District of Columbia Car Sales Tax Calculator Tax, title & license fees (2026)
Motor vehicle excise tax by weight and fuel economy · 1%–11% excise
Calculate District of Columbia car tax & fees
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How much is car sales tax in District of Columbia?
Washington, DC charges a motor vehicle excise tax when you title a car, and the rate depends on two things: how heavy the vehicle is and how fuel-efficient it is. Rates range from 1% for a light electric car to 11% for a heavy, thirsty one.
The tax is applied to the vehicle's fair market value from the NADA Eastern Region guide, not simply the price you paid. Look up the rate in the official matrix: three weight classes (under 3,500 lb, 3,500–4,999 lb, 5,000 lb and up) crossed with city MPG bands.
Electric vehicles are no longer exempt. They use the electric column: 1%, 2% or 3% by weight. Hybrids that don't plug in use the normal MPG columns.
The title is $30 and each lien $20. Registration is also by weight: Class I (under 3,500 lb) is $70, Class II is $175, Class III is $300 and Class IV is $550 plus $75 per 1,000 lb over 10,000. A new battery EV under 5,000 lb pays $40 (Class V) for its first two registration years.
- Excise = fair market value x matrix rate (weight + city MPG, or electric column)
- With EITC election: use the lower of matrix rate or weight-class rate (non-EVs)
- Total = excise + title + lien + registration + inspection + doc fee (+ 2.5% if paying by card)
District of Columbia car tax example with real numbers
Mid-size SUV with average fuel economy
You buy an SUV with a fair market value of $40,000. It weighs $4,200 lb and gets $24 MPG in the city.
- Weight class: 3,500–4,999 lb. MPG band: 21–25. The matrix rate is 6%.
- Excise tax: $40,000 × 6% = $2,400.
- Add the $30 title, $175 Class II registration and inspection: $240.
- Estimated total: $2,640.
| Taxes | |
|---|---|
| Motor vehicle excise tax6% of $40,000.00 | $2,400 |
| Title & registration | |
| Title | $30 |
| Registration | $175 |
| Inspection | $35 |
| Estimated total | $2,640 |
Computed with the calculator on this page using the figures in our data. Local add-ons not mentioned in the example are left out.
Exceptions that change your District of Columbia tax bill
Earned Income Tax Credit households
If you received the DC EITC, you can choose the lower of the matrix rate or a flat 6%, 7% or 8% by weight class. You'll need documentation from the Office of Tax and Revenue.
Listed exemptions
DC DMV publishes a list of exempt transfers. Only those listed qualify for $0 excise.
Renewals
Renewing your registration involves no excise tax and no title fee.
Paying by card
Card payments carry a 2.5% service fee.
District of Columbia vehicle sales tax rates
| Base | NADA Eastern Region fair market value |
|---|---|
| Excise rate matrix |
|
| Eitc election rates |
|
| Local rate | 0% |
District of Columbia title & registration fees
| Title | $30 |
|---|---|
| Lien | $20 |
| Inspection | $35 |
| Card payment fee rate | 2.5% |
| Registration by weight |
|
| Fee effective note | Amounts reflect the 2026-03-30 fee change |
| Class V note | First two registration years only |
District of Columbia car tax exemptions & special cases
| Battery EVs | Not exempt; use electric column |
|---|---|
| Ordinary hybrids | Use MPG columns; no Class V registration |
| Listed DC DMV exemption | Excise $0 |
| Registration renewal | No excise and no title |
District of Columbia car tax FAQ
Do electric cars pay excise tax in DC?
Yes. They use the electric column of the matrix: 1% under 3,500 lb, 2% from 3,500 to 4,999 lb and 3% at 5,000 lb or more.
Is DC excise tax based on what I paid?
It's based on the NADA Eastern Region fair market value.
What is Class V registration?
A $40 registration for new battery-electric passenger vehicles under 5,000 lb, for the first two registration years.
How much is a DC title?
$30, plus $20 for each lien.
Sources & verification
We checked these figures against the following official pages on October 7, 2026:
- dmv.dc.gov/book/dmv-fees/vehicle-title-and-excise-tax-fees
- dmv.dc.gov/book/dmv-fees/vehicle-registration-fees
Not yet confirmed on an official page: inspection 35. Treat these figures as estimates.
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll recheck it.