Washington Car Sales Tax Calculator Tax, title & license fees (2026)
State sales/use tax + motor vehicle sales tax + local tax · 6.5% state rate
Calculate Washington car tax & fees
Loading calculator…
How much is car sales tax in Washington?
Washington stacks three taxes on a vehicle purchase: the 6.5% state sales tax, a 0.5% motor vehicle sales tax (raised from 0.3% on January 1, 2026), and your local sales tax. Buyers in the Sound Transit district also pay a regional transit excise.
Subtract a like-kind trade-in from the price, then multiply by 6.5% + 0.5% + your local rate. Dealer documentary fees aren't part of the taxable amount.
If you live in the Sound Transit (RTA) district, an additional 1.1% excise applies to the vehicle's depreciated MSRP each year.
Licensing fees add up: a $15 title ($40 on dealer sales from October 1, 2026), filing and service fees of $41.50, a $30 license fee, a weight fee ($35 up to 4,000 lb) plus a $10 additional weight fee, $104 for new plates (two at $50 plus $2 reflectivity each), a $0.75 license service fee and, on new-car dealer sales, a $3 arbitration fee.
- Taxable base = price - like-kind trade-in (doc fee is not taxable)
- Tax = taxable base x (6.5% + 0.5% MVST + local rate)
- RTA tax (Sound Transit district only) = 1.1% x MSRP x depreciation percentage
- Fees = title + filing + service + license + weight fee + $10 additional weight fee + license service + arbitration (dealer) + plates
- Total = tax + RTA + fees + doc fee
Washington car tax example with real numbers
New car from a dealer
You buy a new $3,500-lb car from a dealer for $30,000 and trade in your old car for $6,000. Your local sales tax is 3.1%, and you live outside the Sound Transit district.
- Taxable amount: $30,000 − $6,000 = $24,000.
- State sales tax 6.5%: $1,560. Motor vehicle sales tax 0.5%: $120. Local tax 3.1%: $744.
- Title, filing and service fees, license, weight fees, plates and the arbitration fee add $264.25.
- Estimated total: $2,688.25.
| Taxes | |
|---|---|
| State sales tax6.5% of $24,000.00 | $1,560 |
| Motor vehicle sales tax0.5% of $24,000.00 | $120 |
| Local sales tax3.1% of $24,000.00 | $744 |
| Title & registration | |
| Title | $40 |
| Filing + service fees | $41.50 |
| License fee | $30 |
| Weight fee | $45 |
| Plates | $104 |
| License service fee | $0.75 |
| Arbitration fee | $3 |
| Estimated total | $2,688.25 |
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 Washington tax bill
Inheritance
No sales tax is due on an inherited vehicle; licensing fees still apply.
Gifts
Use tax may apply to a gift unless the donor paid sales tax on the vehicle, or owned it for at least seven years in a sales-tax state.
Out-of-state purchases and new residents
Washington tax is reduced by tax already paid elsewhere.
EV exemption has ended
Washington's sales tax exemption for electric vehicles expired on July 31, 2025.
Washington vehicle sales tax rates
| State rate | 6.5% |
|---|---|
| Motor vehicle sales tax rate | 0.5% |
| MVST note | 0.5% from 2026-01-01 |
| Local rate | Varies by location |
| Regional transit authority tax |
|
Washington title & registration fees
| Title | $15 |
|---|---|
| Title dealer from 2,026 10 01 | $40 |
| Filing title and registration | $12.50 |
| Filing title only | $6.50 |
| Filing registration only | $6 |
| Service title and registration | $29 |
| Service title only | $18 |
| Service registration only | $11 |
| License | $30 |
| Weight fee |
|
| License service | $0.75 |
| Arbitration dealer sales | $3 |
| Plates new | $104 |
| Plate transfer | $10 |
| Quick title | $50 |
| Dealer doc fee cap | $200 |
| EV renewal battery EV | $225 |
| Additional weight fee | $10 |
| Weight fee from 2,029 |
|
| Plates new note | $50 per plate + $2 reflectivity per plate (two plates = $104) |
Washington car tax exemptions & special cases
| Inheritance | No sales/use tax; fees still due |
|---|---|
| Gift | Use tax may apply unless donor paid tax or owned 7+ years in a sales-tax state |
| Out-of-state / new resident | Washington tax minus tax paid elsewhere |
| EV sales-tax exemption | Expired 2025-07-31 |
| Military | No automatic exemption |
Washington car tax FAQ
What is the Washington motor vehicle sales tax?
An extra 0.5% (since January 1, 2026) charged on vehicle sales on top of the 6.5% state and local sales tax.
Does a trade-in lower Washington sales tax?
Yes, a like-kind trade-in reduces the taxable amount.
What is the RTA tax?
A regional transit excise of 1.1% of depreciated MSRP, charged only in the Sound Transit district.
How much are new plates in Washington?
$50 per plate plus $2 reflectivity each, so $104 for a pair.
Sources & verification
We checked these figures against the following official pages on October 7, 2026:
- dol.wa.gov/vehicles-and-boats/vehicles/vehicle-registration/calculate-vehicle-tab-fees
- app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?Cite=46.17.365
- dor.wa.gov/taxes-rates/other-taxes/motor-vehicle-salesuse-tax
Not yet confirmed on an official page: EV renewal total 225 (DOL lists $100 + $50 electric car fees; any additional fee not confirmed); 6.5% state; RTA 1.1%. Treat these figures as estimates.
What changed in our last review
- additional weight fee 10 (DOL: applies to all vehicles subject to weight fees incl. passenger vehicles)
- weight fees rise to 35/75/90/110 for registrations due on/after 2029-01-01
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll recheck it.