
Los Angeles County has the highest sales tax. The state sales tax is 7.25%, but each city may have its own local taxes. Of course, this often means you’ll pay less in sales tax for used cars because the price of the vehicle is less expensive. The state taxes are still 7.25% for used cars. The California sales tax applies to used and new cars.

California Sales Tax Calculatorĭo I Have to Pay Sales Tax on a Used Car?īuying used is a great way to save on the cost of a vehicle, but it won’t eliminate state taxes. Remember that the total amount you pay for a car ( out the door price) not only includes sales tax, but also registration, and dealership fees. $1,450 is how much you would need to pay in sales tax for the vehicle, regardless of if it was used, purchased with trade-in credit, or included an incentive. Multiply the vehicle price (before trade-in or incentives) by the sales tax fee.įor example, imagine you are purchasing a vehicle for $20,000 with the state sales tax of 7.25%. To calculate the sales tax on your vehicle, find the total sales tax fee for the city.

VMT TAX CALIFORNIA HOW TO
How to Calculate California Sales Tax on a Car The sales tax also includes a $50 emissions testing fee. The local government, cities, and districts collect up to 2.5%.

Of the 7.25%, 1.25% goes to the county government. Sales tax in California varies by location, but the statewide vehicle tax is 7.25%. How Much Is the Car Sales Tax in California? Listen to our audio to learn about the most important information when it comes to California car sales tax: See All Benefits California Car Sales Tax Key Takeaways
