Texas Car Sales Tax Calculator Tax, title & license fees (2026)
Statewide motor vehicle sales/use tax (no local add-on) · 6.25% state rate
Calculate Texas car tax & fees
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How much is car sales tax in Texas?
Texas charges one statewide motor vehicle sales tax of 6.25%. Cities and counties don't add a local vehicle sales tax, so two buyers paying the same price owe the same tax anywhere in the state. What changes the bill is what the 6.25% is applied to, and that depends on whether you buy from a dealer or a private seller.
When you buy from a licensed dealer, the tax is based on the selling price plus any accessories, minus your trade-in, any dealer discount and any manufacturer rebate. A large trade-in can cut the tax substantially.
Private-party sales work differently. Texas compares the price you paid with the vehicle's standard presumptive value (SPV), a value the state publishes for used vehicles. You pay 6.25% on whichever is higher: the price, or 80% of the SPV. If you paid less because the car has problems, a certified appraisal can be used instead.
On top of the tax you pay a title fee ($28, or $33 in some counties) and registration: a $50.75 base fee plus small state add-ons. The county also adds a local registration fee that varies, so the numbers below leave it out.
- Dealer: taxable base = price + accessories - trade-in - dealer discount - rebate
- Private used: taxable base = greater of price or 80% of Standard Presumptive Value (or certified appraisal)
- Tax = taxable base x 6.25%; add late penalty if filed late
- Registration = base + TexasSure + processing + inspection replacement + county emissions + county local fee (+ EV fee)
- Total = tax + penalty + title + registration + doc fee
Texas car tax example with real numbers
Buying a used car from a private seller
You buy a used sedan from a neighbour for $12,000. The SPV lookup for that model shows $18,000.
- Work out 80% of the SPV: $18,000 × 80% = $14,400.
- Compare it with the price. $14,400 is higher than $12,000, so Texas taxes $14,400.
- Apply 6.25%: $14,400 × 6.25% = $900.
- Add title and registration fees of $92 for a total of about $992, before county fees.
| Taxes | |
|---|---|
| Motor vehicle sales tax6.25% of $14,400.00 | $900 |
| Title & registration | |
| Title | $28 |
| Registration + required fees | $64 |
| Estimated total | $992 |
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 Texas tax bill
Gifts between eligible relatives
A qualifying gift is charged a flat $10 gift tax instead of 6.25%. If the relationship doesn't qualify, the transfer is taxed like a private sale, SPV rule included. (The $10 amount is not yet confirmed on an official page.)
Inheritance
A vehicle passed to an estate distributee on or after September 1, 2025 owes no tax. Title and registration fees still apply.
New residents
If you move to Texas with a vehicle already registered in your name in another state, you pay a flat $90 instead of use tax. (Not yet confirmed on an official page.)
Even exchanges and leases
Two people swapping vehicles with no money changing hands each pay $5. With a lease, the leasing company pays tax when it buys the car, so no tax is added to your monthly payments; a buyout is taxed at 6.25%.
Bought out of state
A Texas resident who buys elsewhere owes 6.25% use tax, minus any sales tax already paid to the other state.
Filing late
Tax paid 1–30 days late carries a 5% penalty; after 30 days it's 10%.
Texas vehicle sales tax rates
| State rate | 6.25% |
|---|---|
| Local rate | 0% |
Texas title & registration fees
| Title standard | $28 |
|---|---|
| Title non attainment counties | $33 |
| Title duplicate mail | $2 |
| Title duplicate walk in | $5.45 |
| Title bonded | $15 |
| Title salvage | $8 |
| Title rebuilt | $65 |
| Registration passenger | $50.75 |
| Registration heavy pickup | $54 |
| Registration trailer | $45 |
| Registration motorcycle | $30 |
| Texas sure | $1 |
| Processing | $4.75 |
| Inspection replacement | $7.50 |
| Registration transfer | $2.50 |
| EV fee renewal | $200 |
| EV fee initial 2-year | $400 |
| Temp permit 30 day | $25 |
| One trip permit | $5 |
| Permit processing | $4.75 |
| County local fee | Varies by county |
| State emissions fee | Varies by county |
| Gift tax | $10 |
| Even exchange tax | $5 |
| New resident tax | $90 |
| Late penalty 1 to 30 days | 5% of tax |
| Late penalty over 30 days | 10% of tax |
Texas car tax exemptions & special cases
| Gift between eligible relatives | $10 gift tax instead of sales tax; ineligible relationships taxed as a private sale |
|---|---|
| Even exchange | $5 tax per party |
| New resident with vehicle previously registered out of state in own name | $90 flat instead of use tax |
| Inheritance (on/after Sep 1, 2025) | Tax $0; title and registration still due |
| Out-of-state purchase by Texas resident | 6.25% use tax minus tax paid elsewhere |
| Lease | Lessor pays tax on its purchase; no tax on monthly payments; buyout taxed at 6.25% |
Texas car tax FAQ
Does my trade-in lower Texas sales tax?
Yes, when you buy from a dealer: the trade-in value comes off the taxable price. Private sales have no trade-in credit.
Why was I taxed on more than I paid?
For private sales, Texas taxes the higher of the price or 80% of the standard presumptive value. If the car is worth less than that, a certified appraisal can lower the taxable value.
Is there city or county sales tax on cars in Texas?
No. The 6.25% motor vehicle tax is the same statewide. Counties do charge their own registration fees, which vary.
How much is the Texas EV fee?
Electric vehicles pay $200 a year at renewal. A new EV registered for two years pays $400 up front.
What does a title cost in Texas?
$28 in most counties and $33 in counties with emissions programs.
Sources & verification
We checked these figures against the following official pages on October 7, 2026:
- comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/motor-vehicle/private-party-spv.php
- comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/96-254/mv-sales.php
- www.txdmv.gov/motorists/register-your-vehicle
- www.txdmv.gov/sites/default/files/body-files/2023-07-25_Electric_Vehicle_Registration_Fee_
Not yet confirmed on an official page: $10 gift tax; $90 new resident; $5 even exchange; processing 4.75; inspection replacement 7.50. Treat these figures as estimates.
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll recheck it.