How Much You’ll Pay in Sales Tax When You Buy a Car in Every State

There are some states where the amount paid in sales tax when purchasing a car can be as little as $0. In other states, it could be more than $1,000.

To determine how much you’ll pay in sales tax when you buy a car, GOBankingRates analyzed each state’s average sales tax. Assuming the vehicle purchase price is $15,000, GOBankingRates was able to calculate the amount of sales tax paid. 

Key Findings

• Residents in five states paid $0 sales tax when they buy a car. These include Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon.
• Over $1,000 sales tax is paid in nine states. From least to greatest amounts: Utah ($1,028), Minnesota ($1,032), Tennessee ($1,050), Rhode Island ($1,050), Indiana ($1,050), Georgia ($1,050), Illinois ($1,088), California ($1,088) and Nevada ($1,238)

In alphabetical order, here’s what you’ll expect to pay in sales tax after buying a car in every state.

• Auto sales tax rate: 2.00%
• Sales tax paid: $300
• Car price + sales tax: $15,300

• Auto sales tax rate: 0.00%
• Sales tax paid: $0
• Car price + sales tax: $15,000

• Auto sales tax rate: 5.60%
• Sales tax paid: $840
• Car price + sales tax: $15,840

• Auto sales tax rate: 6.50%
• Sales tax paid: $975
• Car price + sales tax: $15,975

• Auto sales tax rate: 7.25%
• Sales tax paid: $1,088
• Car price + sales tax: $16,088

• Auto sales tax rate: 2.90%
• Sales tax paid: $435
• Car price + sales tax: $15,435

• Auto sales tax rate: 6.35%
• Sales tax paid: $953
• Car price + sales tax: $15,953

• Auto sales tax rate: 0.00%
• Sales tax paid: $0
• Car price + sales tax: $15,000

• Auto sales tax rate: 6.00%
• Sales tax paid: $900
• Car price + sales tax: $15,900

• Auto sales tax rate: 7.00%
• Sales tax paid: $1,050
• Car price + sales tax: $16,050

• Auto sales tax rate: 4.00%
• Sales tax paid: $600
• Car price + sales tax: $15,600

• Auto sales tax rate: 6.00%
• Sales tax paid: $900
• Car price + sales tax: $15,900

• Auto sales tax rate: 7.25%
• Sales tax paid: $1,088
• Car price + sales tax: $16,088

• Auto sales tax rate: 7.00%
• Sales tax paid: $1,050
• Car price + sales tax: $16,050

• Auto sales tax rate: 5.00%
• Sales tax paid: $750
• Car price + sales tax: $15,750

• Auto sales tax rate: 6.50%
• Sales tax paid: $975
• Car price + sales tax: $15,975

• Auto sales tax rate: 6.00%
• Sales tax paid: $900
• Car price + sales tax: $15,900

• Auto sales tax rate: 4.45%
• Sales tax paid: $668
• Car price + sales tax: $15,668

• Auto sales tax rate: 5.50%
• Sales tax paid: $825
• Car price + sales tax: $15,825

• Auto sales tax rate: 6.00%
• Sales tax paid: $900
• Car price + sales tax: $15,900

• Auto sales tax rate: 6.25%
• Sales tax paid: $938
• Car price + sales tax: $15,938

• Auto sales tax rate: 6.00%
• Sales tax paid: $900
• Car price + sales tax: $15,900

• Auto sales tax rate: 6.88%
• Sales tax paid: $1,032
• Car price + sales tax: $16,032

• Auto sales tax rate: 5.00%
• Sales tax paid: $750
• Car price + sales tax: $15,750

• Auto sales tax rate: 4.23%
• Sales tax paid: $635
• Car price + sales tax: $15,635

• Auto sales tax rate: 0.00%
• Sales tax paid: $0
• Car price + sales tax: $15,000

• Auto sales tax rate: 5.50%
• Sales tax paid: $825
• Car price + sales tax: $15,825

• Auto sales tax rate: 8.25%
• Sales tax paid: $1,238
• Car price + sales tax: $16,238

• Auto sales tax rate: 0.00%
• Sales tax paid: $0
• Car price + sales tax: $15,000

• Auto sales tax rate: 6.63%
• Sales tax paid: $995
• Car price + sales tax: $15,995

• Auto sales tax rate: 4.00%
• Sales tax paid: $600
• Car price + sales tax: $15,600

• Auto sales tax rate: 4.00%
• Sales tax paid: $600
• Car price + sales tax: $15,600

• Auto sales tax rate: 3.00%
• Sales tax paid: $450
• Car price + sales tax: $15,450

• Auto sales tax rate: 5.00%
• Sales tax paid: $750
• Car price + sales tax: $15,750

• Auto sales tax rate: 5.75%
• Sales tax paid: $863
• Car price + sales tax: $15,863

• Auto sales tax rate: 3.25%
• Sales tax paid: $488
• Car price + sales tax: $15,488

• Auto sales tax rate: 0.00%
• Sales tax paid: $0
• Car price + sales tax: $15,000

• Auto sales tax rate: 6.00%
• Sales tax paid: $900
• Car price + sales tax: $15,900

• Auto sales tax rate: 7.00%
• Sales tax paid: $1,050
• Car price + sales tax: $16,050

• Auto sales tax rate: 5.00%
• Sales tax paid: $750 
• Car price + sales tax: $15,750

• Auto sales tax rate: 4.00%
• Sales tax paid: $600
• Car price + sales tax: $15,600

• Auto sales tax rate: 7.00%
• Sales tax paid: $1,050
• Car price + sales tax: $16,050

• Auto sales tax rate: 6.25%
• Sales tax paid: $938
• Car price + sales tax: $15,938

• Auto sales tax rate: 6.85%
• Sales tax paid: $1,028
• Car price + sales tax: $16,028

• Auto sales tax rate: 6.00%
• Sales tax paid: $900
• Car price + sales tax: $15,900

• Auto sales tax rate: 4.15%
• Sales tax paid: $623
• Car price + sales tax: $15,623

• Auto sales tax rate: 6.50%
• Sales tax paid: $975
• Car price + sales tax: $15,975

• Auto sales tax rate: 6.00%
• Sales tax paid: $900
• Car price + sales tax: $15,900

• Auto sales tax rate: 5.00%
• Sales tax paid: $750
• Car price + sales tax: $15,750

• Auto sales tax rate: 4.00%
• Sales tax paid: $600
• Car price + sales tax: $15,600

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed every state to find the average sales tax paid when purchasing a vehicle. The sales tax rates were sourced from PolicyGenius.com’s Auto Tax by State. Assuming the vehicle purchase price is $15,000, the sales tax paid can be calculated. All data was collected on and is up to date as of April 4, 2024.