Texas Car Sales Tax Calculator

What you pay in tax when you buy a vehicle in Texas, from the statute and the revenue department.

Verified September 21, 2026 · statute and revenue department cross-checked
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Buying the car is only half the cost. You still owe an annual registration fee.
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What to know about Texas

Texas has no local sales tax on vehicles, so 6.25 percent is the whole story for a dealer purchase. Private-party sales are different: the tax is on the greater of what you paid or 80 percent of the state’s Standard Presumptive Value, so buying a car cheap from a friend does not cut your tax bill. Flat charges replace the percentage in three cases: $90 if you are a new Texas resident, $10 for a qualifying gift between close family, and $5 for an even trade.

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Sources

Statute: Tex. Tax Code § 152.021, § 152.0412
Texas Comptroller, Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax
“Sales: 6.25 percent of sales price, minus any trade-in allowance. ... New residents – $90 new resident tax due in lieu of use tax ... Even exchange: $5 ... Gift: $10”
Texas Comptroller, Standard Presumptive Value
“Tax is calculated on the greater of the actual sales price or 80 percent of the SPV shown for that day.”


Last verified: September 21, 2026.
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Estimates only. Your dealer or the state issues the final bill, and exemptions can change what you owe. This page does not collect or store anything you enter.