Cost to buy a car by state
What you actually pay to buy and register a car depends heavily on your state. Each page below has the real numbers — the tax rate applied to the purchase, title and registration fees, the dealer doc-fee cap, any EV fee, and the minimum insurance you're legally required to carry.
5 states
No state sales tax
33 states
Charge an EV fee
11 states
Cap dealer doc fees
7+
Data points / state
| State | Vehicle tax | Doc-fee cap | Min. insurance | EV fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2% | — | 25/50/25 | $200 | View → |
| Alaska | None* | — | 50/100/25 | — | View → |
| Arizona | 5.6% | — | 25/50/15 | — | View → |
| Arkansas | 6.5% | — | 25/50/25 | $200 | View → |
| California | 7.25% | $85 | 30/60/15 | $118 | View → |
| Colorado | 2.9% | — | 25/50/15 | $54 | View → |
| Connecticut | 6.35% | — | 25/50/25 | — | View → |
| Delaware | None* | — | 25/50/10 | — | View → |
| Florida | 6% | — | PD 10 | — | View → |
| Georgia | 7% | — | 25/50/25 | $213 | View → |
| Hawaii | 4% | — | 20/40/10 | $50 | View → |
| Idaho | 6% | — | 25/50/15 | $140 | View → |
| Illinois | 6.25% | $347.26 | 25/50/20 | $100 | View → |
| Indiana | 7% | — | 25/50/25 | $150 | View → |
| Iowa | 5% | $180 | 20/40/15 | $130 | View → |
| Kansas | 6.5% | — | 25/50/25 | $100 | View → |
| Kentucky | 6% | — | 25/50/25 | $120 | View → |
| Louisiana | 4.45% | $200 | 15/30/25 | $110 | View → |
| Maine | 5.5% | — | 50/100/25 | — | View → |
| Maryland | 6% | $500 | 30/60/15 | — | View → |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% | — | 20/40/5 | — | View → |
| Michigan | 6% | $260 | 50/100/10 | $140 | View → |
| Minnesota | 6.875% | $125 | 30/60/10 | $75 | View → |
| Mississippi | 5% | — | 25/50/25 | $150 | View → |
| Missouri | 4.225% | — | 25/50/25 | — | View → |
| Montana | None* | — | 25/50/20 | — | View → |
| Nebraska | 5.5% | — | 25/50/25 | $75 | View → |
| Nevada | 6.85% | — | 25/50/20 | — | View → |
| New Hampshire | None* | — | 25/50/25 | — | View → |
| New Jersey | 6.625% | — | 25/50/25 | — | View → |
| New Mexico | 4% | — | 25/50/10 | $60 | View → |
| New York | 4% | $175 | 25/50/10 | — | View → |
| North Carolina | 3% | — | 30/60/25 | $180 | View → |
| North Dakota | 5% | — | 25/50/25 | $120 | View → |
| Ohio | 5.75% | $250 | 25/50/25 | $200 | View → |
| Oklahoma | 4.5% | — | 25/50/25 | $110 | View → |
| Oregon | None* | $200 | 25/50/20 | $115 | View → |
| Pennsylvania | 6% | — | 15/30/5 | — | View → |
| Rhode Island | 7% | — | 25/50/25 | — | View → |
| South Carolina | 5% | — | 25/50/25 | $60 | View → |
| South Dakota | 4% | — | 25/50/25 | $50 | View → |
| Tennessee | 7% | — | 25/50/15 | $100 | View → |
| Texas | 6.25% | — | 30/60/25 | $200 | View → |
| Utah | 4.85% | — | 25/65/15 | $141 | View → |
| Vermont | 6% | — | 25/50/10 | — | View → |
| Virginia | 4.15% | — | 30/60/20 | $129 | View → |
| Washington | 6.8% | $200 | 25/50/10 | $225 | View → |
| West Virginia | 6% | — | 25/50/25 | $200 | View → |
| Wisconsin | 5% | — | 25/50/10 | $175 | View → |
| Wyoming | 4% | — | 25/50/20 | $200 | View → |
*No general state sales tax; some of these states still apply a document/privilege fee or allow local tax. Minimum insurance shown as bodily-injury-per-person / per-accident / property-damage in $ thousands.
How these figures are made
State-specific figures are compiled from each state's Department of Revenue / Motor Vehicles (tax regime, rate, title and registration schedules), the state Department of Insurance and NAIC compilations (statutory minimum liability limits), and the Tax Foundation (sales-tax rates). Liability minimums are statutory and the most precise values here; registration and title fees are representative base amounts that vary by a vehicle's weight, value, age and county; doc-fee caps and EV fees reflect the latest 2025–26 published amounts. All figures are estimates for guidance, not quotes or legal advice — verify current amounts with the relevant state agency before you buy.
Questions about state car costs
Which states have no sales tax on cars?＋
Five states levy no general state sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon. Delaware still charges a 4.25% document fee and Oregon a 0.5% dealer privilege tax on new cars, and Alaska lets local boroughs add a sales tax — so 'no sales tax' isn't always zero cost.
Why does the same car cost more to buy in one state than another?＋
Three things move the number: the tax regime and rate applied to the purchase (from 0% in a few states to 7%+ effective in others, sometimes plus local tax), the title and registration fees, and whether the state caps dealer doc fees. Add EV fees and the gap between the cheapest and priciest states on a $35,000 car can run into the thousands.
Are these the exact fees I'll pay?＋
Treat them as accurate estimates, not a quote. Statutory items — the tax rate, doc-fee caps and minimum insurance limits — are precise. Registration and title fees vary by a vehicle's weight, value, age and county, so the figures here are representative base amounts. Always confirm with your state DMV and the dealer's itemized out-the-door price.
Turn a state estimate into your number
Pick your state for the exact tax, title and fee figures, then run your own price and trade-in through the calculators.