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Texas Car Sales Tax Calculator

The Texas car sales tax calculator applies the 6.25% motor vehicle sales tax to the price after your trade-in allowance. There is no city or county tax on top, so the tax is the same statewide. Enter your numbers below to see the tax along with title and registration fees.

Calculate Your Texas Car Sales Tax

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The selling price on your buyer’s order.

What the dealer credits you.

State
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Condition

A documentary fee that is stated separately on the invoice is not taxed in Texas.

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Estimated out-the-door price

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Enter a vehicle price to see your estimate.

Vehicle price
$0.00
Trade-in
—
Taxable amount
$0.00
State sales tax (6.25%)
$0.00
Title fee
$0.00
Registration fee
$0.00
Dealer / documentation fee
—
Estimated total
$0.00
How this estimate was calculated

    Estimates are for informational purposes only. Actual taxes and fees may vary based on your location, vehicle, transaction and current state rules.

    Estimated Texas Car Sales Tax

    State rate6.25%
    Local taxNone on vehicles
    Trade-inLowers taxable price
    Dealer feeUntaxed if itemized

    Texas charges a 6.25% motor vehicle sales tax, which is $1,562.50 on a $25,000 purchase with no trade-in.

    No city or county adds anything to a vehicle purchase, so the tax is the same statewide.

    Texas applies the tax to the sales price minus the trade-in allowance, when the trade-in is part of the same transaction. In the Comptroller's own example, a $25,000 vehicle with a $10,000 trade-in is taxed on $15,000.

    Texas Car Title and Registration Fees

    Three fees are priced here: the title application fee, which is $28 or $33 depending on the county (the estimate uses $33), the $50.75 base registration fee for passenger vehicles and light trucks, and the $1 TexasSure fee that funds the state's electronic insurance verification program.

    FeeAmountNotes
    Title application feeTitle$28–$33$28 or $33 depending on the county. The estimate uses the higher amount.
    Base registration feeRegistration$50.75Passenger vehicles and light trucks.
    TexasSure feeRegistration$1.00Funds the state's electronic insurance verification program.
    Dealer documentation feeSet by the dealerVariesThe Texas Comptroller says separately stated charges for preparing and processing transfer documents, usually called a documentary fee, are not taxable.

    How Texas Car Sales Tax Is Calculated

    1. Start with the sales price on your bill of sale.
    2. Subtract the trade-in allowance, when the trade-in is part of the same transaction.
    3. Multiply the result by the state rate of 6.25%.
    4. Add the title application fee, the base registration fee and the TexasSure fee.
    5. Add any dealer fee to reach your out-the-door price.

    For a used vehicle, the state can base the tax on a standard presumptive value if that is higher than the price on your bill of sale. TxDMV publishes a lookup for it.

    Counties can add local fees to registration. Your county tax office has the exact total.

    The Comptroller says separately stated charges for preparing and processing transfer documents, usually called a documentary fee, are not taxable, so the calculator keeps the dealer fee out of the taxable amount. See how a trade-in affects sales tax for how Texas compares with states that tax the full price.

    Example Texas Car Sales Tax Calculation

    This is the same $25,000 car with a $10,000 trade-in that the Texas Comptroller uses in its own guidance.

    Vehicle price$25,000.00
    Trade-in−$10,000.00
    Taxable amount$15,000.00
    State sales tax (6.25%)$937.50
    Title fee$33.00
    Registration fee$51.75
    Estimated total$16,022.25

    This is an illustration, not a quote.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Car Sales Tax

    What is the car sales tax rate in Texas?

    The motor vehicle sales tax is 6.25% of the sales price, minus any trade-in allowance. It applies uniformly across the state, and cities and counties do not add their own motor vehicle sales tax.

    Does a trade-in reduce Texas sales tax?

    Yes. If you trade in a vehicle as part of the purchase, you subtract its value from the price and pay tax on the difference. The Comptroller's example: a $25,000 vehicle with a $10,000 trade-in is taxed on $15,000. The credit is the value given for the trade-in, not your equity, and the trade-in must be part of the same sale.

    Is the dealer documentary fee taxed in Texas?

    Not when it is stated separately on the sales invoice. The Comptroller says separately stated charges for preparing and processing transfer documents are not taxable.

    How much is the title fee in Texas?

    The title application fee is $28 or $33, depending on the county. It is paid when you apply for the title.

    How much does registration cost in Texas?

    For a passenger vehicle or light truck, the base registration fee is $50.75, plus $1 for TexasSure. Counties may add other fees, so the total at your county tax office can be higher.

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