Texas Car Sales Tax Calculator
Texas charges 6.25% motor vehicle sales tax (tax code chapter 152) 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 Texas 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 | Texas | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State rate (Motor vehicle sales tax (Tax Code chapter 152)) | 6.25% | comptroller.texas.gov(state source)As published: “The motor vehicle sales and use tax rate is 6.25 percent. There is no local motor vehicle tax.” |
| Local tax range | None | comptroller.texas.gov(state source)As published: “The motor vehicle sales and use tax rate is 6.25 percent. There is no local motor vehicle tax.” |
| Trade-in credit | Yes, full credit | comptroller.texas.gov(state source)As published: “If a purchaser trades in a motor vehicle to the seller as part of the purchase transaction, the purchaser pays the motor vehicle tax on the trade difference.” |
| Dealer doc fee | No cap (typically $226) | caredge.com(secondary, cites the statute)As published: “Texas: $226. This report is based on 93,200 verified out-the-door (OTD) price quotes collected between July 2025 and September 2026.” |
| Title fee | $28 to $33 | txdmv.gov(state source)As published: “Title application fee of $28 or $33, depending on the county” |
| Registration (by weight) | $50.75 | txdmv.gov(state source)As published: “The annual registration fee for a passenger vehicle (including a motor bus or private bus) or truck with a gross vehicle weight of 6,000 lbs. or less is $50.75, plus applicable fees including local county fees” |
| Private-party sale taxed | Yes, paid when you title the car | comptroller.texas.gov(state source)As published: “Tax is calculated on the greater of the actual sales price or 80 percent of the SPV shown for that day.” |
- Local tax: There is no local motor vehicle tax in Texas; the 6.25 percent rate is statewide.
- Doc fee: No fixed cap. Under Tex. Fin. Code 348.006 and 7 TAC 84.205 a documentary fee of $225 or less is presumed reasonable; before charging more than $225 the seller must file a written notification and a cost analysis with the OCCC showing the fee reflects costs actually incurred. CarEdge's report of 93,200 verified quotes (July 2025 to September 2026) puts the average doc fee in Texas at $226.
- Registration: Passenger vehicles and trucks 6,000 lbs or less $50.75 (6,001 to 10,000 lbs $54.00), plus local county fees collected at registration ($0 to $21.50 by county on Fee Chart 1C; the TxDMV out-of-state page says 'Local county fees (up to $31.50)'). Fee chart effective January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026.
Next steps
- Out-the-door price calculator: adds the Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas taxes is the right one.
Texas car tax questions
Does Texas charge sales tax on a private-party car sale?
Yes. The buyer pays the county tax assessor-collector when titling and registering the vehicle, within 30 calendar days of the purchase date. Tax is calculated on the greater of the actual sales price or 80 percent of the vehicle's standard presumptive value (SPV) set by TxDMV, unless the buyer provides a certified appraisal (Form 14-128) obtained within 30 calendar days.
Does Texas give a trade-in credit on car sales tax?
Yes. The value of your trade-in is deducted from the price before Texas tax is calculated.
What is the dealer doc fee cap in Texas?
Texas sets no legal cap on dealer doc fees. Dealers typically charge $226. No fixed cap. Under Tex. Fin. Code 348.006 and 7 TAC 84.205 a documentary fee of $225 or less is presumed reasonable; before charging more than $225 the seller must file a written notification and a cost analysis with the OCCC showing the fee reflects costs actually incurred. CarEdge's report of 93,200 verified quotes (July 2025 to September 2026) puts the average doc fee in Texas at $226. If the dealer will not drop the fee, ask for the same amount off the price.
Do local sales taxes apply to car purchases in Texas?
No. There is no local motor vehicle tax in Texas; the 6.25 percent rate is statewide.
How much does a car title cost in Texas?
$28 to $33 (flat). $33 in emissions counties. Harris County tax office (https://www.hctax.net/Auto/UsedCar): 'The title fee is $33, plus motor-vehicle sales tax (6.25 percent).'
How much is annual car registration in Texas?
$50.75 a year for a passenger car, by weight. Passenger vehicles and trucks 6,000 lbs or less $50.75 (6,001 to 10,000 lbs $54.00), plus local county fees collected at registration ($0 to $21.50 by county on Fee Chart 1C; the TxDMV out-of-state page says 'Local county fees (up to $31.50)'). Fee chart effective January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026.
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