Texas Car Sales Tax Calculator (2026)

• Texas charges a 6.25 percent motor vehicle sales tax on the sales price minus any trade-in allowance, and there is no local motor vehicle tax.
• Separately stated manufacturer and dealer rebates reduce the taxable amount, and a separately stated documentary fee is not taxed.

Motor Vehicle Sales Tax

6.25%

Local tax

None on vehicles

Trade-in

Full credit: reduces the taxable price

Manufacturer rebate

Not taxed: the rebate lowers the taxable price

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

• Used car, no trade-in$1,125

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

• New car with a trade-in$1,563

  $35,000 price, $10,000 trade-in. Taxed on $25,000. The trade-in saves $625.

• New car with a trade-in and a rebate$1,750

  $45,000 price, $15,000 trade-in, $2,000 rebate. Taxed on $28,000. The trade-in saves $938. The rebate saves $125.

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

Texas has no local tax on vehicles, so buyers in Houston, San Antonio and Dallas and everywhere else in Texas are figured at the same state rate: $1,875 on a new $30,000 car. Whether the tax applies to your purchase still depends on the rules above.

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

Buying from a private seller

On a used car bought from a private seller, Texas figures the 6.25% tax on the greater of the actual sales price or 80% of the car's standard presumptive value (SPV) set by TxDMV. If you paid less than 80% of SPV, you can instead be taxed on a certified appraisal obtained within 30 calendar days, but never on less than the price paid. (comptroller.texas.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

A car received as a gift

A car received as a gift from a spouse, parent or stepparent, grandparent or grandchild, child or stepchild, sibling, guardian or a decedent's estate (in-laws included) owes a $10 gift tax instead of sales tax. Other transfers without payment are taxed as sales on the standard presumptive value. (comptroller.texas.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

Moving to Texas with your car

A new Texas resident pays a $90 new resident tax instead of use tax on a car brought into Texas, if the car was previously registered in the new resident's name in another state or country. (comptroller.texas.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

Buying outside Texas

A Texas resident who buys a car in another state and brings it into Texas owes 6.25% use tax on the sales price, less credit for sales or use tax paid to other states. (comptroller.texas.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

Active-duty military

Active-duty military personnel have 60 calendar days from the date of purchase or first use in Texas to pay the motor vehicle tax, instead of 30. U.S. military personnel are not exempt from the tax itself. (comptroller.texas.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

Deadline to pay

A private-party buyer must pay the motor vehicle tax to the county tax assessor-collector within 30 calendar days of purchase, or within 30 days of bringing an out-of-state car into Texas. On a dealer sale the dealer collects the tax. (comptroller.texas.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

Paying late

If the tax is paid 1 to 30 days after the due date, a 5% penalty applies; if paid more than 30 days late, the penalty is 10%. (comptroller.texas.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

Texas is tied for 32nd 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.

• New Mexico$1,200
• Oklahoma$1,350
• Texas$1,875
• Arkansas$1,950 – $2,103
• Louisiana$2,100 – $4,050

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

• Arkansas car sales tax
• Louisiana car sales tax
• New Mexico car sales tax
• Oklahoma car sales tax