Utah Car Sales Tax Calculator
Utah charges 4.85% sales and use tax on a used car purchase, verified September 15, 2026. Local taxes also apply; the range is not verified. 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 Utah 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 | Utah | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State rate (Sales and use tax) | 4.85% | codes.findlaw.com(secondary, cites the statute)As published: “4.70% plus the rate specified in Subsection (11)(a)” |
| Local tax range | Yes, range not verified | codes.findlaw.com(secondary, cites the statute)As published: “4.70% plus the rate specified in Subsection (11)(a)” |
| Trade-in credit | Yes, full credit | codes.findlaw.com(secondary, cites the statute)As published: “tangible personal property or a product transferred electronically traded in as full or part payment of the purchase price” |
| Dealer doc fee | No cap (typically $433) | le.utah.gov(state source)As published: “a dealer documentary service fee as described in rules made in accordance with Sections 41-3-301 and 41-3-302” |
| Title fee | $6 | codes.findlaw.com(secondary, cites the statute)As published: “A fee of $6 shall be paid to the division for the issuance of each original and duplicate certificate of title for a vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor.” |
| Registration (flat plus value or weight) | $51 to $201 | codes.findlaw.com(secondary, cites the statute)As published: “$44 for each motor vehicle of 12,000 pounds or less gross laden weight, excluding motorcycles” |
| Private-party sale taxed | Yes, paid when you title the car | codes.findlaw.com(secondary, cites the statute)As published: “The commission shall collect the tax described in Subsection (7)(a) when the vehicle is titled or registered.” |
- Local tax: Local option taxes are added on top of the state rate, but no fetchable state page gave the range (tax.utah.gov and dmv.utah.gov returned HTTP 403). Utah Code 59-12-211(14)(a)(ii) excludes motor vehicle sales from the general sourcing rules and the vehicle-specific sourcing rule was not found on the pages fetched.
- Doc fee: Utah H.B. 194 (2023, effective July 1, 2023) bars a dealer from requiring any fee beyond the negotiated price except government fees and 'a dealer documentary service fee as described in rules made in accordance with Sections 41-3-301 and 41-3-302'; no maximum is set. Utah Admin. Code R877-23V-14 requires a sign stating the fee amount and that 'These fees are not set or mandated by statute or rule.' CarEdge's report of 93,200 verified quotes (July 2025 to September 2026) puts the average doc fee in Utah at $433.
- Registration: Registration fee under Utah Code 41-1a-1206: $44 for a motor vehicle of 12,000 lbs or less plus an additional $7 from January 1, 2024, adjusted each January 1 by CPI and rounded up to 25 cents, so the fee in force in 2026 may be somewhat above $51. Plus the age-based uniform fee in lieu of property tax under 59-2-405.1: less than 3 years $150; 3 to 6 years $110; 6 to 9 years $80; 9 to 12 years $50; 12 or more years $10. min = 51 + 10, max = 51 + 150; other small state fees may apply.
Next steps
- Out-the-door price calculator: adds the Utah 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 Utah 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 Utah taxes is the right one.
Utah car tax questions
Does Utah charge sales tax on a private-party car sale?
Yes. The Tax Commission (Motor Vehicle Division) collects the sales tax on a vehicle bought from a non-dealer when the vehicle is titled or registered.
Does Utah give a trade-in credit on car sales tax?
Yes. The value of your trade-in is deducted from the price before Utah tax is calculated.
What is the dealer doc fee cap in Utah?
Utah sets no legal cap on dealer doc fees. Dealers typically charge $433. Utah H.B. 194 (2023, effective July 1, 2023) bars a dealer from requiring any fee beyond the negotiated price except government fees and 'a dealer documentary service fee as described in rules made in accordance with Sections 41-3-301 and 41-3-302'; no maximum is set. Utah Admin. Code R877-23V-14 requires a sign stating the fee amount and that 'These fees are not set or mandated by statute or rule.' CarEdge's report of 93,200 verified quotes (July 2025 to September 2026) puts the average doc fee in Utah at $433. 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 Utah?
Yes. Local option taxes are added on top of the state rate, but no fetchable state page gave the range (tax.utah.gov and dmv.utah.gov returned HTTP 403). Utah Code 59-12-211(14)(a)(ii) excludes motor vehicle sales from the general sourcing rules and the vehicle-specific sourcing rule was not found on the pages fetched.
How much does a car title cost in Utah?
$6 (flat). Utah Code 41-1a-1210 as reproduced by FindLaw (current to January 1, 2025); dmv.utah.gov returned HTTP 403.
How much is annual car registration in Utah?
$51 to $201 a year for a passenger car, flat plus value or weight. Registration fee under Utah Code 41-1a-1206: $44 for a motor vehicle of 12,000 lbs or less plus an additional $7 from January 1, 2024, adjusted each January 1 by CPI and rounded up to 25 cents, so the fee in force in 2026 may be somewhat above $51. Plus the age-based uniform fee in lieu of property tax under 59-2-405.1: less than 3 years $150; 3 to 6 years $110; 6 to 9 years $80; 9 to 12 years $50; 12 or more years $10. min = 51 + 10, max = 51 + 150; other small state fees may apply.
Checking a specific car?