Texas car sales tax, title and license calculator
The motor vehicle sales tax in Texas is 6.25% of the taxable amount.
statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
By Mr. Voltage · Data checked Oct 2, 2026 · Page changed Oct 11, 2026
Where will you register the car?
Harris County, Texas
Example quotes. Pick your place and type yours. Example: three quotes on one car in Harris County, Texas. Pick your own place and type your quotes.
Your deals at a glance
| Deal | Payment | All-in |
|---|---|---|
| $581.67a month | $39,900.30+$760.58 more than Deal C | |
| $525.30a month | $42,821.70+$3,681.98 more than Deal C | |
| $569.00a month | $39,139.72Lowest |
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.
$581.67 a month · 60 payments
All-in $39,900.30
$525.30 a month · 72 payments
All-in $42,821.70
$569.00 a month · 60 payments
All-in $39,139.72Lowest
Out-the-door $35,159.75
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $35,898.19
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $35,650.38
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. Electric and hybrid cars pay more in some states
Doc fee stated on its own line
Buyer’s orders list the doc fee on its own line, which is what keeps it untaxed in Texas
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. Electric and hybrid cars pay more in some states
Doc fee stated on its own line
Buyer’s orders list the doc fee on its own line, which is what keeps it untaxed in Texas
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. Electric and hybrid cars pay more in some states
Doc fee stated on its own line
Buyer’s orders list the doc fee on its own line, which is what keeps it untaxed in Texas
$225.00: what Texas presumes reasonable.
Texas calls it a documentary fee.
It must be the same whether you pay cash or finance.
law.cornell.edu · checked Oct 2, 2026
The notice Texas requires with this fee
A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS NOT AN OFFICIAL FEE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS NOT REQUIRED BY LAW, BUT MAY BE CHARGED TO BUYERS FOR HANDLING DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE SALE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE MAY NOT EXCEED A REASONABLE AMOUNT AGREED TO BY THE PARTIES. THIS NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY LAW.
$225.00: what Texas presumes reasonable.
Texas calls it a documentary fee.
It must be the same whether you pay cash or finance.
law.cornell.edu · checked Oct 2, 2026
The notice Texas requires with this fee
A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS NOT AN OFFICIAL FEE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS NOT REQUIRED BY LAW, BUT MAY BE CHARGED TO BUYERS FOR HANDLING DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE SALE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE MAY NOT EXCEED A REASONABLE AMOUNT AGREED TO BY THE PARTIES. THIS NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY LAW.
$225.00: what Texas presumes reasonable.
Texas calls it a documentary fee.
It must be the same whether you pay cash or finance.
law.cornell.edu · checked Oct 2, 2026
The notice Texas requires with this fee
A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS NOT AN OFFICIAL FEE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS NOT REQUIRED BY LAW, BUT MAY BE CHARGED TO BUYERS FOR HANDLING DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE SALE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE MAY NOT EXCEED A REASONABLE AMOUNT AGREED TO BY THE PARTIES. THIS NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY LAW.
Assumes etching, nitrogen and paint protection applied before delivery are taxed like parts added to the car. No Texas ruling names them. If they aren’t taxed, the tax is 6.25% of their price less.
- No city, county or transit sales tax applies to a car in Texas.
statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No city, county or transit sales tax applies to a car in Texas.
statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No city, county or transit sales tax applies to a car in Texas.
statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $2,459.75 in tax, title, license and the doc fee first; $2,540.25 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $2,503.19 in tax, title, license and the doc fee first; $2,496.81 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $2,400.38 in tax, title, license and the doc fee first; $2,599.62 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 $581.77
72 payments, last $525.40
60 payments, last $568.72
cash down plus every payment
+$760.58 more all-in than Deal C
cash down plus every payment
+$3,681.98 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 Texas
Texas calls it the motor vehicle sales tax. Dealers call it “tax, title and license (TT&L)”; that is their shorthand, not the law's name.
statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
A trade-in comes off the amount taxed at its full value, so only the difference is taxed.
statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Negative equity rolled into the new loan is not taxed.
comptroller.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Texas’s law calls a documentary fee of $225.00 or less “presumed reasonable”. That is a presumption, not a maximum.
law.cornell.edu · checked Oct 2, 2026
Texas has no city, county or transit sales tax on a car: the state-only 6.25% applies everywhere. Your county still sets the title fee ($28 or $33), the local registration fees ($0 to $31.50 a year) and any emissions fee.
txdmv.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 Harris 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 statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $22,700.00 |
| Motor vehicle sales tax statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $1,418.75 |
| Doc fee law.cornell.edu · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $225.00 |
| Title application fee statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $33.00 |
| Registration fee statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $101.50 |
| TexasSure insurance verification fee txdmv.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $2.00 |
| County road and bridge and child safety fees txdmv.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $23.00 |
| Inspection program replacement fee statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $16.75 |
| Processing and handling fee law.cornell.edu · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $4.75 |
| Metal license plate fee txdmv.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $10.00 |
| Out-the-door price | $34,534.75 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $32,534.75 |
| Monthly payment | $627.48 |
| Interest over the loan | $5,113.73 |
| Total paid, interest included | $42,648.48 |
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 Harris County.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price | $21,500.00 |
| Taxable amount statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $21,500.00 |
| Motor vehicle sales tax statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $1,343.75 |
| Doc fee law.cornell.edu · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $225.00 |
| Title application fee statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $33.00 |
| Registration fee statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $50.75 |
| TexasSure insurance verification fee txdmv.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $1.00 |
| County road and bridge and child safety fees txdmv.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $11.50 |
| Emissions inspection state fee txdmv.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $2.75 |
| Inspection program replacement fee statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $7.50 |
| Processing and handling fee law.cornell.edu · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $4.75 |
| Metal license plate fee txdmv.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $10.00 |
| Out-the-door price | $23,190.00 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $18,190.00 |
| Monthly payment | $350.82 |
| Interest over the loan | $2,859.06 |
| Total paid, interest included | $26,049.06 |
The rules in Texas
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Name of the tax | motor vehicle sales tax. Dealers call it “tax, title and license (TT&L)”. statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Motor vehicle sales tax | 6.25% of the taxable amount statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| What is taxed | Taxed: the vehicle price, accessories fitted before delivery and protection packages. Not taxed: other dealer fees on the order, loose items sold with the car, service contracts, GAP, prepaid maintenance and government fees. Depends on the deal: the doc fee. statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Trade-in | A trade-in comes off the amount taxed at its full value, so only the difference is taxed. statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Maker’s rebate | A maker’s rebate lowers the amount taxed. comptroller.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Dealer discount | A dealer discount lowers the amount taxed. statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Negative equity | Negative equity rolled into the loan is not taxed. comptroller.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Doc fee | The law calls a documentary fee of $225.00 or less “presumed reasonable”. That is a presumption, not a maximum. law.cornell.edu · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Title application fee | set by the county or place statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Registration fee | $50.75 a year statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| TexasSure insurance verification fee | $1.00 a year. A detail of that point is not confirmed. txdmv.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Private-party purchase | The tax is 6.25% of the greater of the price or 80% of the standard presumptive value, paid to the county tax office within 30 days. comptroller.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Bought out of state | A Texas resident owes the use tax, less a dollar-for-dollar credit for state and local sales or use tax paid to another state. comptroller.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| New resident | A flat $90 for each vehicle previously registered in the new resident’s name, due within 30 days of first use in Texas, with no credit for tax paid elsewhere. statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| First registration of a new car | A new car of the current or preceding model year is registered for 24 months, so the first registration fees cover two years. statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Late tax penalty | A penalty of 5% if the tax is paid 1 to 30 days late, and 10% if it is paid over 30 days late. comptroller.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Vehicle inventory tax line | A dealer may list it separately as a negotiable reimbursement. The motor vehicle tax is not charged on it. comptroller.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
What has changed
· Watching: The Finance Commission may take up the documentary-fee rule (7 TAC §84.205) again, at its meeting on 2026-12-11 (the 2026-10-16 agenda did not include §84.205).
fc.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
· The rules on this page start here. Nothing earlier is loaded.
Questions people ask
How much is tax, title and license in Texas?
It depends on the price, your trade-in and your county. On the first worked example above ($32,700.00 before the trade-in), the tax comes to $1,418.75 and the title, registration and county fees to $191.00. The dealer's doc fee is on top of both. Type your own price and county into the calculator to see yours.
statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Is there a limit on the Texas dealer doc fee?
The law's words are “presumed reasonable”, and they apply to a documentary fee of $225.00 or less. That is a presumption, not a maximum. Above $225 the dealer must first notify the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner and file a cost analysis.
law.cornell.edu · checked Oct 2, 2026
Does Texas tax only the difference after a trade-in?
Yes. The trade-in comes off the amount taxed at its full value. Negative equity rolled into the new loan is not taxed.
statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
How is tax figured on a private-party car sale in Texas?
You pay the motor vehicle tax to your county tax assessor-collector when you title the car, within 30 days. The tax is 6.25% of the greater of the price you paid or 80% of the state’s standard presumptive value for that car. If you paid less than that value, you can show a certified appraisal instead, but it cannot go below the purchase price. The value rule does not apply when a licensed dealer is part of the sale.
comptroller.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
comptroller.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
I bought a car out of state. Do I pay Texas tax?
If you live in Texas, yes. A Texas resident who buys a car at retail outside the state and uses it on Texas roads owes the 6.25% use tax, less a dollar-for-dollar credit for sales or use tax already paid to another state, local taxes included. It is due within 30 days of bringing the car in. The credit does not cover property tax, VAT, inventory tax or foreign-country tax. A buyer who lives out of state and takes the car straight out of Texas is exempt with a certificate.
statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
comptroller.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is the vehicle inventory tax line on a Texas buyer's order?
It is a dealer’s charge to pass on the property tax the dealer pays on the cars it holds for sale. Texas lets a dealer list it as a separate reimbursement on the sales agreement. It is negotiable, and when it is listed separately the state does not add the motor vehicle tax to it. The size is the sales price times the prior year’s combined local property tax rate divided by 12. It is a dealer charge, not a government fee, and you can ask the dealer to show how it was worked out.
comptroller.texas.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026