Wisconsin Car Sales Tax Calculator

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

Verified September 21, 2026 · statute and revenue department cross-checked

Vehicle price (USD) Trade-in value (USD) County or city where the car is kept

Buying the car is only half the cost. You still owe an annual registration fee.

See Wisconsin vehicle registration fees →

What to know about Wisconsin

The rate follows where the vehicle is customarily kept, not where you buy it. A resident of a 0.5 percent county who buys in Milwaukee still pays only 5.5 percent. City of Milwaukee buyers pay 7.9 percent all in. Trade-in credit is full.

Sources

Statute: Wis. Stat. § 77.52

Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Tax Rates
“The Wisconsin sales tax is a 5% tax ... Seventy Wisconsin counties have adopted a 0.5% county tax. Milwaukee County sales and use tax increases from 0.5% to 0.9%, effective January 1, 2024. ... The 2% city of Milwaukee sales and use tax is effective January 1, 2024.”

Wisconsin DOR Fact Sheet 2113
“Buyer must pay the applicable Wisconsin state, county, and/or city sales or use tax at the time Buyer registers or titles the motor vehicle.”

Last verified: September 21, 2026.

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.