Utah car sales tax calculator
The sales and use tax in Utah is the state’s 4.85% plus a local rate that depends on the place, of the taxable amount.
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
By Mr. Voltage · Data checked Oct 3, 2026 · Page changed Oct 12, 2026
Where will you register the car?
Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah
Example quotes. Pick your place and type yours. Example: three quotes on one car in Harris County, Utah. Pick your own place and type your quotes.
Your deals at a glance
| Deal | Payment | All-in |
|---|---|---|
| $586.23a month | $40,173.81so far | |
| $529.46a month | $43,121.32so far | |
| $573.39a month | $39,403.29so 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.
$586.23 a month · 60 payments
All-in $40,173.81 so far
$529.46 a month · 72 payments
All-in $43,121.32 so far
$573.39 a month · 60 payments
All-in $39,403.29 so far
Out-the-door $35,396.15 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 $36,142.93 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 $35,875.38 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. Electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars pay an extra registration fee, and electric cars no air pollution fee
Plate
A new plate, as on a first registration; keeping a plate you have skips its fee
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, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars pay an extra registration fee, and electric cars no air pollution fee
Plate
A new plate, as on a first registration; keeping a plate you have skips its fee
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, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars pay an extra registration fee, and electric cars no air pollution fee
Plate
A new plate, as on a first registration; keeping a plate you have skips its fee
Utah law sets no figure for this fee.
Utah calls it a dealer documentary service fee.
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
The notice Utah requires with this fee
The dealer documentary service fee of $______ as set forth in your contract of sale or lease agreement, represents costs to the dealer for preparing and processing documents and other services related to the sale or lease of your vehicle. These fees are not set or mandated by statute or rule.
Utah law sets no figure for this fee.
Utah calls it a dealer documentary service fee.
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
The notice Utah requires with this fee
The dealer documentary service fee of $______ as set forth in your contract of sale or lease agreement, represents costs to the dealer for preparing and processing documents and other services related to the sale or lease of your vehicle. These fees are not set or mandated by statute or rule.
Utah law sets no figure for this fee.
Utah calls it a dealer documentary service fee.
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
The notice Utah requires with this fee
The dealer documentary service fee of $______ as set forth in your contract of sale or lease agreement, represents costs to the dealer for preparing and processing documents and other services related to the sale or lease of your vehicle. These fees are not set or mandated by statute or rule.
- No lien fee: the lien is shown on the new $6 title.
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No property tax bill later: the uniform fee at each registration takes its place.
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No limit on the doc fee in Utah law: the dealer must post its amount on a sign.
adminrules.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No lien fee: the lien is shown on the new $6 title.
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No property tax bill later: the uniform fee at each registration takes its place.
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No limit on the doc fee in Utah law: the dealer must post its amount on a sign.
adminrules.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No lien fee: the lien is shown on the new $6 title.
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No property tax bill later: the uniform fee at each registration takes its place.
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No limit on the doc fee in Utah law: the dealer must post its amount on a sign.
adminrules.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $2,696.15 in tax and fees first; $2,303.85 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $2,747.93 in tax and fees first; $2,252.07 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $2,625.38 in tax and fees first; $2,374.62 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 $586.24
72 payments, last $529.66
60 payments, last $573.28
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.
2 charges this total leaves out
2 charges this total leaves out
2 charges this total leaves out
What’s different in Utah
Utah calls it the sales and use tax.
files.tax.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
A trade-in comes off the amount taxed at its full value, so only the difference is taxed.
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Negative equity rolled into the new loan is not taxed. That point is not confirmed.
files.tax.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Utah’s law sets no figure for the dealer documentary service fee.
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
The combined rate in the state’s rate chart is not the rate for a car. In Salt Lake City a car’s rate is 7.45%, while the chart’s combined rate of 8.45% does not apply to cars.
le.utah.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 Utah’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 le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $22,700.00 |
| Sales and use tax le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1,691.15 |
| Certificate of title le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $6.00 |
| Registration fee le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $58.25 |
| Additional registration fee le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $7.50 |
| Uniform fee in lieu of property tax le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $150.00 |
| Corridor preservation fee (county) le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $10.00 |
| Air pollution control fee (county) dmv.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $3.00 |
| Driver education fee le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $2.50 |
| Uninsured motorist identification fee le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1.00 |
| Electronic payment fee le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $3.00 |
| License plate dmv.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $18.75 |
| Out-the-door price | $34,651.15 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $32,651.15 |
| Monthly payment | $629.72 |
| Interest over the loan | $5,132.14 |
| Total paid, interest included | $42,783.29 |
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 Utah’s example market.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price | $21,500.00 |
| Taxable amount le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $21,500.00 |
| Sales and use tax le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1,601.75 |
| Certificate of title le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $6.00 |
| Registration fee le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $58.25 |
| Additional registration fee le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $7.50 |
| Uniform fee in lieu of property tax le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $110.00 |
| Corridor preservation fee (county) le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $10.00 |
| Air pollution control fee (county) dmv.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $3.00 |
| Driver education fee le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $2.50 |
| Uninsured motorist identification fee le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1.00 |
| Electronic payment fee le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $3.00 |
| License plate dmv.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $18.75 |
| Out-the-door price | $23,321.75 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $18,321.75 |
| Monthly payment | $353.36 |
| Interest over the loan | $2,879.86 |
| Total paid, interest included | $26,201.61 |
The rules in Utah
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Name of the tax | sales and use tax files.tax.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Sales and use tax | worked by the calculator from the rule of the taxable amount le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| What is taxed | Taxed: the vehicle price, the doc fee, 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: GAP and government fees. le.utah.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. le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Maker’s rebate | A maker’s rebate lowers the amount taxed. le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Dealer discount | A dealer discount lowers the amount taxed. le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Negative equity | Negative equity rolled into the loan is not taxed. That point is not confirmed. files.tax.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Doc fee | The law sets no figure for the dealer documentary service fee. le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Certificate of title | $6.00 le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Registration fee | $58.25 a year le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Additional registration fee | $7.50 a year le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Electronic payment fee | $3.00 le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Private-party purchase | The same sales tax, paid by the buyer to the DMV when titling for the first time, at the rate for the buyer’s registration address. There is no exemption for family sales. The price is the bill-of-sale price; a pricing guide sets the value only if there is no bill of sale. files.tax.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Bought out of state | Credit for sales or use tax paid to another state; Utah collects any difference, and there is no refund if the other state’s tax was higher. le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| New resident | A vehicle must be registered in Utah within 60 days of establishing residency. A resident of another state who bought the car there owes Utah no tax if all sales or use taxes were paid to that state. Whether a new resident owes the difference when the other state’s rate was lower is not confirmed. files.tax.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Electric and hybrid cars | For 2026, an electric car pays $180 (the road usage charge cap) or enrolls in the per-mile charge. A hybrid pays $25 and a plug-in hybrid $64, on top of registration. le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| County fees | Salt Lake County adds $10.00 for corridor preservation and $3.00 for air pollution control on a registration. Electric vehicles are exempt from the air pollution control fee. le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Interest rate markup | No statutory limit was found. The Utah Consumer Credit Code lets the parties agree any finance charge, and no vehicle-age rate caps were found. le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
What has changed
· The rules on this page start here. Nothing earlier is loaded.
Questions people ask
Which local tax rate applies to a car in Utah?
It depends on where the sale is placed. On a dealer sale it is the dealer’s business location. On a private sale it is the street address where the buyer registers the car. If an out-of-state dealer has no Utah location, it is the place where the buyer takes receipt. The state rate is 4.85%. The local part is the sum of the local taxes that are allowed on cars. The resort communities tax, the correctional facility tax and the capital city revitalization tax are not allowed on a car, so the combined rate in the state’s quarterly rate chart is too high for one. In Salt Lake City, for example, the local part for a car is 2.60%, which makes 7.45%, while the chart’s combined rate is 8.45%. To find a car’s rate from the chart, subtract those columns. The chart lists 391 locations.
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
files.tax.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
files.tax.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
What is Utah's age-based uniform fee?
It is a flat fee paid at every registration and renewal in place of a yearly property tax bill, set by the model year’s age. It is $150 for model years 2024 to 2026, $110 for 2021 to 2023, $80 for 2018 to 2020, $50 for 2015 to 2017 and $10 for 2014 and older. It is set in the statute and is not indexed. A six-month registration uses a smaller table. Because it is paid at registration, there is no property tax bill for a passenger car after you buy.
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Is the Utah dealer doc fee capped?
No. Utah sets no maximum and no presumed-reasonable amount. The law lets a dealer charge a dealer documentary service fee in addition to the negotiated purchase price. The rule defines it as a fee for preparing or processing state-mandated documents. The dealer must prominently post a sign that gives the actual amount, and the sign says the fees are not set or mandated by statute or rule. Before the sale is final, the dealer must give you a transaction disclosure form that itemizes the doc fee, taxes and legally required fees, optional charges and the amount financed. The fee may be left out of an advertised price. It is taxed as part of the purchase price.
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
adminrules.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
files.tax.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Do rebates and trade-ins lower Utah sales tax?
Yes to both. A manufacturer’s rebate lowers the tax on a new or used car if it is separately stated on the invoice or bill of sale. A trade-in allowance lowers it with no dollar cap. On a sale by a dealer the full allowance counts. On a private sale, only a trade of one vehicle for another counts, and it must be written on the bill of sale. The trade-in must be part of a single transaction between only two parties, and a credit for a trade on a future purchase does not count. The state’s own example is a car sold for $8,500 with a $6,500 trade credit, taxed on the difference, $2,000. A dealer discount lowers the price too, but a coupon that a third party reimburses is taxed.
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
files.tax.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
I bought a car out of state. What do I pay in Utah?
A person living in Utah who buys a car outside Utah must pay Utah use tax at the time of titling. There is credit for a sales or use tax paid to another state, and Utah collects any difference. If the other state’s tax was higher, there is no refund. Which local rate applies to the use tax is not confirmed in this case. The statute places a sale by an out-of-state dealer with no Utah location where the buyer takes receipt, and we have not confirmed how the DMV applies that.
files.tax.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
le.utah.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026