Florida Car Sales Tax Calculator
Florida charges a state vehicle sales/use tax of 6% on a car purchase. On a $20,000 vehicle that is about $1,200.00 in state tax before any local add-ons. Enter your own price below — and your trade-in, if Florida allows a trade-in credit — to estimate what you'll owe.
Quick answer: Florida’s state vehicle sales/use tax rate is 6%. Local (county/city) taxes may apply on top.
Estimate your Florida car sales tax
Enter the vehicle price. If Florida gives a trade-in tax credit, add your trade-in value to reduce the taxable amount.
State rate only. Many Florida counties and cities add a local sales tax on top, so your actual total may be higher. Trade-in credit rules vary — confirm eligibility with the official source below.
How Florida taxes a car purchase
| State vehicle sales/use tax rate | 6% |
| Taxable amount | Price − trade-in credit (where allowed) |
| Local / county tax | Varies by jurisdiction — added on top of the state rate |
Florida charges a $75.25 title fee for an electronic title with a Florida record (paper title $77.75; out-of-state $85.25). State sales tax is 6%; counties may add a discretionary surtax (typically up to 1.5% on the first $5,000). New residents and first-time Florida registrants also pay a $225 New Wheels on the Road initial registration fee.
Sales tax on a used car in Florida
Florida applies the same 6% state sales/use tax to a used car as to a new one. On a private-party sale the tax is normally collected when you title and register the vehicle — calculated on the price you paid, minus a trade-in credit where the state allows one, and checked against the vehicle's fair-market value to deter under-reporting.
Dealer vs. private-party purchases in Florida
Florida dealers collect 6% state tax plus the buyer's home-county discretionary surtax and handle title paperwork on the buyer's behalf. Private-party sales require the buyer to visit a tax collector's office (or use an authorized service center) within 30 days with the signed title, completed HSMV 82040, and proof of Florida insurance. There is no private-party tax exemption — the buyer pays the same 6%+surtax as on a dealer sale.
Source ↗What's different about Florida vehicle tax
Florida is one of the strictest states on "low-balling" the declared sale price. The tax collector compares the price on the title to the National Auto Dealers Association (NADA) average trade-in value; if the declared price is substantially below NADA, sales tax is assessed on the NADA figure unless the buyer provides an affidavit and supporting evidence (repair estimates, photos, etc.). The state also charges sales tax on private-party sales, not just dealer sales.
Source ↗County & local taxes in Florida
Florida adds a county discretionary sales surtax on top of the 6% state rate. The surtax applies only to the first $5,000 of the purchase price for tangible personal property, capping the local add-on at $75–$87.50 in most counties. Miami-Dade adds 1%, Hillsborough 1.5%, Orange 0.5%, Duval 1.5%. The surtax is collected by the tax collector at title transfer based on the buyer's county of residence.
Source ↗Worked example: buying a car in Florida
Carlos buys a used 2019 Honda Pilot from a private seller in Miami-Dade for $18,000. He is a Florida resident transferring an existing tag.
| Vehicle price | $18,000.00 |
| State sales/use tax | $1,080.00 |
| County / local tax | $50.00 |
| Title fee | $75.25 |
| Registration fee | $28.00 |
| Estimated total | $19,233.25 |
Miami-Dade's 1% discretionary surtax applies only to the first $5,000 of the purchase price, capping the county add-on at $50. Carlos pays state sales tax of $1,080 (6% of $18,000) plus the $50 county surtax. Because he transferred an existing tag, the $225 Initial Registration Fee does not apply.
What this estimate excludes
- Local and district taxes. County, city, and transit taxes are added on top of the Florida state rate.
- Title, registration, and plate fees. These are separate from sales tax — use the Florida registration and title-transfer calculators for those.
- Dealer documentation fees. A dealer “doc fee” is charged on top and is often itself taxable.
- Exemptions. Gifts, inheritance, and certain family transfers may be exempt — confirm with Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).
Official Florida sources
Related Florida tools & guides
Frequently asked questions
How much is sales tax on a car in Florida?
The Florida state vehicle sales/use tax rate is 6%. Multiply it by the taxable purchase price (usually the price minus any trade-in credit). Counties and cities may add a local sales tax on top, so confirm your combined rate with Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).
Do I pay sales tax when buying a used car from a private seller in Florida?
In most states, sales or use tax on a private-party vehicle purchase is collected when you title and register the car, not at the point of sale. The rate is generally the same as a dealer sale. Confirm the private-sale rules with Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).
Does Florida give a sales tax credit for a trade-in?
Most states tax only the difference between the vehicle price and your trade-in value, which lowers the tax you owe. A handful of states tax the full price with no trade-in credit. Verify Florida's treatment before you rely on the estimate above.
Are there local or county car sales taxes in Florida?
Often, yes. The rate shown here is the Florida state rate only; many counties, cities, and transit districts add a local sales tax on vehicle purchases, so your combined rate can be higher. Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) publishes the official combined rates.
Can you legally avoid sales tax on a used car in Florida?
The legitimate ways to lower or avoid vehicle sales/use tax in Florida are a qualifying trade-in credit (where the state allows one), a genuine gift or qualifying family transfer, or a specific exemption the state grants — not understating the sale price, which is illegal and easily caught by Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) against the vehicle's fair-market value. Confirm any exemption with Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) before relying on it.
What is Florida's $225 "New Wheels on the Road" fee and do I have to pay it?
The $225 Initial Registration Fee applies the first time a vehicle is registered in Florida by a Florida resident, regardless of whether the car is new or used. It does not apply if you are transferring an existing Florida tag from a vehicle you already owned to the new one. New Florida residents bringing a car from another state and titling it for the first time also pay the $225 fee.
Why did the tax collector charge me sales tax on more than my purchase price?
Florida tax collectors compare the declared sale price to the NADA average trade-in value. If your declared price is substantially lower, they assess tax on the NADA figure unless you provide documentation (bill of sale, photos of damage, repair estimates) supporting the lower number. This is meant to discourage tax avoidance on private-party sales.
Do I need to title my Florida car at the FLHSMV or the tax collector?
The tax collector's office in your county of residence (or an authorized private tag agency) is where title transfers and registrations happen. FLHSMV is the state-level agency that issues the actual title; it does not maintain walk-in offices for everyday transactions.
Last reviewed: 2026-01-01 · Reviewed by the Car Paperwork editorial team · Based on official Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) sources · Independent resource · Not legal advice