Car Sales Tax by State (2026): Lowest to Highest
On a $30,000 car, tax starts at $0 in Montana, New Hampshire and Alaska and reaches $2,430 in Washington at the lowest local rates. With the highest local rate, it can reach $4,050 in Louisiana.
Ranked at each state's lowest local rate, before any trade-in. Last checked Nov 9, 2026.
- AK
- ME
- VT
- NH
- WA
- ID
- MT
- ND
- MN
- IL
- WI
- MI
- NY
- RI
- MA
- OR
- NV
- WY
- SD
- IA
- IN
- OH
- PA
- NJ
- CT
- CA
- UT
- CO
- NE
- MO
- KY
- WV
- VA
- MD
- DE
- AZ
- NM
- KS
- AR
- TN
- NC
- SC
- DC
- OK
- LA
- MS
- AL
- GA
- HI
- TX
- FL
- $0
- Under $1,500
- $1,500–$1,799
- $1,800–$1,999
- $2,000 or more
| # | State | Tax on $30,000 | $10,000 trade-in saves |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | $0 | — |
| 1 | New Hampshire | $0 | — |
| 1 | Alaska | $0 – $1,950 | — |
| 4 | Oregon | $150 | — |
| 5 | South Carolina | $500 | — |
| 6 | Alabama | $600 – $2,250 | $200 |
| 7 | Colorado | $870 – $3,360 | $290 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $900 | $300 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $1,200 | $400 |
| 9 | South Dakota | $1,200 | $400 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $1,200 – $2,700 | $400 |
| 12 | Virginia | $1,245 | — |
| 13 | Hawaii | $1,350 | $450 |
| 13 | Oklahoma | $1,350 | — |
| 15 | Iowa | $1,500 | $500 |
| 15 | Mississippi | $1,500 | $500 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $1,500 | $500 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $1,500 – $2,370 | $500 |
| 19 | Missouri | $1,568 – $3,446 | $523 |
| 20 | Delaware | $1,575 | $525 |
| 21 | Maine | $1,650 | $550 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $1,650 – $2,250 | $550 |
| 23 | Arizona | $1,680 – $3,330 | $560 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $1,800 | — |
| 24 | Idaho | $1,800 | $600 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $1,800 | $600 |
| 24 | Michigan | $1,800 | $600 |
| 24 | Vermont | $1,800 | $600 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $1,800 | $600 |
| 24 | Florida | $1,800 – $1,900 | $600 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $1,800 – $2,400 | $600 |
| 32 | Massachusetts | $1,875 | $625 |
| 32 | Texas | $1,875 | $625 |
| 32 | Illinois | $1,875 – $2,625 | $625 |
| 35 | Connecticut | $1,905 | $635 |
| 35 | Utah | $1,905 – $2,535 | $635 |
| 37 | Maryland | $1,950 | $650 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $1,950 – $2,103 | $650 |
| 37 | Ohio | $1,950 – $2,475 | $650 |
| 37 | Kansas | $1,950 – $3,600 | $650 |
| 41 | New Jersey | $1,988 | $663 |
| 42 | Nevada | $2,055 – $2,513 | $685 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $2,063 | $688 |
| 44 | Georgia | $2,100 | $700 |
| 44 | Indiana | $2,100 | $700 |
| 44 | Rhode Island | $2,100 | $700 |
| 44 | New York | $2,100 – $2,663 | $700 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $2,100 – $4,050 | $700 |
| 49 | California | $2,175 – $3,525 | — |
| 50 | Tennessee | $2,176 – $2,188 | $700 |
| 51 | Washington | $2,430 – $3,360 | $810 |
How to read this ranking
A range runs from the lowest to the highest local rate we list for that state. Where a state has separate new and used schedules, the figure is for a new car.
The ranking covers tax due at purchase on the agreed price. It leaves out dealer and registration fees and annual taxes based on a car's value, which are significant in some states, such as Connecticut, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi and Nevada. Some states also tax a book value when it is higher than the price, such as Georgia. The full method is on our methodology page.