Massachusetts Car Sales Tax Calculator Tax, title & license fees (2026)
Statewide sales/use tax (no local sales tax) · 6.25% state rate
Calculate Massachusetts car tax & fees
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How much is car sales tax in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts charges a statewide 6.25% sales or use tax on vehicles, with no city sales tax at the Registry. Your city or town then bills an annual motor vehicle excise separately.
From a dealer registered with the Department of Revenue, the tax is charged on the price minus your trade-in and any rebate. From a private seller or an unregistered dealer, it's charged on the higher of the price or the vehicle's NADA clean trade-in value.
The title costs $75, and registration is $60 for two years. Adding or removing a lienholder costs $25.
The municipal excise is billed later by the city or town where the vehicle is garaged, so it isn't part of the up-front cost below.
- Dealer: taxable = price - trade-in - rebate
- Private / unregistered dealer: taxable = greater of price or NADA clean trade-in
- Tax = taxable x 6.25%
- Total = tax + title + registration + lien + gift fee + municipal excise + doc fee
Massachusetts car tax example with real numbers
Dealer purchase with a trade-in and rebate
You buy a car from a dealer for $33,000, trade in your old one for $9,000 and receive a $1,000 rebate.
- Taxable amount: $33,000 − $9,000 − $1,000 = $23,000.
- Sales tax: $23,000 × 6.25% = $1,437.50.
- Add the $75 title and $60 two-year registration: $135.
- Estimated total: $1,572.50, with your town's excise billed later.
| Taxes | |
|---|---|
| Sales/use tax6.25% of $23,000.00 | $1,437.50 |
| Title & registration | |
| Title | $75 |
| Registration (2 years) | $60 |
| Estimated total | $1,572.50 |
Computed with the calculator on this page using the figures in our data. Local add-ons not mentioned in the example are left out.
Exceptions that change your Massachusetts tax bill
Gifts
A gift (form MVU-24) owes no sales tax, but there's a $25 gift transfer fee.
Family transfers
Transfers between a parent, spouse, child or sibling (form MVU-26) owe no tax and no gift fee.
Inheritance
An inherited vehicle (form MVU-27) owes no sales tax.
Tax paid in another state
Use tax is reduced by sales tax already paid elsewhere.
Massachusetts vehicle sales tax rates
| State rate | 6.25% |
|---|---|
| Local rate | 0% |
| Municipal excise | Annual excise billed by city/town; varies |
Massachusetts title & registration fees
| Title | $75 |
|---|---|
| Registration biennial | $60 |
| Gift transfer fee | $25 |
| Lien | $25 |
| Duplicate title | $25 |
| Title deadline days | $10 |
Massachusetts car tax exemptions & special cases
| Gift (MVU-24) | Tax $0 plus $25 gift fee |
|---|---|
| Family transfer: parent, spouse, child, sibling (MVU-26) | Tax $0, no gift fee |
| Inheritance (MVU-27) | Tax $0 |
| Tax paid elsewhere | Credit against use tax |
| Nominal ($1) gift without MVU-24 | Taxable |
Massachusetts car tax FAQ
How is a private car sale taxed in Massachusetts?
At 6.25% of the higher of the price or the NADA clean trade-in value.
What is the Massachusetts motor vehicle excise?
An annual tax billed by your city or town, separate from the sales tax you pay at registration.
How long is Massachusetts registration good for?
Two years, for $60.
Is a $1 'gift' sale taxed?
Yes. Without form MVU-24 it's treated as a taxable sale, valued at least at book value.
Sources & verification
We checked these figures against the following official pages on October 7, 2026:
- www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-registry-of-motor-vehicles-fees
- www.mass.gov/doc/rmv-schedule-of-fees/download
- www.mass.gov/info-details/familygift-transfers
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll recheck it.