Used Car Sales Tax by State

Used car sales tax rates range from 0% in a handful of states to over 10% in parts of California. Whether you are buying from a dealer or a private party, the tax base, who collects it, and when it is due all vary by state. Select your state below.

Featured States

California Texas Florida New York Ohio

Find Your State

What Every Used Car Sales Tax State Page Covers

State base rate plus local taxes by county
How the tax is calculated for private party vs. dealer purchases
Trade-in credit availability and any caps
Family transfer and other tax exemptions
How and when to pay (DMV vs. dealer vs. self-assessment)

Trusted by private vehicle sellers nationwide

45% faster sale

Vehicles whose listings include a history report spend ~45% less time on site before selling, and report-viewers are 5x more likely to become a lead.

Source: Experian / AutoCheck

$4,000 avg loss

NHTSA estimates 450,000+ vehicles per year are sold with rolled-back odometers — the average victim loses about $4,000 in downstream repair costs.

Source: NHTSA

17.5M private sales/yr

About 17.5 million private-party vehicle transactions happen in the U.S. each year — roughly 47% of the used market.

Source: Cox Automotive 2024

1 in 3 buyers

Roughly 1 in 3 used-car buyers say they suspect private sellers are hiding mechanical problems — documentation closes that trust gap.

Source: JW Surety Bonds (n=3,000)

$60–$85 mobile notary

Mobile notaries often charge $60 to $85 a visit, more on weekends, plus travel fees. Most states do not require a notary for a vehicle bill of sale. Check your state guide to see if yours does.

Source: Thumbtack / NNA