Cheapest and Most Expensive States to Buy a Car (2026)
We ran the same car through our calculator for every state to see what each one charges in sales tax, title and registration. For a new $30,000 gas car from a dealer (3,500 lb, MSRP $32,000), the state-level bill ranges from $115 in Alaska to $2,647 in California, a gap of $2,532.
Key findings
- Cheapest: Alaska ($115), Montana ($258.53), Oregon ($418), Nevada ($486.85), South Carolina ($555).
- Most expensive: California ($2,647), Minnesota ($2,628), Maine ($2,486), Washington ($2,364.25), Maryland ($2,270.50).
- Typical state: the middle state charges about $1,811.50 in tax, title and registration on a $30,000 car.
- No state sales tax: Alaska, Montana, Nevada and New Hampshire charge no state sales tax on the purchase. Some still allow local taxes or charge higher registration fees.
- Local taxes matter: in 23 states a city or county tax is added on top of the figures below, which can move a state several places up the list.
Car tax and fee rankings, all 50 states + DC
Ranked from cheapest to most expensive: state sales tax (or the tax a state charges instead) plus title and first-year registration on a new $30,000 gas car from a dealer (3,500 lb, MSRP $32,000), with no trade-in, rebate or doc fee.
| Rank | State | Tax | Title + registration | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $0 + local | $115 | $115 |
| 2 | Montana | $0 + local | $258.53 | $258.53 |
| 3 | Oregon | $150 | $268 | $418 |
| 4 | Nevada | $0 + local | $486.85 | $486.85 |
| 5 | South Carolina | $500 | $55 | $555 |
| 6 | Alabama | $600 + local | $42.25 | $642.25 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $0 | $667 | $667 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $900 | $113 | $1,013 |
| 9 | South Dakota | $1,200 | $12 + county reg. | $1,212 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $1,200 | $79.50 | $1,279.50 |
| 11 | Virginia | $1,245 | $45.75 | $1,290.75 |
| 12 | New York | $1,200 + local | $141.50 | $1,341.50 |
| 13 | Missouri | $1,267.50 + local | $77.75 | $1,345.25 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $1,350 | $107.25 | $1,457.25 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $1,230 | $240 | $1,470 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $1,350 | $127.25 | $1,477.25 |
| 17 | Colorado | $870 + local | $635.80 | $1,505.80 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $1,500 | $38 | $1,538 |
| 19 | Iowa | $1,510 | $35 + county reg. | $1,545 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $1,500 | $98 | $1,598 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $1,500 + local | $136.50 | $1,636.50 |
| 22 | Delaware | $1,575 | $75 | $1,650 |
| 23 | Utah | $1,455 + local | $203.50 | $1,658.50 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $1,650 + local | $38.70 | $1,688.70 |
| 25 | Ohio | $1,725 + local | $62 | $1,787 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $1,500 + local | $311.50 | $1,811.50 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $1,200 + local | $621 | $1,821 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $1,800 | $30 | $1,830 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $1,800 | $66.50 | $1,866.50 |
| 30 | Idaho | $1,800 + local | $84.25 | $1,884.25 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $1,800 + local | $120 | $1,920 |
| 32 | Vermont | $1,800 | $141 | $1,941 |
| 33 | Texas | $1,875 | $92 | $1,967 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $1,950 + local | $38 | $1,988 |
| 35 | Kansas | $1,950 + local | $40 | $1,990 |
| 36 | Massachusetts | $1,875 | $135 | $2,010 |
| 37 | Michigan | $1,800 | $218 | $2,018 |
| 38 | New Jersey | $1,987.50 | $119 | $2,106.50 |
| 39 | Georgia | $2,100 | $38 | $2,138 |
| 40 | Indiana | $2,100 | $51.35 | $2,151.35 |
| 41 | Connecticut | $1,905 | $254 | $2,159 |
| 42 | Florida | $1,800 + local | $373.85 | $2,173.85 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $2,144 + local | $40.50 | $2,184.50 |
| 44 | Illinois | $1,875 + local | $316 | $2,191 |
| 45 | Arizona | $1,680 + local | $551.10 | $2,231.10 |
| 46 | Rhode Island | $2,100 | $157 | $2,257 |
| 47 | Maryland | $1,950 | $320.50 | $2,270.50 |
| 48 | Washington | $2,100 + local | $264.25 | $2,364.25 |
| 49 | Maine | $1,650 | $836 | $2,486 |
| 50 | Minnesota | $2,062.50 | $565.50 | $2,628 |
| 51 | California | $2,175 + local | $472 | $2,647 |
"+ local" means a city or county tax is added on top; "+ county reg." means registration is set by the county and isn't included. Dealer doc fees, yearly property taxes and inspection fees are not included.
How we calculated it
Every figure comes from the state calculators on this site, which follow each state's own DMV and revenue rules and are checked against official sources (last reviewed October 7, 2026). We used the same car in every state: a new $30,000 gas car from a dealer (3,500 lb, MSRP $32,000), bought new from a dealer with no trade-in, rebate or doc fee.
Because the car is the same everywhere, the ranking shows how state rules differ, not how car prices differ. Your own total depends on your price, trade-in, local tax rate and dealer fees. Use the out-the-door price calculator for your exact deal.
Use this data
You're welcome to quote, chart or republish these rankings in articles and research. Please credit the source with a link to this page, for example:
<a href="https://usvehicletaxcalculator.com/car-sales-tax-rankings/">Car sales tax and fee rankings by state (usvehicletaxcalculator.com)</a>Questions about the data, or spotted a fee that changed? Use our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Which state is cheapest to buy a car in?
On state-level taxes and fees, Alaska is cheapest in our ranking: about $115 on a new $30,000 gas car from a dealer (3,500 lb, MSRP $32,000). Alaska, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire charge no state sales tax on the purchase, though some allow local taxes.
Which state is most expensive to buy a car in?
California tops our ranking at about $2,647 in state tax plus title and registration fees on the same car, before any local tax.
Can I buy a car in a cheaper state to save tax?
Not if you register it in your home state. You generally owe the tax of the state where the car is registered. See our guide to buying a car in another state.
Can I use this data?
Yes. Journalists, bloggers and researchers are welcome to quote or chart these figures with a link back to this page as the source.