Vehicle Sales Tax by State: 2026 Comparison
Comparing private-party vehicle sales tax, DMV title certificate fees, and mandatory license tag registration across all 50 US states and Washington D.C. This benchmark study ranks every jurisdiction by total first-year out-of-pocket costs based on current 2026 statutory rates.
Key Findings & Summary Statistics
7 States
Levy 0% statewide tax on private vehicle sales (Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon). Title/tag fees still apply.
7.25%
California levies the highest baseline rate on private sales ($1,812.50 tax on a $25k purchase).
$214.50
Wisconsin charges the highest DMV certificate of title fee, followed closely by Maryland ($200.00).
$56.00 – $2,232.00
Cheapest: Hawaii ($56.00). Highest: California ($2,232.00).
We re-check states against official sources on a rolling basis. The date under each state shows when its figures were last verified.
Total First-Year Vehicle Cost by State
Ranked from cheapest to most expensive for a standard $25,000 passenger purchase (sales tax + title fee + 1-year registration). Click column headers to sort.
| #1 | HawaiiVerified September 2026 | 0.00% | $10.00 | $46.00 | $56.00 |
| #2 | AlaskaVerified September 2026 | 0.00% | $15.00 | $50.00 | $65.00 |
| #3 | ArizonaVerified October 2026 | 0.00% | $4.00 | $83.46 | $87.46 |
| #4 | MontanaVerified September 2026 | 0.00% | $12.00 | $87.00 | $99.00 |
| #5 | NevadaVerified September 2026 | 0.00% | $28.25 | $96.00 | $124.25 |
| #6 | New HampshireVerified September 2026 | 0.00% | $35.00 | $138.00 | $173.00 |
| #7 | OregonVerified November 2026 | 0.00% | $106.00 | $68.00 | $174.00 |
| #8 | South CarolinaVerified October 2026 | 5.00% | $15.00 | $20.00 | $535.00 |
| #9 | AlabamaVerified November 2026 | 2.00% | $15.00 | $23.00 | $538.00 |
| #10 | ColoradoVerified November 2026 | 2.90% | $7.20 | $65.19 | $797.39 |
| #11 | North CarolinaVerified October 2026 | 3.00% | $66.75 | $46.25 | $863.00 |
| #12 | South DakotaVerified September 2026 | 4.00% | $10.00 | $42.00 | $1,052.00 |
| #13 | New MexicoVerified September 2026 | 4.00% | $5.00 | $57.75 | $1,062.75 |
| #14 | New YorkVerified October 2026 | 4.00% | $50.00 | $28.25 | $1,078.25 |
| #15 | VirginiaVerified October 2026 | 4.15% | $15.00 | $30.75 | $1,083.25 |
| #16 | MissouriVerified October 2026 | 4.225% | $17.50 | $33.25 | $1,107.00 |
| #17 | WyomingVerified September 2026 | 4.00% | $15.00 | $165.00 | $1,180.00 |
| #18 | OklahomaVerified October 2026 | 3.25% | $29.50 | $66.00 | $1,191.75 |
| #19 | MississippiVerified September 2026 | 5.00% | $9.00 | $29.00 | $1,288.00 |
| #20 | West VirginiaVerified September 2026 | 5.00% | $15.00 | $51.50 | $1,316.50 |
| #21 | IowaVerified September 2026 | 5.00% | $35.00 | $50.00 | $1,335.00 |
| #22 | North DakotaVerified September 2026 | 5.00% | $5.00 | $81.00 | $1,336.00 |
| #23 | UtahVerified October 2026 | 4.85% | $6.00 | $122.50 | $1,341.00 |
| #24 | District of ColumbiaVerified September 2026 | 5.00% | $26.00 | $72.00 | $1,348.00 |
| #25 | LouisianaVerified October 2026 | 5.00% | $76.50 | $25.00 | $1,351.50 |
| #26 | DelawareVerified September 2026 | 5.25% | $35.00 | $40.00 | $1,387.50 |
| #27 | NebraskaVerified September 2026 | 5.50% | $10.00 | $65.20 | $1,450.20 |
| #28 | OhioVerified October 2026 | 5.75% | $18.00 | $36.00 | $1,491.50 |
| #29 | KentuckyVerified November 2026 | 6.00% | $9.00 | $20.50 | $1,529.50 |
| #30 | WisconsinVerified October 2026 | 5.00% | $214.50 | $85.00 | $1,549.50 |
| #31 | IdahoVerified September 2026 | 6.00% | $14.00 | $45.00 | $1,559.00 |
| #32 | MaineVerified September 2026 | 5.50% | $33.00 | $155.00 | $1,563.00 |
| #33 | PennsylvaniaVerified October 2026 | 6.00% | $72.00 | $48.00 | $1,620.00 |
| #34 | VermontVerified September 2026 | 6.00% | $42.00 | $91.00 | $1,633.00 |
| #35 | MichiganVerified October 2026 | 6.00% | $15.00 | $129.76 | $1,644.76 |
| #36 | TexasVerified October 2026 | 6.25% | $33.00 | $51.75 | $1,647.25 |
| #37 | ArkansasVerified October 2026 | 6.50% | $10.00 | $27.50 | $1,662.50 |
| #38 | KansasVerified September 2026 | 6.50% | $10.00 | $30.00 | $1,665.00 |
| #39 | IllinoisVerified October 2026 | Flat Table | $165.00 | $151.00 | $1,666.00 |
| #40 | MassachusettsVerified October 2026 | 6.25% | $75.00 | $30.00 | $1,667.50 |
| #41 | ConnecticutVerified October 2026 | 6.35% | $25.00 | $56.33 | $1,668.83 |
| #42 | New JerseyVerified October 2026 | 6.625% | $60.00 | $46.50 | $1,762.75 |
| #43 | MinnesotaVerified October 2026 | 6.875% | $36.00 | $30.00 | $1,784.75 |
| #44 | GeorgiaVerified October 2026 | 7.00% | $18.00 | $20.00 | $1,788.00 |
| #45 | Rhode IslandVerified September 2026 | 7.00% | $52.50 | $30.00 | $1,832.50 |
| #46 | TennesseeVerified October 2026 | 7.00% | $14.00 | $26.50 | $1,834.50 |
| #47 | IndianaVerified October 2026 | 7.00% | $15.00 | $78.35 | $1,843.35 |
| #48 | FloridaVerified October 2026 | 6.00% | $75.25 | $35.60 | $1,863.85 |
| #49 | MarylandVerified October 2026 | 6.50% | $200.00 | $125.50 | $1,950.50 |
| #50 | WashingtonVerified October 2026 | 7.00% | $39.50 | $82.75 | $1,976.25 |
| #51 | CaliforniaVerified October 2026 | 7.25% | $15.00 | $404.50 | $2,232.00 |
State Vehicle Sales & Use Tax Rates (Ranked)
Ranked by statutory state-level sales, excise, or use tax rate descending. Illinois utilizes statutory Form RUT-50 flat brackets and is categorized with its official flat schedule.
| Tax Basis | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | CaliforniaVerified October 2026 | 7.25% | $1,812.50 | price |
| #2 | GeorgiaVerified October 2026 | 7.00% | $1,750.00 | fairMarketValue |
| #3 | IndianaVerified October 2026 | 7.00% | $1,750.00 | price |
| #4 | Rhode IslandVerified September 2026 | 7.00% | $1,750.00 | price |
| #5 | TennesseeVerified October 2026 | 7.00% | $1,794.00 | price |
| #6 | WashingtonVerified October 2026 | 7.00% | $1,750.00 | fairMarketValue |
| #7 | MinnesotaVerified October 2026 | 6.875% | $1,718.75 | price |
| #8 | New JerseyVerified October 2026 | 6.625% | $1,656.25 | price |
| #9 | ArkansasVerified October 2026 | 6.50% | $1,625.00 | price |
| #10 | KansasVerified September 2026 | 6.50% | $1,625.00 | price |
| #11 | MarylandVerified October 2026 | 6.50% | $1,625.00 | price |
| #12 | ConnecticutVerified October 2026 | 6.35% | $1,587.50 | fairMarketValue |
| #13 | MassachusettsVerified October 2026 | 6.25% | $1,562.50 | fairMarketValue |
| #14 | TexasVerified October 2026 | 6.25% | $1,562.50 | fairMarketValue |
| #15 | FloridaVerified October 2026 | 6.00% | $1,500.00 | price |
| #16 | IdahoVerified September 2026 | 6.00% | $1,500.00 | price |
| #17 | KentuckyVerified November 2026 | 6.00% | $1,500.00 | price |
| #18 | MichiganVerified October 2026 | 6.00% | $1,500.00 | price |
| #19 | PennsylvaniaVerified October 2026 | 6.00% | $1,500.00 | price |
| #20 | VermontVerified September 2026 | 6.00% | $1,500.00 | price |
| #21 | OhioVerified October 2026 | 5.75% | $1,437.50 | price |
| #22 | MaineVerified September 2026 | 5.50% | $1,375.00 | price |
| #23 | NebraskaVerified September 2026 | 5.50% | $1,375.00 | price |
| #24 | DelawareVerified September 2026 | 5.25% | $1,312.50 | price |
| #25 | District of ColumbiaVerified September 2026 | 5.00% | $1,250.00 | fairMarketValue |
| #26 | IowaVerified September 2026 | 5.00% | $1,250.00 | price |
| #27 | LouisianaVerified October 2026 | 5.00% | $1,250.00 | price |
| #28 | MississippiVerified September 2026 | 5.00% | $1,250.00 | fairMarketValue |
| #29 | North DakotaVerified September 2026 | 5.00% | $1,250.00 | price |
| #30 | South CarolinaVerified October 2026 | 5.00% | $500.00 | fairMarketValue |
| #31 | West VirginiaVerified September 2026 | 5.00% | $1,250.00 | price |
| #32 | WisconsinVerified October 2026 | 5.00% | $1,250.00 | price |
| #33 | UtahVerified October 2026 | 4.85% | $1,212.50 | price |
| #34 | MissouriVerified October 2026 | 4.225% | $1,056.25 | price |
| #35 | VirginiaVerified October 2026 | 4.15% | $1,037.50 | price |
| #36 | New MexicoVerified September 2026 | 4.00% | $1,000.00 | price |
| #37 | New YorkVerified October 2026 | 4.00% | $1,000.00 | price |
| #38 | South DakotaVerified September 2026 | 4.00% | $1,000.00 | price |
| #39 | WyomingVerified September 2026 | 4.00% | $1,000.00 | price |
| #40 | OklahomaVerified October 2026 | 3.25% | $1,096.25 | price |
| #41 | North CarolinaVerified October 2026 | 3.00% | $750.00 | fairMarketValue |
| #42 | ColoradoVerified November 2026 | 2.90% | $725.00 | price |
| #43 | AlabamaVerified November 2026 | 2.00% | $500.00 | price |
| #44 | AlaskaVerified September 2026 | 0.00% | $0.00 | price |
| #45 | ArizonaVerified October 2026 | 0.00% | $0.00 | price |
| #46 | HawaiiVerified September 2026 | 0.00% | $0.00 | price |
| #47 | MontanaVerified September 2026 | 0.00% | $0.00 | price |
| #48 | NevadaVerified September 2026 | 0.00% | $0.00 | price |
| #49 | New HampshireVerified September 2026 | 0.00% | $0.00 | price |
| #50 | OregonVerified November 2026 | 0.00% | $0.00 | price |
| #51 | IllinoisVerified October 2026 | Flat Table (RUT-50) | $1,350.00 (Table B) | Flat Bracket |
Certificate of Title Fees by State (Ranked)
Mandatory title issuance fees charged by state DMVs and county tax collectors upon ownership transfer, ranked from highest to lowest.
| 1-Year Tag Registration | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | WisconsinVerified October 2026 | $214.50 | $10.00 | $85.00 |
| #2 | MarylandVerified October 2026 | $200.00 | $40.00 | $125.50 |
| #3 | IllinoisVerified October 2026 | $165.00 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $151.00 |
| #4 | OregonVerified November 2026 | $106.00 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $68.00 |
| #5 | LouisianaVerified October 2026 | $76.50 | $10.00 | $25.00 |
| #6 | FloridaVerified October 2026 | $75.25 | $2.00 | $35.60 |
| #7 | MassachusettsVerified October 2026 | $75.00 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $30.00 |
| #8 | PennsylvaniaVerified October 2026 | $72.00 | $36.00 | $48.00 |
| #9 | North CarolinaVerified October 2026 | $66.75 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $46.25 |
| #10 | New JerseyVerified October 2026 | $60.00 | $25.00 | $46.50 |
| #11 | Rhode IslandVerified September 2026 | $52.50 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $30.00 |
| #12 | New YorkVerified October 2026 | $50.00 | $5.00 | $28.25 |
| #13 | VermontVerified September 2026 | $42.00 | $14.00 | $91.00 |
| #14 | WashingtonVerified October 2026 | $39.50 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $82.75 |
| #15 | MinnesotaVerified October 2026 | $36.00 | $2.00 | $30.00 |
| #16 | DelawareVerified September 2026 | $35.00 | $20.00 | $40.00 |
| #17 | IowaVerified September 2026 | $35.00 | $20.00 | $50.00 |
| #18 | New HampshireVerified September 2026 | $35.00 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $138.00 |
| #19 | MaineVerified September 2026 | $33.00 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $155.00 |
| #20 | TexasVerified October 2026 | $33.00 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $51.75 |
| #21 | OklahomaVerified October 2026 | $29.50 | $10.00 | $66.00 |
| #22 | NevadaVerified September 2026 | $28.25 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $96.00 |
| #23 | District of ColumbiaVerified September 2026 | $26.00 | $20.00 | $72.00 |
| #24 | ConnecticutVerified October 2026 | $25.00 | $10.00 | $56.33 |
| #25 | GeorgiaVerified October 2026 | $18.00 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $20.00 |
| #26 | OhioVerified October 2026 | $18.00 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $36.00 |
| #27 | MissouriVerified October 2026 | $17.50 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $33.25 |
| #28 | AlabamaVerified November 2026 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $23.00 |
| #29 | AlaskaVerified September 2026 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $50.00 |
| #30 | CaliforniaVerified October 2026 | $15.00 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $404.50 |
| #31 | IndianaVerified October 2026 | $15.00 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $78.35 |
| #32 | MichiganVerified October 2026 | $15.00 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $129.76 |
| #33 | South CarolinaVerified October 2026 | $15.00 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $20.00 |
| #34 | VirginiaVerified October 2026 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $30.75 |
| #35 | West VirginiaVerified September 2026 | $15.00 | $10.00 | $51.50 |
| #36 | WyomingVerified September 2026 | $15.00 | $20.00 | $165.00 |
| #37 | IdahoVerified September 2026 | $14.00 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $45.00 |
| #38 | TennesseeVerified October 2026 | $14.00 | $11.00 | $26.50 |
| #39 | MontanaVerified September 2026 | $12.00 | $8.00 | $87.00 |
| #40 | ArkansasVerified October 2026 | $10.00 | $0.50 | $27.50 |
| #41 | HawaiiVerified September 2026 | $10.00 | $10.00 | $46.00 |
| #42 | KansasVerified September 2026 | $10.00 | $1.50 | $30.00 |
| #43 | NebraskaVerified September 2026 | $10.00 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $65.20 |
| #44 | South DakotaVerified September 2026 | $10.00 | $10.00 | $42.00 |
| #45 | KentuckyVerified November 2026 | $9.00 | $12.00 | $20.50 |
| #46 | MississippiVerified September 2026 | $9.00 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $29.00 |
| #47 | ColoradoVerified November 2026 | $7.20 | $40.00 | $65.19 |
| #48 | UtahVerified October 2026 | $6.00 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $122.50 |
| #49 | New MexicoVerified September 2026 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $57.75 |
| #50 | North DakotaVerified September 2026 | $5.00 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $81.00 |
| #51 | ArizonaVerified October 2026 | $4.00 | $0.00 (No extra fee) | $83.46 |
States With No Statewide Vehicle Tax on Private Sales
7 jurisdictions exempt casual or private-party vehicle transactions from state sales tax
In most of the United States, transferring a vehicle title incurs state sales or excise tax. However, seven jurisdictions do not levy a statewide tax on casual, private-party sales between individuals:
Important Note: While these seven jurisdictions do not levy a state vehicle purchase tax, buyers must still pay mandatory state DMV certificate of title fees and annual license plate tag registration fees upon titling.
Individual State Car Tax Calculators
Explore dedicated statutory calculators for all 50 states + DC, featuring vehicle age adjustments, weight classes, and local tax rules:
Frequently Asked Questions: Vehicle Tax by State
How is the total first-year vehicle cost calculated?
The total first-year cost reflects the mandatory out-of-pocket expenses required to legally title and register a private-party vehicle purchase. It equals the state vehicle sales or excise tax, plus the certificate of title fee, lien recording fee (if financed), and the state annual license plate registration fee for a standard passenger vehicle.
Why do vehicle sales taxes and fees differ so dramatically across states?
Vehicle taxation is governed entirely by individual state statutes and legislative revenue policies. Several states levy 0% statewide tax on private sales (or have no sales tax at all), while others levy sales tax rates over 7%. Furthermore, states fund their transportation and motor vehicle departments through different mechanisms. Some rely on higher percentage sales taxes with low flat registration fees, while others charge higher annual tag or titling fees.
Do local, county, or municipal taxes apply to private-party vehicle sales?
In several states (such as Colorado, California, Nebraska, and Kansas), local counties, cities, or special transportation districts may impose additional local sales or use taxes on top of the state-level statutory rate. The figures in this comparison dataset represent statewide statutory baseline rates and fees.
What makes private-party vehicle sales different from dealership purchases?
Dealership sales often include dealer documentation fees (doc fees), trade-in sales tax credits, and manufacturer incentives that alter the final tax base. Furthermore, several states (such as Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii) exempt occasional private-party vehicle sales from state sales tax entirely, while subjecting dealership retail sales to standard transaction privilege or general excise tax.
Can I register my vehicle in a 0% tax state to avoid paying sales tax?
No. Vehicle sales and use taxes are legally due in the owner’s state of legal residence where the vehicle will be principally garaged and operated. Registering a vehicle out-of-state in a jurisdiction where you do not reside or maintain a bona fide legal entity to evade sales tax is illegal in all 50 states and subject to severe civil and criminal tax penalties.
Is this comparison official tax or legal advice?
No. CarTaxHub provides objective computational estimates derived from statutory codes, published department of revenue guidelines, and official DMV fee schedules. Actual fees may vary based on exact vehicle curb weight, county of residence, municipal transit surcharges, and date of transfer. Always verify your final titling total with your local county clerk or state motor vehicle authority.
Comparative Ranking Methodology
To provide an objective, apples-to-apples comparison across disparate state vehicle codes, all rankings and total cost figures in this dataset are modeled using a single standardized vehicle purchasing scenario:
The Standard Vehicle Scenario
- • Purchase Price: $25,000.00 cash transaction
- • Vehicle Class: Standard passenger car (curb weight ≤ 3,700 lbs)
- • Registration Term: 1-year registration cycle
- • Financing: Unfinanced cash purchase ($0.00 lien filing fee)
- • Trade-In Credit: $0.00 (private sales do not involve dealership trade-ins)
- • Vehicle Age: Model year 2015 (exempts 7-year statutory book-value minimums)
- • Fuel Type: Standard gasoline (excludes electric/hybrid battery surcharges)
Statutory Data Sources: Tax rates, title certificate charges, and annual license tag fees are verified against official state statutes (e.g. California Revenue & Taxation Code, Maryland Transportation Article, Texas Tax Code, and Illinois Form RUT-50) and state department of motor vehicles published fee schedules.
Freshness & Verification: Each state is re-checked against official sources on a rolling basis, and each row shows that state's own verified date. Current data was verified September 2026 to November 2026.
Disclaimer: This dataset is published for consumer informational and research benchmarking purposes only and does not constitute formal tax, financial, or legal counsel. Actual vehicle titling costs can vary based on exact vehicle curb weight, county and municipal local option taxes, inspection fees, and late titling penalties. Consult your local county title clerk or state DMV prior to completing transactions.