Tennessee car sales tax calculator
The sales and use tax in Tennessee is the state’s 7.00% plus a local rate that depends on the place, of the taxable amount.
codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026
By Mr. Voltage · Data checked Oct 2, 2026 · Page changed Oct 11, 2026
Where will you register the car?
Use the city on your property-tax bill. It can differ from your mailing address.
Example quotes. Pick your place and type yours. Example: three quotes on one car in Davidson County, Tennessee. Pick your own place and type your quotes.
Your deals at a glance
| Deal | Payment | All-in |
|---|---|---|
| $581.43a month | $39,885.40so far | |
| $525.17a month | $42,812.50so far | |
| $570.66a month | $39,239.45so 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.
$581.43 a month · 60 payments
All-in $39,885.40 so far
$525.17 a month · 72 payments
All-in $42,812.50 so far
$570.66 a month · 60 payments
All-in $39,239.45 so far
Out-the-door $35,147.00 so far
so far: not including a doc fee yet. Enter your dealer’s.
so far: not including Local option sales tax yet. Choose your city.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $35,890.65 so far
so far: not including a doc fee yet. Enter your dealer’s.
so far: not including Local option sales tax and Local option sales tax on service contracts and other products yet. Choose your city.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $35,735.50 so far
so far: not including a doc fee yet. Enter your dealer’s.
so far: not including Local option sales tax yet. Choose your city.
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 hybrid cars pay more in some states
New · Gas · change
New or used
The sheet starts with a new car; each deal sets its own
Fuel
Gas car. Electric and hybrid cars pay more in some states
New · Gas · change
New or used
The sheet starts with a new car; each deal sets its own
Fuel
Gas car. Electric and hybrid cars pay more in some states
Tennessee law sets no figure for this fee.
Tennessee calls it a document preparation fee, processing fee or servicing fee.
codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026
Tennessee law sets no figure for this fee.
Tennessee calls it a document preparation fee, processing fee or servicing fee.
codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026
Tennessee law sets no figure for this fee.
Tennessee calls it a document preparation fee, processing fee or servicing fee.
codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No emissions test or fee in Davidson County: the program ended on February 5, 2022.
nashville.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No emissions test or fee in Davidson County: the program ended on February 5, 2022.
nashville.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No emissions test or fee in Davidson County: the program ended on February 5, 2022.
nashville.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $2,447.00 in tax and fees first; $2,553.00 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $2,495.65 in tax and fees first; $2,504.35 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $2,485.50 in tax and fees first; $2,514.50 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 $581.03
72 payments, last $525.43
60 payments, last $570.51
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.
3 charges this total leaves out
3 charges this total leaves out
3 charges this total leaves out
What’s different in Tennessee
Tennessee calls it the sales and use tax.
tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Tennessee’s law sets no figure for the document preparation fee, processing fee or servicing fee.
codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026
Three lines stack on a car: the state’s 7% on the whole price, the local option tax on the first $1,600, and the state’s 2.75% single article tax on the part from $1,600.01 to $3,200.
tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 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 Davidson 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 |
| Vehicle and what is part of it tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $22,700.00 |
| State sales tax codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $1,589.00 |
| State single article tax codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $44.00 |
| State title fee codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $5.50 |
| County clerk title fee tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $8.50 |
| Registration fee nashville.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $29.00 |
| County wheel tax (vehicle regulatory fee) nashville.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $55.00 |
| Lien notation fee codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $11.00 |
| Tire environmental fee revenue.support.tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $5.00 |
| Out-the-door price | $34,447.00 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $32,447.00 |
| Monthly payment | $625.78 |
| Interest over the loan | $5,100.09 |
| Total paid, interest included | $42,547.09 |
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 Davidson County.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price | $21,500.00 |
| Vehicle and what is part of it tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $21,500.00 |
| State sales tax codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $1,505.00 |
| State single article tax codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $44.00 |
| State title fee codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $5.50 |
| County clerk title fee tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $8.50 |
| Registration fee nashville.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $29.00 |
| County wheel tax (vehicle regulatory fee) nashville.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $55.00 |
| Lien notation fee codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $11.00 |
| Out-the-door price | $23,158.00 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $18,158.00 |
| Monthly payment | $350.20 |
| Interest over the loan | $2,854.09 |
| Total paid, interest included | $26,012.09 |
The rules in Tennessee
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Name of the tax | sales and use tax tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| State sales tax | 7.00% of the amount it taxes codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Local option sales tax | a local rate set by the dealer’s place, on the amount it taxes codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| State single article tax | 2.75% of the amount it taxes codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| State sales tax on service contracts and other products | 7.00% of the amount it taxes tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Local option sales tax on service contracts and other products | a local rate set by the dealer’s place, on the amount it taxes tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Doc fee | The law sets no figure for the document preparation fee, processing fee or servicing fee. codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| State title fee | $5.50 codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| County clerk title fee | $8.50 tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Registration fee | $29.00 a year. A detail of that point is not confirmed. nashville.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Who collects | An in-state dealer collects the tax at the sale and reports it on its own return. tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Private-party purchase | The same 7%, the local option tax on the first $1,600 and the 2.75% single article tax, collected by the county clerk at titling. Transfers between spouses, siblings, lineal relatives and their spouses, divorce transfers and gifts with an affidavit are exempt. tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Private-party price | The total consideration, including money paid to a third party such as the seller’s lienholder. A price of 75% or less of fair market value is a low selling price and needs an affidavit. tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Tax paid to another state | No Tennessee tax is due on a purchase on which a like tax equal to or greater than Tennessee’s was paid in another state. Only sales and use tax counts, not property tax or fees. codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| New resident | No use tax on a personal vehicle brought in on a bona fide change of residence. Register within 30 days. Title, registration and the wheel tax are still due. tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| New tire environmental fee | $5.00 on a new vehicle with 4 or fewer wheels, collected by the seller and exempt from sales tax. Used vehicles do not pay it. revenue.support.tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
What has changed
· Fees billed after you buy: a new version takes effect.
tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
· The rules on this page start here. Nothing earlier is loaded.
Questions people ask
What is Tennessee's single article tax?
It is a second state tax on a slice of one item. Tennessee charges its 7% state tax on the whole price with no cap. The local option tax applies only to the first $1,600 of a single article. The state single article tax of 2.75% applies to the part above $1,600 up to and including $3,200, so it tops out at $44.00. A car, its dealer-installed accessories and the doc fee count as one single article.
codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026
tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026
tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Which local rate applies, mine or the dealer's?
Under the Department of Revenue’s Notice 19-05, an in-state dealer reports its sales by its business location, so on a dealer sale the local rate follows the dealer’s location. An out-of-state dealer registered to collect Tennessee tax applies the rate for the city or county the car is delivered to. When the county clerk collects the tax at titling, an older department guide used the rate for the buyer’s residence. We have not confirmed that, so treat it as unconfirmed.
tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
revenue.support.tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
I bought a car out of state. What do I pay in Tennessee?
If no Tennessee sales tax was collected on the purchase, the tax is due when you title and register the car, and the county clerk collects it. If the other state’s rate is lower than Tennessee’s, you owe the difference at registration. Only a sales or use tax paid elsewhere counts as a credit, not a property tax or a fee. You also owe the state single article tax if it was not collected. A trade-in earns no credit unless it was previously registered in Tennessee in your name.
revenue.support.tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026
tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Is the Tennessee dealer doc fee capped?
No. Tennessee law specifically authorizes dealers to charge a document preparation, processing or servicing fee in addition to the sales price, and sets no maximum. The amount must be separately stated and clearly disclosed on the face of the sales contract or buyer’s invoice before the buyer signs it, and it may not be presented as required by or paid to a government agency. Ads must say that dealer-imposed fees are excluded from the advertised price and list the amount. The fee is part of the vehicle’s sales price and is taxed.
codes.findlaw.com · checked Oct 2, 2026
publications.tnsosfiles.com · checked Oct 2, 2026
tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Do rebates lower Tennessee sales tax on a car?
Generally not. Sales and use tax applies to the full sales price before the application of a rebate, and the federal clean vehicle point-of-sale rebate is taxed before the rebate too. There is a narrow exception for a qualifying manufacturer incentive payment made to the dealer under a manufacturer program, which the dealer may take by reducing the sales price by the amount of the payment. A discount the dealer gives that no third party reimburses does lower the price taxed.
tn.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026