Missouri Car Sales Tax Calculator
Missouri charges 4.225% state sales tax plus local sales tax on motor vehicles on a used car purchase, verified September 15, 2026. Local taxes add 0% to 6.5% depending on where you register the car. 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 Missouri 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 | Missouri | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State rate (State sales tax plus local sales tax on motor vehicles) | 4.225% | dor.mo.gov(state source)As published: “at the time application is made for title, if the address of the applicant is within a city or county listed below. This rate is in addition to the state tax rate of 4.225%” |
| Local tax range | 0% to 6.5% | dor.mo.gov(state source)As published: “at the time application is made for title, if the address of the applicant is within a city or county listed below. This rate is in addition to the state tax rate of 4.225%” |
| Trade-in credit | Yes, full credit | dor.mo.gov(state source)As published: “State sales tax of 4.225 percent, plus your local sales tax on the purchase price, less trade-in allowance, if any” |
| Dealer doc fee | $604.47 cap | law.cornell.edu(secondary, cites the statute)As published: “$604.47 (2025)” |
| Title fee | $8.50 | dor.mo.gov(state source)As published: “$8.50 title fee” |
| Registration (flat plus value or weight) | $18.25 to $51.25 | dor.mo.gov(state source)As published: “Registration fees for passenger vehicles are determined by the vehicle's taxable horsepower. (1-Year Fee table: Under 12 HP $18.25 ... 72 HP + $51.25)” |
| Private-party sale taxed | Yes, paid when you title the car | dor.mo.gov(state source)As published: “The Department collects taxes when an applicant applies for title on a motor vehicle, trailer, all-terrain vehicle, boat, or outboard motor (unit), regardless of the purchase date.” |
- Local tax: The local rate is the city, county and district rate at the applicant's (buyer's) address at the time of title application, not the dealer's location; the chart fetched lists local vehicle rates from 0.0000% to 6.5000% (Excelsior Springs, Ray County).
- Doc fee: Missouri calls it an administrative fee. RSMo 301.558 sets a $500 base that is increased annually by the percentage change in CPI-U; 12 CSR 10-26.231 publishes the maximum each year: $587.43 for 2024 and $604.47 for 2025 (rule effective 8/17/2025). The 2026 maximum is published in the Missouri Register after January 14, 2026 and was not fetched.
- Registration: Annual fee is set by taxable horsepower: under 12 HP (and electric or low speed) $18.25, 12-23 HP $21.25, 24-35 HP $24.25, 36-47 HP $33.25, 48-59 HP $39.25, 60-71 HP $45.25, 72 HP and over $51.25; every 1-year registration also carries a $9 processing fee ($18 for 2 years). Trucks are charged by weight instead.
Next steps
- Out-the-door price calculator: adds the Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Missouri taxes is the right one.
Missouri car tax questions
Does Missouri charge sales tax on a private-party car sale?
Yes. The buyer pays state and local sales tax to the Department of Revenue at a Missouri license office when applying for title, which must be done within 30 days of purchase.
Does Missouri give a trade-in credit on car sales tax?
Yes. The value of your trade-in is deducted from the price before Missouri tax is calculated.
What is the dealer doc fee cap in Missouri?
Missouri caps the dealer documentation fee at $604.47 (RSMo 301.558; 12 CSR 10-26.231). Missouri calls it an administrative fee. RSMo 301.558 sets a $500 base that is increased annually by the percentage change in CPI-U; 12 CSR 10-26.231 publishes the maximum each year: $587.43 for 2024 and $604.47 for 2025 (rule effective 8/17/2025). The 2026 maximum is published in the Missouri Register after January 14, 2026 and was not fetched.
Do local sales taxes apply to car purchases in Missouri?
Yes. The local rate is the city, county and district rate at the applicant's (buyer's) address at the time of title application, not the dealer's location; the chart fetched lists local vehicle rates from 0.0000% to 6.5000% (Excelsior Springs, Ray County).
How much does a car title cost in Missouri?
$8.50 (flat). Plus a $9 title processing fee, and a $2 electronic transmission fee may be collected if applicable (dor.mo.gov/motor-vehicle/titling-registration/).
How much is annual car registration in Missouri?
$18.25 to $51.25 a year for a passenger car, flat plus value or weight. Annual fee is set by taxable horsepower: under 12 HP (and electric or low speed) $18.25, 12-23 HP $21.25, 24-35 HP $24.25, 36-47 HP $33.25, 48-59 HP $39.25, 60-71 HP $45.25, 72 HP and over $51.25; every 1-year registration also carries a $9 processing fee ($18 for 2 years). Trucks are charged by weight instead.
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