Mississippi Car Sales Tax Calculator (2026)
Estimated tax in Mississippi
$1,500
- Taxable amount
- $30,000.00
- State tax
- $1,500.00
Mississippi's sales tax is 5%. On a $30,000 car, tax comes to $1,500. A $10,000 trade-in saves about $500.
By Matt Rum. Checked against state sources on .
What to know in Mississippi
- Mississippi taxes cars at 5% of the net purchase price after dealer's discounts and trade-ins.
- Sales tax paid to another state is not credited when a vehicle is registered in Mississippi.
Mississippi rates and rules
- Sales tax
- 5%
- Local tax
- None on vehicles
- Trade-in
- Full credit: reduces the taxable price
- Manufacturer rebate
- Taxed: tax is figured before the rebate
What you would pay in Mississippi: three examples
Figured with Mississippi's rules for a buyer from a dealer.
- Used car, no trade-in$900
$18,000 price. Taxed on $18,000.
- New car with a trade-in$1,250
$35,000 price, $10,000 trade-in. Taxed on $25,000. The trade-in saves $500.
- New car with a trade-in and a rebate$1,500
$45,000 price, $15,000 trade-in, $2,000 rebate. Taxed on $30,000. The trade-in saves $750. 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.
Special cases in Mississippi
The calculator covers a car bought from a dealer. These rules apply to other ways of buying or bringing a car to Mississippi.
- Buying from a private seller
- A car bought from someone who is not a licensed dealer owes Mississippi's 5% casual sales tax on the car's true value under the Department of Revenue's official motor vehicle assessment schedule, paid to the county tax collector at registration. Cars 10 or more years old are exempt from the casual sales tax. (sos.ms.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- A car received as a gift
- Transfers between husband and wife, parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, or siblings are not subject to Mississippi's casual sales tax, nor are transfers by will or inheritance. Other non-dealer transfers owe 5% of the car's assessed value. (sos.ms.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Buying outside Mississippi
- Mississippi gives no credit for sales or use tax paid to another state on a car bought out of state and first used in Mississippi; the buyer owes Mississippi use tax at the 5% vehicle rate when registering it. (dor.ms.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Active-duty military
- Military personnel and their dependents who claim another state as home are not required to register their vehicles in Mississippi. Service members who are Mississippi residents must register. (dor.ms.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Deadline to pay
- A newly bought car must be registered within 30 business days of the purchase date. A car bought outside your home county may be driven home within 48 hours, and the 30 business days still apply. (dor.ms.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)
Mississippi compared with other states
Mississippi is tied for 15th 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.
Mississippi car sales tax: common questions
What is the car sales tax rate in Mississippi?
Mississippi charges 5% (Sales tax). There is no local tax on vehicles, so the rate is the same everywhere in Mississippi.
How much is sales tax on a $20,000 car in Mississippi?
About $1,000, for a car bought from a dealer before any trade-in or rebate. Enter your own price and city in the calculator above for an estimate; the dealer and the tax agency set the final amount.
Does a trade-in lower the car sales tax in Mississippi?
Yes. Mississippi taxes the price minus the trade-in value. On a $30,000 car, a $10,000 trade-in saves about $500 in tax.
Is a manufacturer rebate taxed in Mississippi?
Yes. Mississippi figures the tax on the price before the manufacturer rebate, so a rebate does not lower the tax.
Do you pay sales tax on a used car bought from a private seller in Mississippi?
A car bought from someone who is not a licensed dealer owes Mississippi's 5% casual sales tax on the car's true value under the Department of Revenue's official motor vehicle assessment schedule, paid to the county tax collector at registration. Cars 10 or more years old are exempt from the casual sales tax.
Is a car received as a gift taxed in Mississippi?
Transfers between husband and wife, parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, or siblings are not subject to Mississippi's casual sales tax, nor are transfers by will or inheritance. Other non-dealer transfers owe 5% of the car's assessed value.
Do you owe Mississippi tax on a car bought outside Mississippi?
Mississippi gives no credit for sales or use tax paid to another state on a car bought out of state and first used in Mississippi; the buyer owes Mississippi use tax at the 5% vehicle rate when registering it.
What is the deadline after buying a car in Mississippi, and what if you are late?
A newly bought car must be registered within 30 business days of the purchase date. A car bought outside your home county may be driven home within 48 hours, and the 30 business days still apply.
How we calculate this
We start from the price and subtract the trade-in credit, then apply the Sales tax.
The full method is on our methodology page.
Sources
- dor.ms.gov (Sales tax, Trade-in), checked Nov 5, 2026
- dor.ms.gov (Local tax), checked Nov 6, 2026
- dor.ms.gov (Manufacturer rebate), checked Nov 6, 2026