Tax, title and license on a $30,000 car
What a $30,000 car actually costs to put on the road, state by state. Every figure comes from the state agency that published it.
What each state charges on $30,000
| State | Fees | Tax | TTL total | As % of price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $452 | $2,700 | $3,152 | 10.51% |
| Nevada | $61.25 | $2,911.50 | $2,972.75 | 9.91% |
| Massachusetts | $105 | $2,550 | $2,655 | 8.85% |
| MinnesotaincompleteMissing wheelage tax, which Minnesota DVS does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $534 | $2,062.50 | $2,596.50 | 8.66% |
| IndianaincompleteMissing county or city vehicle excise surtax, which Indiana BMV does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $51.35 | $2,506 | $2,557.35 | 8.52% |
| New YorkincompleteMissing county use tax and mctd fee, which NY DMV does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $101 | $2,400 | $2,501 | 8.34% |
| Maine | $68 | $2,370 | $2,438 | 8.13% |
| Utah | $216.50 | $2,175 | $2,391.50 | 7.97% |
| WashingtonincompleteMissing local transportation benefit district fee and local sales tax, which Washington DOL does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $197.75 | $2,100 | $2,297.75 | 7.66% |
| Maryland | $320.50 | $1,950 | $2,270.50 | 7.57% |
| OhioincompleteMissing permissive tax, which Ohio BMV does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $62 | $2,175 | $2,237 | 7.46% |
| TennesseeincompleteMissing county wheel tax, which Tennessee Revenue does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $37.50 | $2,188 | $2,225.50 | 7.42% |
| Florida | $374.35 | $1,850 | $2,224.35 | 7.41% |
| NebraskaincompleteMissing local sales tax, which Nebraska DMV does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $58.70 | $2,150 | $2,208.70 | 7.36% |
| Rhode Island | $105.25 | $2,100 | $2,205.25 | 7.35% |
| Arizona | $517.50 | $1,680 | $2,197.50 | 7.33% |
| MissouriincompleteMissing registration fee and annual personal property tax, which Missouri DOR does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $26.50 | $2,167.50 | $2,194 | 7.31% |
| IllinoisincompleteMissing local sales tax, which Illinois SOS does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $316 | $1,875 | $2,191 | 7.3% |
| ConnecticutincompleteMissing municipal motor vehicle property tax, which Connecticut DMV does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $239 | $1,905 | $2,144 | 7.15% |
| Georgia | $38 | $2,100 | $2,138 | 7.13% |
| New Jersey | $106.50 | $1,987.50 | $2,094 | 6.98% |
| KansasincompleteMissing county property tax and local sales tax, which Kansas DOV does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $52.75 | $1,950 | $2,002.75 | 6.68% |
| Michigan | $198 | $1,800 | $1,998 | 6.66% |
| ArkansasincompleteMissing annual personal property tax and local sales tax, which Arkansas DFA does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $37.50 | $1,950 | $1,987.50 | 6.63% |
| TexasincompleteMissing county fees (road, bridge and transportation), which TxDMV does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $97 | $1,875 | $1,972 | 6.57% |
| WisconsinincompleteMissing municipal and county wheel tax, which Wisconsin DMV does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $311.50 | $1,650 | $1,961.50 | 6.54% |
| Vermont | $133 | $1,800 | $1,933 | 6.44% |
| PennsylvaniaincompleteMissing county fee for local use and local sales tax, which PennDOT does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $120 | $1,800 | $1,920 | 6.4% |
| IdahoincompleteMissing county administration fee, which Idaho DMV does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $84.25 | $1,800 | $1,884.25 | 6.28% |
| West Virginia | $66.50 | $1,800 | $1,866.50 | 6.22% |
| Iowa | $357.80 | $1,500 | $1,857.80 | 6.19% |
| KentuckyincompleteMissing annual motor vehicle property tax, which Kentucky Transportation Cabinet does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $30 | $1,800 | $1,830 | 6.1% |
| WyomingincompleteMissing local sales tax, which WYDOT does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $585 | $1,200 | $1,785 | 5.95% |
| Hawaii | $371.50 | $1,350 | $1,721.50 | 5.74% |
| Delaware | $75 | $1,575 | $1,650 | 5.5% |
| LouisianaincompleteMissing local sales tax, which Louisiana OMV does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $136.50 | $1,500 | $1,636.50 | 5.46% |
| North Dakota | $99.50 | $1,500 | $1,599.50 | 5.33% |
| MississippiincompleteMissing county ad valorem tax, which Mississippi DOR does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $38 | $1,500 | $1,538 | 5.13% |
| ColoradoincompleteMissing local sales tax, which Colorado DMV does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $64.50 | $1,405.50 | $1,470 | 4.9% |
| Oklahoma | $124 | $1,321.25 | $1,445.25 | 4.82% |
| VirginiaincompleteMissing local personal property tax (car tax), which Virginia DMV does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $45.75 | $1,245 | $1,290.75 | 4.3% |
| South DakotaincompleteMissing county wheel tax, which South Dakota DOR does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $86 | $1,200 | $1,286 | 4.29% |
| New Mexico | $76.50 | $1,200 | $1,276.50 | 4.26% |
| District of Columbia | $135 | $930 | $1,065 | 3.55% |
| North CarolinaincompleteMissing county and regional transport tax, which NCDMV does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $113 | $900 | $1,013 | 3.38% |
| AlabamaincompleteMissing local sales tax, which Alabama DOR does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $39.25 | $789 | $828.25 | 2.76% |
| New Hampshire | $631 | $0 | $631 | 2.1% |
| South CarolinaincompleteMissing county vehicle property tax, which SCDMV does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $35 | $500 | $535 | 1.78% |
| OregonincompleteMissing county registration fee and vehicle privilege tax, which Oregon DMV does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $268 | $0 | $268 | 0.89% |
| MontanaincompleteMissing county option tax, which Montana MVD does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $244.51 | $0 | $244.51 | 0.82% |
| AlaskaincompleteMissing motor vehicle registration tax (mvrt) and local sales tax, which Alaska DMV does not publish in a form we can verify. The real total is higher. | $115 | $0 | $115 | 0.38% |
Used vehicle, first registration, no trade-in, at each state's rate. Sorted most expensive first.
Minnesota and Indiana and New York and Washington and Ohio and Tennessee and Nebraska and Missouri and Illinois and Connecticut and Kansas and Arkansas and Texas and Wisconsin and Pennsylvania and Idaho and Kentucky and Wyoming and Louisiana and Mississippi and Colorado and Virginia and South Dakota and North Carolina and Alabama and South Carolina and Oregon and Montana and Alaska are marked incomplete above. Those states charge fees their agency does not publish in a form we can verify, so the totals shown are lower than what you will actually pay, and they rank cheaper here than they should. We would rather show you the gap than fill it with a guess.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive state on the same $30,000 car is $2,521, and that is before the missing fees are counted. Nothing about the car changes. Only the address of the person buying it.
Why flat fees hurt more on a cheap car
Tax scales with price. Title and registration fees do not. Put those together and the effective rate on a cheap car is higher than on an expensive one, sometimes much higher.
| Car price | Fixed fees | Fees as % of price |
|---|---|---|
| $3,000 | $39.25 | 1.3% |
| $10,000 | $39.25 | 0.4% |
| $30,000 | $39.25 | 0.1% |
Using Alabama, where the fees genuinely are flat. The same $39.25 is 1.3% of a cheap car and 0.1% of an expensive one. A few states charge fees that scale with what the vehicle is worth, and California is the notable one.
What changes at $30,000
Rules that are irrelevant at other prices start or stop mattering here.
- Arkansas. The county surtax is capped at the first $2,500 of the price, so it is the same -$162.50 here as it would be on a $2,500 car. Only the 6% state portion keeps climbing, which is why Arkansas gets relatively cheaper as the car gets dearer.
- Florida. The county surtax is capped at the first $5,000 of the price, so it is the same $50 here as it would be on a $5,000 car. Only the 6% state portion keeps climbing, which is why Florida gets relatively cheaper as the car gets dearer.
- Tennessee. The county surtax is capped at the first $1,600 of the price, so it is the same $44 here as it would be on a $1,600 car. Only the 6% state portion keeps climbing, which is why Tennessee gets relatively cheaper as the car gets dearer.
- California. The Transportation Improvement Fee is banded by what the vehicle is worth, and at this price you are in the $132 band, up from $66 just below it. Cross $35,000 and it steps up to $198.
What a trade-in is worth on a $30,000 car
Put a $9,000 trade-in against a $30,000 car and the tax saving depends entirely on the state. Some subtract the trade-in before working out the tax. Some ignore it.
| State | Tax saved by the trade-in | New total |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $753.75 | $2,219 |
| New York | $720 | $1,781 |
| Utah | $652.50 | $1,739 |
| Missouri | $650.25 | $1,543.75 |
| Georgia | $630 | $1,508 |
| Indiana | $630 | $1,927.35 |
| Rhode Island | $630 | $1,575.25 |
| Tennessee | $630 | $1,595.50 |
| Washington | $630 | $1,667.75 |
| Minnesota | $618.75 | $1,977.75 |
| New Jersey | $596.25 | $1,497.75 |
| Arkansas | $585 | $1,402.50 |
| Kansas | $585 | $1,417.75 |
| Maryland | $585 | $1,685.50 |
| Connecticut | $571.50 | $1,572.50 |
| Illinois | $562.50 | $1,628.50 |
| Massachusetts | $562.50 | $2,092.50 |
| Texas | $562.50 | $1,409.50 |
| Florida | $540 | $1,684.35 |
| Idaho | $540 | $1,344.25 |
| Michigan | $540 | $1,458 |
| Pennsylvania | $540 | $1,380 |
| Vermont | $540 | $1,393 |
| West Virginia | $540 | $1,326.50 |
| Arizona | $504 | $1,693.50 |
| Maine | $495 | $1,943 |
| Nebraska | $495 | $1,713.70 |
| Wisconsin | $495 | $1,466.50 |
| Delaware | $472.50 | $1,177.50 |
| Iowa | $450 | $1,407.80 |
| Louisiana | $450 | $1,186.50 |
| Mississippi | $450 | $1,088 |
| North Dakota | $450 | $1,149.50 |
| New Mexico | $360 | $916.50 |
| South Dakota | $360 | $926 |
| Wyoming | $360 | $1,425 |
| North Carolina | $270 | $743 |
| Colorado | $261 | $1,209 |
| Alabama | $180 | $648.25 |
| Alaska | Nothing | $115 |
| California | Nothing | $3,152 |
| District of Columbia | Nothing | $1,065 |
| Hawaii | Nothing | $1,721.50 |
| Kentucky | Nothing | $1,830 |
| Montana | Nothing | $244.51 |
| New Hampshire | Nothing | $631 |
| Ohio | Nothing | $2,237 |
| Oklahoma | Nothing | $1,445.25 |
| Oregon | Nothing | $268 |
| South Carolina | Nothing | $535 |
| Virginia | Nothing | $1,290.75 |
Alaska and California and District of Columbia and Hawaii and Kentucky and Montana and New Hampshire and Ohio and Oklahoma and Oregon and South Carolina and Virginia charges tax on the full $30,000 whatever you trade in. On this purchase that rule alone is worth $753.75 compared with the most generous state on the list.
Title and registration are not the same thing
| Title | Registration | |
|---|---|---|
| What it proves | That you own the vehicle. | That the vehicle is allowed on public roads. |
| How often you pay | Once, when ownership changes. | Every year, or every two years in some states. |
| What you get | A paper or electronic certificate you keep. | A plate, a sticker and a registration card. |
| If you skip it | You cannot legally sell the car. | You get a ticket, and eventually the car gets towed. |
A financed car adds a third document. The lender's lien is recorded against the title, and you do not hold a clear title until the loan is paid off.
Questions
How much is tax, title and license on a $30,000 car?
It depends entirely on the state. On a $30,000 car it runs from about $631 in New Hampshire to about $3,152 in California. The registration and title fees are similar everywhere. The tax is what moves the number.
How much are taxes on a $30,000 vehicle?
Tax on its own, with no fees: California $2,700, Nevada $2,911.50, Massachusetts $2,550, Minnesota $2,062.50, Indiana $2,506, New York $2,400, Maine $2,370, Utah $2,175, Washington $2,100, Maryland $1,950, Ohio $2,175, Tennessee $2,188, Florida $1,850, Nebraska $2,150, Rhode Island $2,100, Arizona $1,680, Missouri $2,167.50, Illinois $1,875, Connecticut $1,905, Georgia $2,100, New Jersey $1,987.50, Kansas $1,950, Michigan $1,800, Arkansas $1,950, Texas $1,875, Wisconsin $1,650, Vermont $1,800, Pennsylvania $1,800, Idaho $1,800, West Virginia $1,800, Iowa $1,500, Kentucky $1,800, Wyoming $1,200, Hawaii $1,350, Delaware $1,575, Louisiana $1,500, North Dakota $1,500, Mississippi $1,500, Colorado $1,405.50, Oklahoma $1,321.25, Virginia $1,245, South Dakota $1,200, New Mexico $1,200, District of Columbia $930, North Carolina $900, Alabama $789, New Hampshire $0, South Carolina $500, Oregon $0, Montana $0, Alaska $0. That is the tax line only. Title and registration come on top, and they are the same whatever the car costs.
How much does the state take on a $30,000 car, all in?
Between $631 and $3,152 in tax, title and registration together, depending where you register it. Dealer charges such as the doc fee are not in that range; the out-the-door price calculator adds them.
Why is tax, title and license so different between states on the same car?
Two reasons. States charge different tax rates, and they disagree about what gets taxed. Some subtract your trade-in before working out the tax and some charge you on the full price regardless. On a $30,000 car that second rule alone can be worth more than every fixed fee put together.
Does a cheaper car mean proportionally cheaper tax, title and license?
No, and this catches people out on cheap cars. The title and registration fees are flat, so on a $3,000 car they can be a bigger share of the purchase than the tax is. That is why tax, title and license feels disproportionately expensive at the bottom of the market.
Work out your own figure
These are worked at each state's standard rate with no trade-in. Your local rate, your trade-in and your vehicle change the answer. Use the state calculator for a figure that matches your deal.