Cost to buy a car in Maryland
Maryland raised its vehicle excise (titling) tax to 6.5% on July 1, 2025, requires higher 30/60/15 liability limits, and caps dealer processing charges at $500.
What does it really cost to buy a car in Maryland?
Maryland applies a 6.5% 6.5% vehicle excise (titling) tax to a vehicle purchase, a $100 title fee and about $187 to register, with dealer doc fees capped at $500. On a $35,000 car that's roughly $3,095 in taxes and fees — about 8.8% over the price, for an out-the-door total near $38,095. Minimum liability insurance is 30/60/15.
Maryland vehicle costs & rules at a glance
Out-the-door price on a $35,000 car
Here's how the taxes and fees stack up on a $35,000 vehicle with no trade-in. Swap in your own price and trade-in with the calculator below.
| Vehicle price | $35,000 |
| Sales / use tax on $35,500 | $2,307.5 |
| Dealer doc fee | $500 |
| Title fee | $100 |
| Registration (base) | $187 |
| Total taxes & fees | $3,095 |
| Out-the-door price | $38,095 |
Modeled estimate, not a dealer quote. Registration is a base figure that varies by the vehicle.
Minimum car insurance in Maryland
To drive legally in Maryland you need at least 30/60/15 liability coverage: $30,000 in bodily-injury liability per person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 in property damage. State minimums are the legal floor — they often don't cover a serious crash, so many drivers carry more.
Run your own Maryland numbers
Pre-filled with the Maryland figures above — a 6.5% tax rate, $287 in title and registration, and a $500 doc fee (the Maryland cap is $500). Swap in your own price and trade-in. Trade-in rule: The trade-in allowance is deducted on dealer sales only, and only one traded vehicle can be applied per purchase (COMAR 11.15.33).
Your numbers
Total taxes & fees
$3,095
8.8% over price
Out-the-door price
$38,095
Sales tax
$2,308
Insight — The advertised price is rarely what you pay. Sales tax plus registration, title and doc fees commonly add 8–12% on top. Negotiate the doc fee where it isn't capped, and always agree on the out-the-door number, not the sticker.
What if Vehicle price changes?
| Vehicle price | Total taxes & fees |
|---|---|
| $20,000 | $2,120 |
| $30,000 | $2,770 |
| $40,000 | $3,420 |
| $50,000 | $4,070 |
| $60,000 | $4,720 |
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Good to know
State-specific answers for buying and registering a car in Maryland.
How much is car sales tax in Maryland?＋
Maryland applies a 6.5% 6.5% vehicle excise (titling) tax with no local add-on. On a $35,000 car the state portion is about $2,308.
What are the minimum car insurance requirements in Maryland?＋
Maryland's minimum liability limits are 30/60/15 — that's $30,000 bodily injury per person, $60,000 per accident and $15,000 property damage. These are legal minimums; higher limits are usually worth the small extra premium.
What's the real out-the-door price on a $35,000 car in Maryland?＋
Roughly $38,095. That's the $35,000 price plus about $3,095 in taxes and fees — state vehicle tax of $2,308, a doc fee capped at $500, a $100 title fee and about $187 to register.
Does Maryland charge an extra fee for electric vehicles?＋
Maryland doesn't currently charge a dedicated annual EV registration fee, though many states are adding them, so confirm the current rules.
Compare other states
Where these figures come from
State-specific figures are compiled from each state's Department of Revenue / Motor Vehicles (tax regime, rate, trade-in rule, title and registration schedules), the state Department of Insurance and NAIC compilations (statutory minimum liability limits), and the Tax Foundation (sales-tax rates). Each state page links the state's OWN tax-authority and fee pages — the primary sources behind its numbers, collected and load-verified July 17, 2026. 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.
Maryland's own agencies: vehicle tax rules · title & registration fees. These are the primary pages behind the rate, trade-in rule and fee figures above.
How we calculate these figuresSources: State motor-vehicle & revenue agencies · Tax Foundation · National Association of Insurance Commissioners