Pennsylvania car sales tax calculator
The sales and use tax in Pennsylvania is the state’s 6.00% plus a local rate that depends on the place, of the taxable amount.
pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
By Mr. Voltage · Data checked Oct 11, 2026 · Page changed Oct 12, 2026
Where will you register the car?
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Example quotes. Pick your place and type yours. Example: three quotes on one car in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Pick your own place and type your quotes.
Your deals at a glance
| Deal | Payment | All-in |
|---|---|---|
| $597.34a month | $40,840.15+$768.61 more than Deal C | |
| $539.32a month | $43,830.73+$3,759.19 more than Deal C | |
| $584.53a month | $40,071.54Lowest |
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.
$597.34 a month · 60 payments
All-in $40,840.15
$539.32 a month · 72 payments
All-in $43,830.73
$584.53 a month · 60 payments
All-in $40,071.54Lowest
Out-the-door $35,972.00
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $36,722.60
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $36,446.00
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 road user charge
Tires
Four tires and a spare: the research’s test car carries a compact spare
Paperwork filed
Most dealers file title work online; a dealer that files on paper may charge less
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 road user charge
Tires
Four tires and a spare: the research’s test car carries a compact spare
Paperwork filed
Most dealers file title work online; a dealer that files on paper may charge less
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 road user charge
Tires
Four tires and a spare: the research’s test car carries a compact spare
Paperwork filed
Most dealers file title work online; a dealer that files on paper may charge less
$490.00: the most Pennsylvania law allows (“a dealer may not charge the purchaser of a vehicle a documentary preparation fee pursuant to 63 P.S. §818.327(c) that exceeds the limits set forth below”).
Pennsylvania calls it a documentary preparation fee.
pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
$490.00: the most Pennsylvania law allows (“a dealer may not charge the purchaser of a vehicle a documentary preparation fee pursuant to 63 P.S. §818.327(c) that exceeds the limits set forth below”).
Pennsylvania calls it a documentary preparation fee.
pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
$490.00: the most Pennsylvania law allows (“a dealer may not charge the purchaser of a vehicle a documentary preparation fee pursuant to 63 P.S. §818.327(c) that exceeds the limits set forth below”).
Pennsylvania calls it a documentary preparation fee.
pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No local sales tax on a car outside Philadelphia and Allegheny County.
pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No separate plate fee: a standard plate comes with the registration.
pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No minimum or maximum tax on a car.
palegis.us · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No local sales tax on a car outside Philadelphia and Allegheny County.
pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No separate plate fee: a standard plate comes with the registration.
pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No minimum or maximum tax on a car.
palegis.us · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No local sales tax on a car outside Philadelphia and Allegheny County.
pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No separate plate fee: a standard plate comes with the registration.
pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No minimum or maximum tax on a car.
palegis.us · checked Oct 3, 2026
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $3,272.00 in tax, fees and the doc fee first; $1,728.00 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $3,327.60 in tax, fees and the doc fee first; $1,672.40 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $3,196.00 in tax, fees and the doc fee first; $1,804.00 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 $597.09
72 payments, last $539.01
60 payments, last $584.27
cash down plus every payment
+$768.61 more all-in than Deal C
cash down plus every payment
+$3,759.19 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 Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania calls it the sales and use tax.
pacodeandbulletin.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
A trade-in comes off the amount taxed at its full value, so only the difference is taxed.
pacodeandbulletin.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Negative equity rolled into the new loan is not taxed.
palegis.us · checked Oct 3, 2026
Pennsylvania’s law sets a maximum for the documentary preparation fee of $490.00 (its words: “a dealer may not charge the purchaser of a vehicle a documentary preparation fee pursuant to 63 P.S. §818.327(c) that exceeds the limits set forth below”). A different figure applies in some deals.
pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
A fee of $1 for each new tire for highway use is added at the sale, including the tires on a new vehicle. The Department of Revenue’s example is four tires and a spare, which comes to $5. It is not part of the price the sales tax is figured on, and it is not charged on used tires.
pacodeandbulletin.gov · checked Oct 11, 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 Philadelphia County.
| 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 pacodeandbulletin.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $22,700.00 |
| Pennsylvania sales and use tax pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1,362.00 |
| Local sales and use tax pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $454.00 |
| Doc fee pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $490.00 |
| Certificate of title pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $72.00 |
| Passenger registration pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $48.00 |
| Lien recording pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $36.00 |
| Fee for Local Use pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $5.00 |
| Tire fee pacodeandbulletin.gov · checked Oct 11, 2026 | $5.00 |
| Out-the-door price | $35,172.00 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $33,172.00 |
| Monthly payment | $639.77 |
| Interest over the loan | $5,213.93 |
| Total paid, interest included | $43,385.93 |
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 Philadelphia County.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price | $21,500.00 |
| Taxable amount pacodeandbulletin.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $21,500.00 |
| Pennsylvania sales and use tax pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1,290.00 |
| Local sales and use tax pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $430.00 |
| Doc fee pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $490.00 |
| Certificate of title pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $72.00 |
| Passenger registration pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $48.00 |
| Lien recording pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $36.00 |
| Fee for Local Use pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $5.00 |
| Out-the-door price | $23,871.00 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $18,871.00 |
| Monthly payment | $363.95 |
| Interest over the loan | $2,966.14 |
| Total paid, interest included | $26,837.14 |
The rules in Pennsylvania
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Name of the tax | sales and use tax pacodeandbulletin.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania sales and use tax | 6.00% of the taxable amount pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Local sales and use tax | a local rate set by the buyer’s place, on the taxable amount pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| What is taxed | Taxed: the vehicle price, other dealer fees on the order, accessories fitted before delivery, protection packages, loose items sold with the car, service contracts and prepaid maintenance. Not taxed: the doc fee, GAP and government fees. pacodeandbulletin.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. pacodeandbulletin.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Maker’s rebate | A maker’s rebate lowers the amount taxed. pacodeandbulletin.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Dealer discount | A dealer discount lowers the amount taxed. pacodeandbulletin.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Negative equity | Negative equity rolled into the loan is not taxed. palegis.us · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Doc fee | The law sets a maximum for the documentary preparation fee of $490.00 (its words: “a dealer may not charge the purchaser of a vehicle a documentary preparation fee pursuant to 63 P.S. §818.327(c) that exceeds the limits set forth below”). A different figure applies in some deals. pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Certificate of title | $72.00 pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Passenger registration | $48.00 a year pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Private-party purchase | 6% state plus 2% Philadelphia (by the buyer’s address), paid by the buyer when titling at an agent or PennDOT. No trade-in is allowed in a private sale. pacodeandbulletin.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Private sale price check | The stated price is used, but the Department of Revenue reviews prices substantially lower than fair market value. If the buyer cannot document the price, tax is billed on fair market value. pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Bought out of state | A Pennsylvania resident pays 6% (plus 2% if in Philadelphia) use tax at PennDOT titling, less credit for the other state’s tax where it gives Pennsylvania a similar credit. palegis.us · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| New resident | No Pennsylvania tax on a vehicle bought 6 months or more before moving in. If it was bought within 6 months, it is taxed on the original price, with credit for another state’s tax if that state gives a similar credit. Title and registration fees are still due. pacodeandbulletin.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Electric and hybrid cars | A 2026 road user charge: $250 a year for an electric car and $63 a year for a plug-in hybrid. Ordinary hybrids and gasoline cars pay $0. pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Finance rate ceiling | A new car’s finance charge may not exceed the equivalent of 18% simple interest a year on the unpaid balance. For a used car, the ceiling is 18% if its model year is within two years of the sale year, and 21% if older. palegis.us · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
What has changed
· The rules on this page start here. Nothing earlier is loaded.
Questions people ask
How much is the sales tax on a car in Pennsylvania?
The state rate is 6%, with no minimum or maximum tax on vehicles. Philadelphia and Allegheny County add a local tax: see the next answer. It is paid to PennDOT as a condition of getting the title. On a dealer sale the dealer collects it at signing and forwards it with the buyer’s tax return. It is figured on the full purchase price, including the delivery charge from the maker to the dealer, dealer preparation, dealer-added accessories and warranty or service charges, less a trade-in taken at the same time. A sale by a private person is taxed too.
pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
palegis.us · checked Oct 3, 2026
pacodeandbulletin.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
pacodeandbulletin.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Which local tax applies to a Pennsylvania car purchase?
Only two places have one. Philadelphia adds 2%, which is two separate 1% taxes, and Allegheny County adds 1%. Everywhere else in the state there is no local tax on a car. It follows the buyer’s address, meaning where the vehicle is registered. The dealer’s location, and where the car is delivered, do not matter. The local tax is figured on the same price as the state tax, with no first-dollar cap. A 2026 law, Act 21, changed where other local sales taxes are placed. For a car the tax already followed the buyer’s address, so we treat it as unchanged. That is our reading of the law, not a statement from the state.
pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
pacodeandbulletin.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
palegis.us · checked Oct 3, 2026
Is the Pennsylvania dealer doc fee capped?
Yes. The statute bars a dealer from charging more than a yearly limit for documentary preparation. There are two tiers: one for a dealer that provides electronic transaction services for documents, and a lower one for a dealer that does not. For calendar year 2026 the limits are $490 electronic and $409 non-electronic, from the State Board’s notice dated 01/13/2026. The limit is adjusted each January by the Consumer Price Index, and the next figure is expected in January 2027. Only a dealer with a PennDOT messenger or agent contract may charge the fee. It must be disclosed on a sign in the dealership, and it must be itemized on the contract. The Board calls it negotiable, so the dollar amount may not be pre-printed on the buyer’s order, and it may be left out of advertised prices. The Board and PennDOT say the fee is not taxed. We have not confirmed that with the Department of Revenue, so treat it as not confirmed.
pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
palegis.us · checked Oct 3, 2026
Does a trade-in lower Pennsylvania sales tax?
Yes. The trade-in’s full allowance is deducted from the purchase price, on a new or a used car, with no dollar cap. It counts only if the trade-in happens at the same time as the sale. A separate sale of your old car to the dealer is not a trade-in. The local tax is figured on the same price, so the deduction lowers it too.
pacodeandbulletin.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
palegis.us · checked Oct 3, 2026
pacodeandbulletin.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
I bought a car out of state. What do I pay in Pennsylvania?
A Pennsylvania resident who buys elsewhere pays the Pennsylvania 6% use tax at PennDOT when titling, plus 2% if the address is in Philadelphia. The tax paid to the other state is credited only if that state gives Pennsylvania similar credit. The Department of Revenue keeps the list of states that do and gives it on request. Whether another state’s tax also counts against Philadelphia’s 2% is not confirmed.
palegis.us · checked Oct 3, 2026
What do title and registration cost in Pennsylvania?
The title is $72. A passenger car’s registration is $48 for one year or $96 for two, a flat fee that does not depend on weight or value. A standard plate is included for a first-time registration. If you finance, recording the lien is $36 per lien, in addition to the title fee. Philadelphia adds a $5 fee for local use for each year of registration, due at initial registration and at renewal. PennDOT’s fact sheet lists other participating counties, among them Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery. The calculator uses the fact sheet’s amount for the county you pick. These fees are adjusted for inflation every two years.
pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
pa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026