the time of sale; a dealer discount does.

Taxed

Yes, the dealer’s documentary preparation fee is taxed.

Motor Vehicle Sales Tax (MVST)

A state motor vehicle sales tax in place of the general sales tax and local sales taxes

6.875%

Home state, limited credit

If you buy elsewhere, you owe this state’s motor vehicle sales tax when you register here, less a credit for the other state’s tax only if that state gives a similar credit.

Lowers the tax

A manufacturer’s rebate comes off the price before tax is figured.

Not taxed

No, document fees are on the state’s list of charges dealers do not tax.

Sales tax

A one-time 5% state sales tax on the sale; a yearly county ad valorem tax and privilege tax with the car tag

5%

Home state, no credit

If you buy from an out-of-state dealer, you owe this state’s use tax when you register here, and sales tax paid to the other state is not credited.

Taxed before the rebate

A manufacturer’s rebate does not lower the tax, whether it goes to you or is assigned to the dealer; a dealer’s rebate shown on the invoice does.

Taxed

The doc fee appears to be taxed as part of the selling price, though the state has not said so by name.

Unverified

Motor vehicle sales tax

State sales tax plus local sales tax, paid when the car is titled

4.225%

Home state, with credit

If you buy out of state, you pay this state’s tax when you title here, with credit for sales or use tax you can show you paid to the other state.

Lowers the tax

A rebate from the manufacturer or seller comes off the price before tax, if the bill of sale shows it.

Taxed

Yes, the dealer’s documentation (administrative) fee is taxed.

One detail unverified

Local option motor vehicle tax

No sales tax; flat registration fees by age, plus a county tax on the depreciated MSRP where the county adopted one

0%

No tax on the price

There is no state tax on the price to pay when you register here, and no credit for sales tax another state charged you.

No tax on the price

Rebates make no tax difference, because no tax is figured on the price.

No tax on the price

Nothing on the purchase price is taxed, so the doc fee isn’t either.

Sales and use tax

State sales tax plus local, paid by the buyer at registration

5.5%

Home state, with credit

If you live here and buy a car in another state, you pay this state’s and your local sales tax when you register it here, with credit for sales tax you paid to the other state.

Depends on the rebate

A manufacturer rebate lowers the tax when it is assigned to the dealer and used to cut the price at the sale; a rebate paid to you after the sale does not.

Taxed

Yes, document processing charges are part of the price the tax is figured on.

Sales tax

A combined state and county sales tax by the dealer’s county; a yearly governmental services tax at registration

6.85%

One detail unverified

Home state, with credit

A resident who buys out of state pays this state’s use tax, at the home county rate, before the car can be registered, with credit for sales tax legitimately paid to the other state.

Taxed before the rebate

A manufacturer rebate doesn’t lower the tax: tax is figured on the full selling price, though a dealer discount that no one reimburses does lower it.

Taxed

The doc fee is taxed as part of the sale.

Registration permit fee

No sales or use tax on vehicles; a town or city permit fee on the maker’s list price takes its place

0%

No tax on the price

There is no sales or use tax to pay here when you register a car bought in another state, though the state you buy in may charge its own tax.

No tax on the price

There is no sales tax here, and a rebate never changes the registration permit fee, which is based on the maker’s list price.

No tax on the price

There is no general sales tax here, so the doc fee is not taxed.

Sales and use tax

State sales and use tax, one rate statewide

6.625%

Home state, with credit

If you live here and buy a car in another state, you pay this state’s use tax when you title it here, with credit for sales tax legally paid to the other state.

Taxed before the rebate

A manufacturer rebate does not lower the tax; sales tax is charged on the price before the rebate.

Taxed

Yes, documentary fees are part of the price the sales tax is figured on.

Motor vehicle excise tax

A 4% state excise tax on the sale, paid at titling, in place of the gross receipts tax; the doc fee pays gross receipts tax at the dealer’s rate

4%

Home state, with credit

If you live here and buy a car in another state, you pay this state’s motor vehicle excise tax when you title it here, with credit for sales or use tax paid to the other state on the same car.

Lowers the tax

A manufacturer rebate lowers the tax when the sale contract promises it to you at the time of sale, even if you receive it later.

Taxed

The doc fee is not part of the price the vehicle excise tax is figured on, but it is subject to the gross receipts tax, which the dealer may pass on to you.

Sales and use tax

State sales and use tax plus the local rate where the buyer lives, and the MCTD’s 0.375% downstate

4%

Home state, limited credit

A resident who buys out of state owes this state’s sales and use tax when bringing the car home, and tax paid elsewhere counts only if that state gives a matching credit; New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania tax doesn’t count.

Taxed before the rebate

A manufacturer rebate doesn’t lower the tax, even when it’s assigned to the dealer at the sale; only a dealer’s own discount that no one reimburses does.

Depends

The doc fee isn’t taxed if it’s listed separately and is reasonable, which means no more than the state’s motor vehicle rules allow.

One detail unverified

Highway Use Tax

A one-time state titling tax in place of sales tax

3%

Home state, with credit

If you live here and buy a car in another state, you pay this state’s highway use tax when you title it here, with credit for tax you paid to the other state.

Taxed before the rebate

A manufacturer rebate does not lower the tax; the tax is figured on the price before the rebate.

Unverified

Taxed

Yes, the dealer’s doc fee is added to the price the tax is figured on.

Motor vehicle excise tax

A state excise tax in place of state and local sales and use tax

5%

Home state, limited credit

If you live here and buy a car in another state, you pay this state’s 5% excise tax when you title it here, with credit for tax paid to that state only if that state gives a similar credit, and no credit at all for tax paid to a few states.

Depends on the rebate

A manufacturer rebate lowers the tax when it is applied at the time of sale; a rebate paid to you later does not.

Not taxed

No, document fees are not part of the price the vehicle excise tax is figured on.

Sales and use tax

State sales tax plus a county and transit tax

5.75%

One detail unverified

Home state, with credit

A resident who buys out of state pays this state’s tax, at the home county rate, before the title is issued, with credit for tax paid to the other state.

Taxed before the rebate

A manufacturer rebate doesn’t lower the tax; tax is figured on the price before the rebate.

Not taxed

The doc fee isn’t taxed.

Motor vehicle excise tax

A state excise tax on first transfer or registration, plus a 1.25% sales tax on the vehicle

3.25%

Home state, no credit

A resident pays this state’s excise and sales tax when first registering the car here, and no rule was found giving credit for tax paid to another state.

Unverified

Taxed before the rebate

No rule addresses manufacturer rebates; the tax is on the actual sales price, so a rebate assigned to the dealer likely doesn’t lower it.

Unverified

Not taxed

The doc fee is left out of the price used for the excise tax.

One detail unverified

Vehicle privilege tax

No sales tax; a 0.5% privilege tax on the dealer, passed to the buyer, on new cars

0.5%

A different rule

A resident who buys a car with 7,500 miles or less from an out-of-state dealer pays the state’s small vehicle use tax within 30 days, less any tax paid elsewhere.

Depends on the rebate

A rebate lowers the taxed price only when it’s given at the time of sale; one mailed to you afterward doesn’t.

Depends

The doc fee isn’t taxed if it’s listed separately on the invoice or bill of sale.

Sales and use tax

State sales and use tax, plus a local tax in Philadelphia and Allegheny County

6%

Home state, limited credit

A resident who buys out of state pays this state’s use tax when titling at home, and tax paid elsewhere counts only if that state gives this state similar credit.

One detail unverified

Depends on the rebate

A rebate lowers the taxed price when it’s applied at the sale and shown on the invoice; a rebate mailed to you later doesn’t.

Not taxed

The doc fee isn’t taxed.

One detail unverified

Sales and use tax

A one-time state sales tax, paid at the DMV when you register

7%

Home state, with credit

If you buy from a dealer in another state, you pay this state’s use tax when you register the car here, with credit for sales tax you paid to the other state, up to this state’s amount.

Lowers the tax

A manufacturer’s rebate comes off the price before the tax is figured.

Taxed

Yes, the dealer’s doc fee is part of the price that’s taxed.

Infrastructure maintenance fee

A one-time fee at titling in place of a sales tax, at most $500

5%

A different rule

Here the charge is a one-time infrastructure maintenance fee rather than a sales tax; you pay it when you title the car here, and no rule was found giving credit for tax paid to the dealer’s state.

Unverified

Taxed before the rebate

A manufacturer’s rebate doesn’t lower the price the fee is figured on.

Taxed

The dealer’s closing fee is likely part of the price the fee is figured on, though no state agency says so in writing.

Unverified

Motor vehicle excise tax

A state excise tax in place of state and city sales and use tax on the vehicle

4%

Home state, with credit

If you buy in another state, you pay this state’s 4% vehicle excise tax at your county treasurer, with credit for tax you paid to the other state, so you pay only any difference.

Taxed before the rebate

A manufacturer’s rebate likely doesn’t lower the tax, because the tax is on the full price and only a trade-in is taken off; no state source says so in words.

Unverified

Taxed

Yes, the doc fee is taxed either way: inside the car’s price it gets the vehicle excise tax, and listed separately it gets state and city sales tax.

Sales and use tax

State sales tax plus a local option tax and a state single article tax

7%

Home state, with credit

If you buy in another state, you pay this state’s tax when you register the car, with credit for sales tax paid to the other state, so you owe only the difference plus any local tax not collected.

Taxed before the rebate

Tax is figured on the full price before a manufacturer’s rebate, except for a narrow kind of manufacturer payment made to the dealer.

Taxed

Yes, the dealer’s doc fee counts as part of the car’s price and is taxed.

Motor vehicle sales tax

A one-time state tax on the purchase price, with no local tax on the car

6.25%

Home state, with credit

If you buy in another state, you owe this state’s motor vehicle use tax when you bring the car home, with dollar-for-dollar credit for state and local tax paid to the other state.

Lowers the tax

Manufacturer and dealer rebates passed to you come off the price before the tax is figured.

Depends

The doc fee isn’t taxed when the dealer lists it as its own separate charge.

Sales and use tax

State sales and use tax plus local taxes at the dealer’s location

4.85%

Home state, with credit

If you buy outside the state, you pay this state’s use tax when you title the car, with credit for sales tax paid to the other state, so you pay any difference.

Unverified

Lowers the tax

A manufacturer’s rebate comes off the taxed price when it is shown separately on the invoice or bill of sale.

Taxed

Yes, the dealer’s documentary service fee is taxed.

Motor vehicle purchase and use tax

A one-time state tax on purchase or first registration

6%

Home state, with credit

If you buy in another state, you pay this state’s tax when you register the car at home, with credit for sales tax you paid to the other state; you pay only the difference if that tax was lower.

Taxed before the rebate

A manufacturer rebate doesn’t lower the tax: tax is figured on the price before the rebate.

Unverified

Taxed

Yes, the dealer’s documentation fee is part of the taxed purchase price.

Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax

A one-time state tax at titling; the city or county car tax is billed later

4.15%

Home state, with credit

If you buy in another state, you pay this state’s tax when you title the car at home, with credit for sales tax you paid to the other state.

Lowers the tax

A manufacturer rebate applied to the deal comes off the price before tax is figured.

One detail unverified

Taxed

Yes, the dealer’s processing fee is part of the taxed price.

Sales tax

State and local retail sales tax by the dealer’s location plus a 0.5% motor vehicle sales tax; the Sound Transit RTA tax inside its district

6.5%

Home state, with credit

If you buy in another state, you pay this state’s use tax when you title the car at home, with credit for sales tax you paid to the other state.

Taxed before the rebate

A manufacturer rebate doesn’t lower the tax: it counts as part of the selling price (a dealer’s own discount does lower it).

Not taxed

No, the documentary service fee isn’t subject to sales tax.

Motor vehicle excise tax

A one-time excise tax at titling on the car’s fair market value, by weight and mileage, in place of a sales tax

No single rate

Home state, no credit

A resident who buys elsewhere owes the District’s excise tax when titling the car at home, and no credit is given for tax paid to another state.

One detail unverified

Taxed before the rebate

The tax is figured on the car’s book value, so a manufacturer rebate does not lower it.

Unverified

Not taxed

The doc fee is not part of the car’s book value that the tax is figured on, so it is not taxed.

Unverified

Motor vehicle sales tax

A state sales tax on cars, collected through the DMV before a title is issued

6%

Home state, no credit

If you buy in another state, you pay this state’s full tax when you title the car at home, and no credit is given for tax paid to the other state.

Taxed before the rebate

A manufacturer rebate doesn’t lower the tax: it can’t be subtracted from the taxed price.

Not taxed

No, documentary fees are listed as not subject to the vehicle sales tax.

Sales and use tax

The state sales and use tax plus a county tax and, in the City of Milwaukee, a city tax; no separate vehicle tax

5%

Home state, with credit

If you buy in another state, you owe this state’s use tax when you title the car at home, with credit for sales tax you paid to the other state.

Taxed before the rebate

A manufacturer rebate doesn’t lower the tax: you still pay tax on the rebate amount.

Taxed

Yes, the dealer’s service fee is part of the taxed price.

Sales tax

State and county sales and use tax, paid to the county treasurer at the first registration

4%

Home state, with credit

If you buy in another state, you pay this state’s use tax when you first register the car at home, with credit for sales tax you paid to the other state; you pay only the difference.

Depends on the rebate

A manufacturer rebate lowers the taxed price only when it’s offered and accepted at the time of purchase and assigned to the dealer.

Taxed

Yes, documentary fees must be included in the taxed sales price.