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Used Car Sales Tax Calculator

Use this sales tax calculator for used cars to estimate the tax, title and registration on a used vehicle, whether you buy from a dealer or a private seller.

Calculate Your Used Car Sales Tax

Results update as you type. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.

The selling price on your buyer’s order.

What the dealer credits you.

Condition

Advanced options

Enter your own amounts where you know them. They replace our estimates.

Replaces the state estimate.

Replaces the state estimate.

Plates, inspections, add-ons.

Estimate only

Estimated out-the-door price

$0.00

Choose your state and enter a vehicle price to see your estimate.

Vehicle price
$0.00
Trade-in
—
Taxable amount
$0.00
Sales tax (0%)
$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.

    What is different about used car sales tax

    Most states tax a used car the same way they tax a new one, at the same rate and with the same trade-in rules. The differences show up in three places.

    • Who collects it. A dealer usually collects the tax at the sale. On a private sale you normally pay the state yourself when you title and register the car.
    • What price counts. Some states can tax a used vehicle on a book or presumptive value if the price on your bill of sale looks low. Texas is one example.
    • Fees that depend on age. Some registration charges shrink as a vehicle gets older. California's vehicle license fee, for example, decreases over the first years of ownership.

    Every state page lists the rate, the trade-in rule and the fees we have confirmed from the state's own agencies.

    How to use this calculator

    1. Enter the price on the bill of sale, and any trade-in value.
    2. Choose your state. If we have verified data, the rate, title fee and registration fee fill in for you.
    3. Add your local tax rate if your state charges one. The state page links to the official rate look-up.
    4. Add the dealer fee from the buyer's order. Leave it blank for a private sale.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do you pay sales tax on a used car?

    In most states, yes. Every state we currently cover charges tax on a used vehicle. Arkansas has an exception for vehicles priced under $2,500.

    Is sales tax due on a car bought from a private seller?

    Usually, yes. You typically pay it to the state when you title and register the car rather than to the seller. Check your state's motor vehicle agency for the exact process.

    Can a trade-in lower the tax on a used car?

    In most states we cover, yes. California and Virginia tax the full price, and Ohio lowers the tax for a trade-in only when the vehicle is new. See how a trade-in affects sales tax.

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