Delaware Car Sales Tax Calculator (2026)

• Delaware charges a motor vehicle document fee of 5.25% rather than a sales tax, raised from 4.25% on October 1, 2025.
• The fee is calculated after trade-in credit, and the DMV Dealer Manual says manufacturer rebates are not deducted from the total price.
• A vehicle sold privately within 60 days of titling can earn the same credit as a trade-in.

Motor vehicle document fee

5.25%In effect since Oct 1, 2025

Local tax

None on vehicles

Trade-in

Full credit: reduces the taxable price

Manufacturer rebate

Taxed: tax is figured before the rebate

Figured with Delaware's rules for a buyer from a dealer.

• Used car, no trade-in$945

  $18,000 price. Taxed on $18,000.

• New car with a trade-in$1,313

  $35,000 price, $10,000 trade-in. Taxed on $25,000. The trade-in saves $525.

• New car with a trade-in and a rebate$1,575

  $45,000 price, $15,000 trade-in, $2,000 rebate. Taxed on $30,000. The trade-in saves $788. The rebate does not lower the tax.

These examples treat the agreed price as the taxable price. Where a state uses a book value instead, the tax can differ.

The calculator covers a car bought from a dealer. These rules apply to other ways of buying or bringing a car to Delaware.

Buying from a private seller

A car bought from a private seller owes Delaware's 5.25% motor vehicle document fee on the price paid. If the price on a non-dealer bill of sale is below the car's average trade-in value in the current NADA guide, the fee is based on the NADA value instead, though an appraisal from a licensed Delaware dealer may also be considered. (archive.regulations.delaware.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

A car received as a gift

A car given as a gift by an immediate family member (spouse, parent, child, sibling or grandparent, including step relatives and in-laws) owes no Delaware document fee; this applies only to the transfer of a Delaware title. Other gifts owe the document fee on the car's average trade-in value in the current NADA guide, or a Delaware dealer's appraisal may be considered. (archive.regulations.delaware.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

Moving to Delaware with your car

When a new resident titles and registers a car brought from another state, Delaware charges a document fee of 5.25% of the car's value (at least $8). No fee is due if the owner shows that sales tax, transfer tax or a similar levy was paid to the other state on the purchase and that the car was titled and registered there within 90 days before registering in Delaware. (dmv.de.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

Buying outside Delaware

Delaware waives its document fee on a car bought and registered in another state if the owner paid that state a sales tax, transfer tax or similar levy on the purchase within 90 days before registering the car in Delaware. Without such tax, the 5.25% fee is based on the sale price or the car's average NADA trade-in value, whichever is higher. (delcode.delaware.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

Active-duty military

Active, reserve and National Guard members and their dependents stationed in Delaware, whose cars are registered in their home state or at their previous duty station, owe no document fee when registering the car in Delaware if they show orders for the change of duty station within 90 days of moving to Delaware or of buying the car. Service members and dependents need not obtain Delaware vehicle registration until 60 days after separation from the service. (archive.regulations.delaware.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

Deadline to pay

A buyer must apply for a new Delaware title immediately after purchase and no later than 30 days after buying the car; the DMV may extend this for good cause in extraordinary circumstances. The document fee is paid when the title is applied for. (delcode.delaware.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

Paying late

Delaware charges a $35 penalty for a new title when the application is received more than 30 days after the car was transferred. The penalty is waived if the DMV granted an extension. (delcode.delaware.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

Delaware ranks 20th lowest of all 50 states and the District of Columbia for tax on a $30,000 car. See all states.

Tax on a $30,000 car before trade-in, in nearby states. You generally pay tax based on where you register the car.

• Delaware$1,575
• Pennsylvania$1,800 – $2,400
• Maryland$1,950
• New Jersey$1,988

• All car calculators
• Sales tax calculators by state
• Car sales tax by state
• Trade-in tax credit by state
• Car cost by state
• Delaware out-the-door price
• Auto loan calculator

• Maryland car sales tax
• New Jersey car sales tax
• Pennsylvania car sales tax