Minnesota Car Sales Tax Calculator
Minnesota charges 6.875% motor vehicle sales tax on a used car purchase, verified September 15, 2026. There is no local tax on top. A trade-in is deducted before tax. Private-party sales are taxed too, paid when you title the car.
Figures verified September 15, 2026; sources linked per row. Re-checked quarterly, next due December 15, 2026.
Taxable amount: $25,000. Tax only; dealer doc fees, title and registration are separate, and some states tax the doc fee as part of the price. The local figure is an estimate from the state's published range unless you entered your own rate.
The Minnesota numbers, with sources
Each figure below was checked on September 15, 2026 against the page linked in the source column, and the wording the state uses is quoted so you can confirm it yourself.
| Item | Minnesota | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State rate (Motor Vehicle Sales Tax) | 6.875% | revisor.mn.gov(state source)As published: “There is imposed an excise tax of 6.875 percent on the purchase price of any motor vehicle purchased or acquired, either in or outside of the state of Minnesota, which is required to be registered under the laws of this state.” |
| Local tax range | None | revisor.mn.gov(state source)As published: “There is imposed an excise tax of 6.875 percent on the purchase price of any motor vehicle purchased or acquired, either in or outside of the state of Minnesota, which is required to be registered under the laws of this state.” |
| Trade-in credit | Yes, full credit | revisor.mn.gov(state source)As published: “the credit or trade-in value allowed by the person selling the motor vehicle shall be deducted from the total selling price to establish the purchase price of the vehicle being sold” |
| Dealer doc fee | $350 cap | revisor.mn.gov(state source)As published: “For motor vehicle sales or leases made on or after July 1, 2025, the maximum fee is the lesser of $350 or an amount equal to ten percent of the value of the sale or lease.” |
| Title fee | $8.25 | revisor.mn.gov(state source)As published: “for filing an application for and the issuance of an original certificate of title, $8.25” |
| Registration (by value) | $20+ | revisor.mn.gov(state source)As published: “$10 plus: 1.575 percent of the manufacturer's suggested retail price of the vehicle ... during the first year of vehicle life, upon 100 percent of the price; for the second year, 95 percent of the price” |
| Private-party sale taxed | Yes, paid when you title the car | revisor.mn.gov(state source)As published: “the tax imposed by section 297B.02 shall be paid by the applicant to the motor vehicle registrar.” |
- Local tax: Local general sales taxes do not apply to motor vehicles (Minn. Stat. 297A.99 subd. 1(c), fetched: This section does not apply to or preempt a sales tax on motor vehicles); some counties instead levy a flat $20 excise per vehicle bought from a dealer under 297A.993.
- Doc fee: Maximum is the lesser of $350 or 10% of the sale or lease value for sales on or after July 1, 2025 (raised by 2025 c 20 s 158). An optional electronic transfer fee under 53C.01 subd. 14 is not counted as part of the fee.
- Registration: Registration tax on a passenger automobile first registered on or after Nov 16, 2020 is $10 plus 1.575% of MSRP, applied to 100% of MSRP in year 1, 95% in year 2, 90% in year 3, 80% in year 4, 70% in year 5, 60% in year 6, 50% in year 7, 40% in year 8, 25% in year 9, 10% in year 10, then a flat $20 a year from year 11 (Minn. Stat. 168.013 subd. 1a, amended 1Sp2025 c 8). Plate, filing and technology fees and any county wheelage tax are added.
Next steps
- Out-the-door price calculator: adds the Minnesota doc fee, title and registration to the tax for the full figure.
- Dealer doc fees by state and registration and title fees by state: see how Minnesota compares.
- All states: the full sales tax table.
Tax is fixed. The price is not.
CarWorthIt prices a specific VIN at its mileage against cars actually for sale near your ZIP code from $2.99. The $9.99 Negotiation Bundle adds an opening offer and a walk-away figure, so the number Minnesota taxes is the right one.
Minnesota car tax questions
Does Minnesota charge sales tax on a private-party car sale?
Yes. Paid to the motor vehicle registrar (deputy registrar) when the buyer applies to transfer the title and register the vehicle; registration is refused until it is paid.
Does Minnesota give a trade-in credit on car sales tax?
Yes. The value of your trade-in is deducted from the price before Minnesota tax is calculated.
What is the dealer doc fee cap in Minnesota?
Minnesota caps the dealer documentation fee at $350 (Minn. Stat. 168.27 subd. 31). Maximum is the lesser of $350 or 10% of the sale or lease value for sales on or after July 1, 2025 (raised by 2025 c 20 s 158). An optional electronic transfer fee under 53C.01 subd. 14 is not counted as part of the fee.
Do local sales taxes apply to car purchases in Minnesota?
No. Local general sales taxes do not apply to motor vehicles (Minn. Stat. 297A.99 subd. 1(c), fetched: This section does not apply to or preempt a sales tax on motor vehicles); some counties instead levy a flat $20 excise per vehicle bought from a dealer under 297A.993.
How much does a car title cost in Minnesota?
$8.25 (flat). Minn. Stat. 168A.29 subd. 1 (history to 2023 c 68). The same section adds a $3.50 fee for the public safety motor vehicle account; DVS also collects a technology surcharge, filing fee and plate fee at transfer. The DVS fee page (dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/vehicle/vehicle-fees) returned 404.
How much is annual car registration in Minnesota?
$20+ a year for a passenger car, by value. Registration tax on a passenger automobile first registered on or after Nov 16, 2020 is $10 plus 1.575% of MSRP, applied to 100% of MSRP in year 1, 95% in year 2, 90% in year 3, 80% in year 4, 70% in year 5, 60% in year 6, 50% in year 7, 40% in year 8, 25% in year 9, 10% in year 10, then a flat $20 a year from year 11 (Minn. Stat. 168.013 subd. 1a, amended 1Sp2025 c 8). Plate, filing and technology fees and any county wheelage tax are added.
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