Arizona car sales tax calculator
The transaction privilege tax in Arizona is the state’s 5.60% plus a local rate that depends on the place, of the taxable amount.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
By Mr. Voltage · Data checked Oct 11, 2026 · Page changed Oct 12, 2026
Where will you register the car?
Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona
Example quotes. Pick your place and type yours. Example: three quotes on one car in Harris County, Arizona. Pick your own place and type your quotes.
Your deals at a glance
| Deal | Payment | All-in |
|---|---|---|
| $599.42a month | $40,965.42so far | |
| $541.19a month | $43,965.74so far | |
| $586.58a month | $40,194.99so far |
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Your numbers stay in this browser.
$599.42 a month · 60 payments
All-in $40,965.42 so far
$541.19 a month · 72 payments
All-in $43,965.74 so far
$586.58 a month · 60 payments
All-in $40,194.99 so far
Out-the-door $36,080.19 so far
so far: not including a doc fee yet. Enter your dealer’s.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $36,832.88 so far
so far: not including a doc fee yet. Enter your dealer’s.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $36,551.34 so far
so far: not including a doc fee yet. Enter your dealer’s.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
New · 2026 · Gas · change
New or used
The sheet starts with a new car; each deal sets its own
Model year
A new car is the current or next model year
Fuel
Gas car. An electric car skips the $1.50 air quality fee
Tires
Four tires and a spare: the research’s test car carries a compact spare
Sticker price (MSRP)
The research’s test car: the 2026 Tucson SEL FWD’s MSRP without the $1,400 destination
Doc fee stated on its own line
Dealers show the doc fee on its own line; one folded into the price is taxed
New · 2026 · Gas · change
New or used
The sheet starts with a new car; each deal sets its own
Model year
A new car is the current or next model year
Fuel
Gas car. An electric car skips the $1.50 air quality fee
Tires
Four tires and a spare: the research’s test car carries a compact spare
Sticker price (MSRP)
The research’s test car: the 2026 Tucson SEL FWD’s MSRP without the $1,400 destination
Doc fee stated on its own line
Dealers show the doc fee on its own line; one folded into the price is taxed
New · 2026 · Gas · change
New or used
The sheet starts with a new car; each deal sets its own
Model year
A new car is the current or next model year
Fuel
Gas car. An electric car skips the $1.50 air quality fee
Tires
Four tires and a spare: the research’s test car carries a compact spare
Sticker price (MSRP)
The research’s test car: the 2026 Tucson SEL FWD’s MSRP without the $1,400 destination
Doc fee stated on its own line
Dealers show the doc fee on its own line; one folded into the price is taxed
Arizona law sets no figure for this fee.
Arizona calls it a document fee.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Arizona law sets no figure for this fee.
Arizona calls it a document fee.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Arizona law sets no figure for this fee.
Arizona calls it a document fee.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No charge for a standard plate, and no separate lien fee.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No emissions test on a new car for its first five registration years; on a used car from a dealer, the dealer pays for it.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No electric or hybrid vehicle fee.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 11, 2026
- No county or city registration fee.
servicearizona.com · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No charge for a standard plate, and no separate lien fee.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No emissions test on a new car for its first five registration years; on a used car from a dealer, the dealer pays for it.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No electric or hybrid vehicle fee.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 11, 2026
- No county or city registration fee.
servicearizona.com · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No charge for a standard plate, and no separate lien fee.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No emissions test on a new car for its first five registration years; on a used car from a dealer, the dealer pays for it.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No electric or hybrid vehicle fee.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 11, 2026
- No county or city registration fee.
servicearizona.com · checked Oct 3, 2026
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $3,380.19 in tax and fees first; $1,619.81 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $3,437.88 in tax and fees first; $1,562.12 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $3,301.34 in tax and fees first; $1,698.66 goes toward the price.
Illustrative rate, not a quote. Your APR depends on your credit, the term, the vehicle and the lender.
Illustrative rate, not a quote. Your APR depends on your credit, the term, the vehicle and the lender.
Illustrative rate, not a quote. Your APR depends on your credit, the term, the vehicle and the lender.
60 payments, last $599.64
72 payments, last $541.25
60 payments, last $586.77
cash down plus every payment
cash down plus every payment
cash down plus every payment
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
1 charge this total leaves out
1 charge this total leaves out
1 charge this total leaves out
What’s different in Arizona
Arizona calls it the transaction privilege tax.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
A trade-in comes off the amount taxed at its full value, so only the difference is taxed.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Negative equity rolled into the new loan is not taxed.
azdor.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Arizona’s law sets no figure for the document fee. That point is not confirmed.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Arizona adds a vehicle license tax every year at registration. It is figured on the manufacturer’s base price and the car’s age, not the price paid, so discounts, trade-ins and rebates do not change it.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Worked examples
Each line below is worked by the same engine as the calculator, on the day this page was built (Nov 11, 2026).
A new car with a trade-in and negative equity
A new car at $32,700.00, with a trade-in allowed at $10,000.00 and $13,000.00 still owed, $5,000.00 down, financed at 5.90% for 60 months, bought from a dealer and registered in Arizona’s example market.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price | $32,700.00 |
| Trade-in allowance | $10,000.00 |
| Still owed on the trade-in | $13,000.00 |
| Equity (negative if you owe more than it is worth) | −$3,000.00 |
| Taxable amount azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $22,700.00 |
| Arizona transaction privilege tax azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1,271.20 |
| County excise tax phoenix.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $158.90 |
| City privilege tax phoenix.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $568.70 |
| Title fee azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $4.00 |
| Registration fee azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $8.00 |
| Vehicle license tax azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $525.84 |
| Air quality fee azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1.50 |
| Air quality compliance fee azleg.gov · checked Oct 11, 2026 | $0.25 |
| Waste tire fee azdor.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $11.80 |
| Out-the-door price | $35,250.19 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $33,250.19 |
| Monthly payment | $641.27 |
| Interest over the loan | $5,226.31 |
| Total paid, interest included | $43,476.50 |
A used car from a dealer
A used car, model year 2022, at $21,500.00, $5,000.00 down, financed at 5.90% for 60 months, bought from a dealer and registered in Arizona’s example market.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price | $21,500.00 |
| Taxable amount azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $21,500.00 |
| Arizona transaction privilege tax azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1,204.00 |
| County excise tax phoenix.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $150.50 |
| City privilege tax phoenix.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $544.70 |
| Title fee azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $4.00 |
| Registration fee azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $8.00 |
| Air quality fee azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1.50 |
| Air quality compliance fee azleg.gov · checked Oct 11, 2026 | $0.25 |
| Vehicle license tax: needs the car’s sticker price (MSRP), which this example doesn’t give | Not included |
| Out-the-door price | $23,412.95 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $18,412.95 |
| Monthly payment | $355.12 |
| Interest over the loan | $2,894.15 |
| Total paid, interest included | $26,307.10 |
A used car priced under the single-item limit
A used car, model year 2021, at $12,500.00, $5,000.00 down, financed at 5.90% for 60 months, bought from a dealer and registered in Arizona’s example market.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price | $12,500.00 |
| Taxable amount azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $12,500.00 |
| Arizona transaction privilege tax azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $700.00 |
| County excise tax phoenix.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $87.50 |
| City privilege tax phoenix.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $350.00 |
| Title fee azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $4.00 |
| Registration fee azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $8.00 |
| Air quality fee azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1.50 |
| Air quality compliance fee azleg.gov · checked Oct 11, 2026 | $0.25 |
| Vehicle license tax: needs the car’s sticker price (MSRP), which this example doesn’t give | Not included |
| Out-the-door price | $13,651.25 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $8,651.25 |
| Monthly payment | $166.85 |
| Interest over the loan | $1,359.81 |
| Total paid, interest included | $15,011.06 |
The rules in Arizona
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Name of the tax | transaction privilege tax azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Arizona transaction privilege tax | 5.60% of the taxable amount azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| County excise tax | a local rate set by the dealer’s place, on the taxable amount phoenix.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| City privilege tax | a local rate set by the dealer’s place, on the taxable amount. That point is not confirmed. phoenix.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| What is taxed | Taxed: the vehicle price, other dealer fees on the order, accessories fitted before delivery, protection packages and loose items sold with the car. Not taxed: service contracts, prepaid maintenance, GAP and government fees. Depends on the deal: the doc fee. azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Trade-in | A trade-in comes off the amount taxed at its full value, so only the difference is taxed. azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Maker’s rebate | A maker’s rebate lowers the amount taxed. azdor.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Dealer discount | A dealer discount lowers the amount taxed. azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Negative equity | Negative equity rolled into the loan is not taxed. azdor.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Doc fee | The law sets no figure for the document fee. That point is not confirmed. azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Title fee | $4.00 azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Registration fee | $8.00 a year azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Air quality fee | $1.50 a year azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Private-party purchase | No TPT or use tax on a private (casual) sale. The buyer pays only title, registration, the air quality fee and the vehicle license tax. azdor.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Bought out of state | An Arizona resident buying from an out-of-state dealer pays the state 5.6% plus city use tax (no county use tax) at the Motor Vehicle Division when registering. azdor.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Tax paid to another state | A credit for sales or excise tax paid to another US state, up to the Arizona state and city use tax due. There is none for tax paid to a foreign country. azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| New resident | No use tax on a vehicle bought and first used while living elsewhere. The owner still pays title, registration, the air quality fee and the vehicle license tax. We have not confirmed whether years the car was registered elsewhere count toward its age for that tax. azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Electric and hybrid vehicle fees | No electric or hybrid registration surcharge. Electric vehicles pay the standard vehicle license tax and skip the air quality fee and emissions tests. azleg.gov · checked Oct 11, 2026 |
| Finance charge ceiling | No limit for a written retail installment contract: any agreed rate is allowed. azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
What has changed
· Watching: Phoenix’s single-item threshold ($14,338) is re-indexed, Every two years; next on 2028-01-01, announced in a Phoenix tax bulletin.
phoenix.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
· Watching: Maricopa County’s 0.2% jail facilities tax ends unless voters extend it (0.7% would become 0.5%), About 2027-04-01 if the 2026-11-03 ballot question fails; ADOR’s rate table will show it.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
· The rules on this page start here. Nothing earlier is loaded.
Questions people ask
What is Arizona's transaction privilege tax on a car?
Arizona has no sales tax in its law. It taxes the seller’s privilege of doing business, and the dealer passes that on to the buyer as a line on the bill. The tax is called the transaction privilege tax, or TPT, and a car sale falls under its retail classification. Three layers are collected on one sale: the state rate of 5.6% (a 5.0% base plus a 0.6% education increment), a county tax and a city tax. The price taxed includes the destination charge and dealer-installed accessories, less the trade-in and less a maker’s rebate the buyer assigns to the dealer. A doc fee that is shown separately and is reasonable, a warranty or service contract, motor vehicle fees, the vehicle license tax and the waste tire fee are left out. The dealer reports and pays the TPT. The vehicle license tax is a separate yearly tax that is collected at registration.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
azdor.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
azdor.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Which city and county rates apply to an Arizona car purchase?
The dealer’s. The county and the city are those of the seller’s business location where the order is received, not the buyer’s address. By the same rule, a Phoenix resident who buys in Scottsdale would pay Scottsdale’s city rate, not Phoenix’s. In Phoenix the city rate is 2.8% on the first $14,338 of a single item and 2.0% above that. Maricopa County adds 0.7%, which is 0.5% for transportation plus 0.2% for jail facilities. With the state’s 5.6% that makes 9.1% on the first part of a price and 8.3% on the rest. The Department of Revenue publishes rate tables for 91 cities and towns and 15 counties, and an address look-up tool.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
phoenix.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
azdor.gov · checked Oct 11, 2026
azdor.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
How does Phoenix tax the part of a car's price above its single-item limit?
At a lower city rate. For a single item, Phoenix charges 2.8% on the first $14,338 and 2.0% on the part above $14,338, for sales in 2026 and 2027. State and county rates do not change at that point, so the combined rate falls from 9.1% to 8.3%. The limit is tested on the item’s value before taxes, add-ons or price adjustments. It is re-set every two years, and the next new figure is for sales in 2028 and 2029. We have not confirmed how a trade-in or rebate is split between the two levels. GougeProof puts the higher rate on the first $14,338 of the net taxable amount, which gives the same answer whenever that amount is above $14,338. About 28 of Arizona’s 91 cities have a tier like this, with limits from $500 to $14,338.
phoenix.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
phoenix.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
What is Arizona's vehicle license tax?
It is a yearly tax paid at registration, in place of a personal property tax, and it is based on the car’s value, not the price paid. In the first 12 months the value is 60% of the manufacturer’s base retail price, taxed at $2.80 per $100. In each later year the value is 16.25% lower than the year before, taxed at $2.89 per $100. The minimum is $10. Because it works from the base price and the car’s age, discounts, trade-ins and rebates do not change it. We have not confirmed whether the base price includes the destination charge. Electric cars pay the same tax as other cars.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
servicearizona.com · checked Oct 3, 2026
azleg.gov · checked Oct 11, 2026
Is the Arizona dealer doc fee capped?
We found no cap. Arizona sets no dollar maximum, no amount presumed reasonable and no posted-sign rule that the research found, and that is a finding of absence that is not confirmed. A dealer that charges a document fee must say so clearly and conspicuously in its ads, but the law does not require the amount in the ad. A retail installment contract may include a reasonable charge for the seller’s services. The fee is outside the TPT if it is shown separately on the invoice and is reasonable. The state does not define reasonable, so a very large fee could be treated as part of the car’s price.
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
azdor.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Is a private car sale taxed in Arizona?
No. A casual sale between private parties is not taxable, so there is no TPT or use tax on the price. The buyer pays the title fee of $4.00, the registration fee of $8.00 a year, the air quality fee of $1.50 a year and the vehicle license tax, which does not look at the price paid. In the Phoenix area a private sale may need an emissions test costing $16.15 unless the car is exempt. Bring the bill of sale to the Motor Vehicle Division.
azdor.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
azleg.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026