Maryland car sales tax and titling tax calculator
The motor vehicle excise tax in Maryland is 6.50% of the taxable amount.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
By Mr. Voltage · Data checked Oct 3, 2026 · Page changed Oct 30, 2026
Where will you register the car?
Maryland
Example quotes. Pick your place and type yours. Example: three quotes on one car in Harris County, Maryland. Pick your own place and type your quotes.
Your deals at a glance
| Deal | Payment | All-in |
|---|---|---|
| $598.61a month | $40,916.54+$636.85 more than Deal C | |
| $540.26a month | $43,898.83+$3,619.14 more than Deal C | |
| $588.00a month | $40,279.69Lowest |
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.
$598.61 a month · 60 payments
All-in $40,916.54
$540.26 a month · 72 payments
All-in $43,898.83
$588.00 a month · 60 payments
All-in $40,279.69Lowest
Out-the-door $36,038.00
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $36,778.18
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $36,623.75
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
New · Gas · change
New or used
The sheet starts with a new car; each deal sets its own
Fuel
Gas car. Electric and plug-in hybrid cars pay a yearly surcharge
Shipping weight
The research’s test car, a 2026 Tucson SEL, at 3,494 lb or a little less: $80.50 a year. From 3,501 to 3,700 lb it is $85.50, and above 3,700 lb $151.50. The certificate of origin gives the shipping weight
New · Gas · change
New or used
The sheet starts with a new car; each deal sets its own
Fuel
Gas car. Electric and plug-in hybrid cars pay a yearly surcharge
Shipping weight
The research’s test car, a 2026 Tucson SEL, at 3,494 lb or a little less: $80.50 a year. From 3,501 to 3,700 lb it is $85.50, and above 3,700 lb $151.50. The certificate of origin gives the shipping weight
New · Gas · change
New or used
The sheet starts with a new car; each deal sets its own
Fuel
Gas car. Electric and plug-in hybrid cars pay a yearly surcharge
Shipping weight
The research’s test car, a 2026 Tucson SEL, at 3,494 lb or a little less: $80.50 a year. From 3,501 to 3,700 lb it is $85.50, and above 3,700 lb $151.50. The certificate of origin gives the shipping weight
$800.00: the most Maryland law allows (“May not exceed: … $800 on and after July 1, 2024”).
Maryland calls it a dealer processing charge.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
The notice Maryland requires with this fee
Dealer processing charge (not required by law): $....
$800.00: the most Maryland law allows (“May not exceed: … $800 on and after July 1, 2024”).
Maryland calls it a dealer processing charge.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
The notice Maryland requires with this fee
Dealer processing charge (not required by law): $....
$800.00: the most Maryland law allows (“May not exceed: … $800 on and after July 1, 2024”).
Maryland calls it a dealer processing charge.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
The notice Maryland requires with this fee
Dealer processing charge (not required by law): $....
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Assumes the tax is rounded to the cent, half a cent up. Maryland publishes no rounding rule. If MVA drops the fraction instead, the tax is at most 1¢ less.
- No county or city tax on a car in Maryland: the law forbids one.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No yearly property tax on a personally owned car.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No plate fee: standard plates come with the registration.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No limit on the trade-in credit.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No county or city tax on a car in Maryland: the law forbids one.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No yearly property tax on a personally owned car.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No plate fee: standard plates come with the registration.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No limit on the trade-in credit.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No county or city tax on a car in Maryland: the law forbids one.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No yearly property tax on a personally owned car.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No plate fee: standard plates come with the registration.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No limit on the trade-in credit.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $3,338.00 in tax, fees and the doc fee first; $1,662.00 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $3,383.18 in tax, fees and the doc fee first; $1,616.82 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $3,373.75 in tax, fees and the doc fee first; $1,626.25 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 $598.55
72 payments, last $540.37
60 payments, last $587.69
cash down plus every payment
+$636.85 more all-in than Deal C
cash down plus every payment
+$3,619.14 more all-in than Deal C
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.
3 charges this total leaves out
3 charges this total leaves out
3 charges this total leaves out
What’s different in Maryland
Maryland calls it the motor vehicle excise tax. Dealers call it “titling tax”; that is their shorthand, not the law's name.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
A trade-in comes off the amount taxed at its full value, so only the difference is taxed.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Negative equity rolled into the new loan is not taxed.
regs.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Maryland’s law sets a maximum for the dealer processing charge of $800.00 (its words: “May not exceed: … $800 on and after July 1, 2024”).
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Registration is priced by the car’s shipping weight. A car one pound over 3,500 lb pays $85.50 a year instead of $80.50.
mgaleg.maryland.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 Maryland’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 price mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $23,500.00 |
| Maryland titling (excise) tax mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1,527.50 |
| Doc fee mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $800.00 |
| Title fee mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $200.00 |
| Registration (by shipping weight) mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $80.50 |
| EMS surcharge mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $40.00 |
| Security interest filing regs.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $40.00 |
| Out-the-door price | $35,388.00 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $33,388.00 |
| Monthly payment | $643.93 |
| Interest over the loan | $5,247.99 |
| Total paid, interest included | $43,635.99 |
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 Maryland’s example market.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price | $21,500.00 |
| Taxable price mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $22,300.00 |
| Maryland titling (excise) tax mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1,449.50 |
| Doc fee mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $800.00 |
| Title fee mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $200.00 |
| Registration (by shipping weight) mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $80.50 |
| EMS surcharge mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $40.00 |
| Security interest filing regs.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $40.00 |
| Out-the-door price | $24,110.00 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $19,110.00 |
| Monthly payment | $368.56 |
| Interest over the loan | $3,003.77 |
| Total paid, interest included | $27,113.77 |
The rules in Maryland
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Name of the tax | motor vehicle excise tax. Dealers call it “titling tax”. mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Maryland titling (excise) tax | 6.50% of the taxable amount mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| What is taxed | Taxed: the vehicle price, the doc fee, accessories fitted before delivery, protection packages and loose items sold with the car. Not taxed: other dealer fees on the order, service contracts, prepaid maintenance, GAP and government fees. mgaleg.maryland.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. mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Maker’s rebate | A maker’s rebate does not lower the amount taxed. regs.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Dealer discount | A dealer discount lowers the amount taxed. regs.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Negative equity | Negative equity rolled into the loan is not taxed. regs.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Doc fee | The law sets a maximum for the dealer processing charge of $800.00 (its words: “May not exceed: … $800 on and after July 1, 2024”). mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Title fee | $200.00 mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Registration (by shipping weight) | worked from the rule a year mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| EMS surcharge | $40.00 a year mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Minimum tax | $100, set by the statute. There is no maximum. mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Private-party purchase | The buyer pays the 6.5% excise tax to MVA at titling, on the price or the value in a national used car guide. There is no trade-in credit. mva.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Bought out of state | A Maryland resident owes the 6.5% excise tax when titling in Maryland. We found no credit for another state’s tax for a resident. That finding is not confirmed. mva.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| New resident | Within 60 days of moving, the difference between the old state’s rate and 6.5%, or $100 if the old rate was 6.5% or more. After 60 days, the full tax with no credit. mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Electric and hybrid fees | $125 a year for a zero-emission car and $100 for a plug-in hybrid, on top of registration. The surcharge is adjusted for inflation from August 1, 2026; the adjusted amounts are not confirmed. mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Finance rate ceiling | Under the dealer installment sale law: 16.5% a year for a new car, 22% for a car up to 2 model years old, and 27% for an older one, simple interest. mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Interest rate markup | No limit on a dealer’s markup over the lender’s rate was found; only the overall rate ceilings apply. That finding is not confirmed. mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
What has changed
· Watching: The zero-emission and plug-in hybrid surcharges are adjusted for inflation each year from August 1, 2026, MVA had not posted the adjusted amounts on 2026-10-12; its fee page still shows $125 and $100.
regs.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
· The rules on this page start here. Nothing earlier is loaded.
Questions people ask
How does Maryland tax a car, and what is the titling tax?
Maryland does not charge its 6% sales and use tax on a car. Instead it charges the motor vehicle excise tax when the car is titled. Dealers call it the titling tax. The rate is 6.5% of the price agreed by the buyer and the seller, including any dealer processing charge, less the trade-in allowance. It rose from 6% on July 1, 2025, and the rate follows the contract date. The same rate applies in Baltimore City and every county: a county may not add its own tax on a title. A Maryland dealer collects the tax at signing and sends it with the title application. A private buyer pays MVA, or a tag and title agent, at titling. The law sets a minimum tax of $100 and no maximum.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
mva.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Is the Maryland dealer doc fee capped?
Yes. The law calls it the dealer processing charge. If a dealer charges one, it shall be reasonable and may not exceed $800 on and after July 1, 2024. The $800 is fixed in the statute, so it changes only if the law changes. It was $500 before that date. The contract must say, in 12 point type or larger: “Dealer processing charge (not required by law): $....”. The charge is part of the price taxed, so the 6.5% titling tax applies to it. Apart from it, a dealer may charge an optional service fee of up to $20 for registering the car electronically. That fee is not taxed.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
regs.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Does a trade-in lower the Maryland titling tax?
Yes, in full. The trade-in allowance comes off the price before the tax, with no dollar limit. We found no $15,000 limit, or any other, in the statute, the regulation or MVA’s pages. If you still owe on the trade-in, you get the full allowance anyway: it is not limited to the equity you have. The owner of the trade-in must be an owner of the new car, or a listed relative such as a spouse, parent, child, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild or in-law. Only one trade-in counts per sale. Selling your old car yourself gives no credit. Only a trade-in to the dealer on the same deal lowers the tax.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
regs.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
regs.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Is a private car sale taxed in Maryland?
Yes. The buyer pays the 6.5% excise tax to MVA when titling the car, and there is no trade-in credit. From October 1, 2026, if the price is $500 or more below the car’s value in the national used car guide MVA uses, the tax is on that value. You can show MVA proof of the lower price instead, such as the bill of sale, a cancelled check, loan papers or the ad. A notarized bill of sale is no longer required. For a car 7 or more model years old, the tax is on the greater of the price or $640. MVA’s fee table lists $41.60, which is 6.5% of $640, as a minimum tax; the statute’s minimum is $100, and our figures follow the statute. A used car needs a Maryland safety inspection before it is titled. The station sets its own fee. Apply for the title within 30 days of delivery, or MVA may add a $25 fee.
mva.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
mva.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
mva.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
I moved to Maryland with my car. Do I pay the titling tax?
It depends on how fast you title it. If you have not been a Maryland resident for more than 60 days, and the car was titled and registered in your old state, you pay only the difference between that state’s rate and Maryland’s 6.5%. If your old state’s rate was 6.5% or higher, you pay $100. MVA charges $41.60 for a car 7 or more model years old. Miss the 60 days and you pay the full 6.5% of the car’s clean retail value in the used car guide, with no credit for tax paid before. From October 1, 2026, MVA writes to residents with out-of-state plates, and the penalty after 60 days is $7 a day, up to $420.
mva.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
mva.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
What do title and registration cost in Maryland?
The title fee is $200. It doubled from $100 on July 1, 2025. Registration goes by the manufacturer’s shipping weight, not the curb weight: $80.50 a year at 3,500 lb or less, $85.50 from 3,501 to 3,700 lb, and $151.50 over 3,700 lb. On top of that is an EMS surcharge of $40 a year. MVA’s fee table shows the two together: $120.50, $125.50 and $191.50 a year. You can register for one year or two, and two years costs twice as much. Standard plates are included. A loan adds a $40 security interest filing fee. The lender pays it, and in practice it is passed to the buyer on the deal.
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
mva.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
regs.maryland.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026