Ohio Car Sales Tax Calculator Tax, title & license fees (2026)
State + county/transit sales/use tax · 5.75% state rate
Calculate Ohio car tax & fees
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How much is car sales tax in Ohio?
Ohio's state sales tax is 5.75%, but you pay tax on a vehicle at the combined rate for your county of residence, which ranges from 6.50% to 8.25%. The tax goes to the county clerk of courts when you title the vehicle.
Trade-ins work differently in Ohio: they reduce the taxable price only when you buy a new vehicle from an Ohio dealer. On a used vehicle or a private sale, you pay tax on the full price even if you traded something in. Manufacturer rebates never reduce it.
Multiply the taxable amount by your county's combined rate.
Title is $18 ($23 in some counties). Passenger registration is $36 plus an $8 deputy registrar fee for one year, and local permissive taxes add $5 to $30. Hybrids pay $100 a year, plug-in hybrids $150 and electric vehicles $200.
- Taxable base = price - trade-in (trade-in only on new vehicles from an Ohio dealer)
- Tax = taxable base x combined county rate
- Title = $18 (or $23 in some counties) + late fee if applicable
- Registration = class fee (or plate transfer) + deputy registrar fee + permissive tax + powertrain fee
- Total = tax + title + registration + doc fee
Ohio car tax example with real numbers
New car from an Ohio dealer
You buy a new car for $32,000 and trade in your old one for $8,000. Your county's combined rate is 7.5%: the 5.75% state rate plus 1.75% county tax.
- Because it's a new car from an Ohio dealer, the trade-in counts: $32,000 − $8,000 = $24,000.
- State tax at 5.75%: $1,380. County tax at 1.75%: $420.
- Add the $18 title, $36 registration and $8 deputy fee: $62.
- Estimated total: $1,862, plus any local permissive tax.
| Taxes | |
|---|---|
| State sales tax5.75% of $24,000.00 | $1,380 |
| County sales tax1.75% of $24,000.00 | $420 |
| Title & registration | |
| Title | $18 |
| Registration | $36 |
| Deputy registrar fee | $8 |
| Estimated total | $1,862 |
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 Ohio tax bill
Gifts, inheritance and divorce
A gift with nothing paid, an inheritance and a court divorce transfer with no consideration all owe no sales tax. A $1 bill of sale counts as a sale.
New residents
A vehicle you owned and titled in another state for at least six months before moving owes no Ohio sales tax.
Military
A service member's vehicle, titled in their own name and used out of state for more than six months, is exempt. Spouse-only transfers are taxed.
Tax paid in another state
Ohio use tax is reduced by sales tax paid to another U.S. state.
Ohio vehicle sales tax rates
| State rate | 5.75% |
|---|---|
| Local rate | Varies by county of residence |
| Rate change note | Warren County combined rate 6.75% before 2026-10-01 |
Ohio title & registration fees
| Title | $18 |
|---|---|
| Title some counties | $23 |
| Late title | $5 |
| Temp tag | $23 |
| Registration by class |
|
| Plate transfer | $9 |
| Deputy registrar fee 1-year | $8 |
| Permissive local tax max | $30 |
| EV | $200 |
| Plug-in hybrid | $150 |
| Hybrid | $100 |
| Dealer doc fee cap 2,026 | Lesser of $398 or 10% of sale price |
Ohio car tax exemptions & special cases
| Used vehicle or private sale | Trade-in does not reduce the tax |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer rebate | Does not reduce the taxable base |
| Dealer doc fee | Not subject to sales tax |
| Gift with $0 consideration | Tax $0 ($1 sale is taxed) |
| Inheritance | Tax $0 |
| Divorce / court settlement with no consideration | Tax $0 |
| Military (member-titled, used out of state over 6 months) | Tax $0; spouse-only transfers are taxed |
| New resident, owned and titled out of state 6+ months | Tax $0 |
| Tax paid to another U.S. state | Credit against Ohio tax |
Ohio car tax FAQ
Does a trade-in reduce sales tax on a used car in Ohio?
No. Trade-ins only reduce the taxable price on new vehicles bought from an Ohio dealer.
Which rate do I pay in Ohio?
The combined rate for the county you live in, from 6.50% to 8.25%.
Are dealer doc fees taxed in Ohio?
No. Dealer documentary fees aren't subject to sales tax.
How much is an Ohio title?
$18, or $23 in some counties.
Sources & verification
We checked these figures against the following official pages on October 7, 2026:
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll recheck it.