Maryland Car Sales Tax Calculator
Maryland charges a state vehicle sales/use tax of 6.50% on a car purchase. On a $20,000 vehicle that is about $1,300.00 in state tax before any local add-ons. Enter your own price below — and your trade-in, if Maryland allows a trade-in credit — to estimate what you'll owe.
Quick answer: Maryland’s state vehicle sales/use tax rate is 6.50%. Local (county/city) taxes may apply on top.
Estimate your Maryland car sales tax
Enter the vehicle price. If Maryland gives a trade-in tax credit, add your trade-in value to reduce the taxable amount.
State rate only. Many Maryland 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 Maryland taxes a car purchase
| State vehicle sales/use tax rate | 6.50% |
| Taxable amount | Price − trade-in credit (where allowed) |
| Local / county tax | Varies by jurisdiction — added on top of the state rate |
Maryland title fee is $200 ($100 for eligible rental vehicles). Vehicle Excise Tax (in lieu of sales tax) is 6.5% of the vehicle's fair market value, minimum $41.60 (rental vehicles 3.5%). Two-year passenger registration is weight-based ($120.50 for cars 3,500 lbs or less, $125.50 up to 3,700 lbs, $191.50 over 3,700 lbs, each including the $40/yr EMS surcharge). [Verified 2026-07-13 against the official MVA Fees & Payment Options page ("Title taxes & fees"): New/Used title certificate $200, titling tax 6.5% on fair market value (min $41.60). Both rose under HB 352 (BRFA 2025), eff. 2025-07-01.]
Sales tax on a used car in Maryland
Maryland applies the same 6.50% 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 Maryland
Maryland dealers collect the 6.5% Vehicle Excise Tax at delivery and process MVA paperwork on the buyer's behalf, often including arranging the one-time safety inspection. Private-party buyers must obtain the Maryland Safety Inspection on their own, then visit an MVA branch (or use a tag-and-title service) with the signed title, VR-005, inspection certificate, proof of insurance, and ID. The 6.5% Excise Tax applies to both paths.
Source ↗What's different about Maryland vehicle tax
Maryland does not call its 6.5% vehicle charge a "sales tax" — it's a Vehicle Excise Tax collected by the MVA at title transfer. The tax is applied to the higher of the actual sale price or a state-published book value, with limited exceptions for documented low-value/damaged-vehicle sales. Family transfers between certain relatives (spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild) qualify for a reduced or zero Excise Tax with proper paperwork.
Source ↗County & local taxes in Maryland
Maryland has no county-level sales-tax add-on — the 6.5% Vehicle Excise Tax is uniform across all 23 counties and Baltimore City. Local cost variance is minimal at the MVA, though counties differ on parking, registration sticker enforcement, and emissions-area boundaries.
Source ↗Worked example: buying a car in Maryland
Aisha buys a used 2020 Honda CR-V from a private seller in Montgomery County, Maryland for $22,000.
| Vehicle price | $22,000.00 |
| Title fee | $200.00 |
| Vehicle Excise Tax (6.5% of $22,000) | $1,430.00 |
| Two-year passenger registration (approximate, weight-tier) | $187.00 |
| Maryland Safety Inspection (private station, regulated) | $100.00 |
| Estimated total | $23,917.00 |
Aisha pays the $200 title fee and 6.5% Vehicle Excise Tax ($1,430) at the MVA, plus the two-year weight-based passenger registration. She arranges the Maryland Safety Inspection at a state-authorized station (typical regulated price around $100) before the MVA issues plates. Because Montgomery County is in the VEIP program area, she will also need a biennial VEIP emissions test on the state's schedule. Confirm exact registration dollar amounts on the MVA fee page.
What this estimate excludes
- Local and district taxes. County, city, and transit taxes are added on top of the Maryland state rate.
- Title, registration, and plate fees. These are separate from sales tax — use the Maryland 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 Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA).
Official Maryland sources
Related Maryland tools & guides
Frequently asked questions
How much is sales tax on a car in Maryland?
The Maryland state vehicle sales/use tax rate is 6.50%. 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 Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA).
Do I pay sales tax when buying a used car from a private seller in Maryland?
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 Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA).
Does Maryland 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 Maryland's treatment before you rely on the estimate above.
Are there local or county car sales taxes in Maryland?
Often, yes. The rate shown here is the Maryland state rate only; many counties, cities, and transit districts add a local sales tax on vehicle purchases, so your combined rate can be higher. Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) publishes the official combined rates.
Can you legally avoid sales tax on a used car in Maryland?
The legitimate ways to lower or avoid vehicle sales/use tax in Maryland 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 Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) against the vehicle's fair-market value. Confirm any exemption with Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) before relying on it.
Why does Maryland require an inspection only when I title the car?
Maryland uses a one-time "Maryland Safety Inspection" at the point of titling rather than the recurring annual or biennial inspection that many neighboring states require. Once your vehicle has a Maryland inspection certificate on file at the MVA, you don't need another safety inspection for as long as you own the car. You may still need biennial VEIP emissions testing if you live in a VEIP county.
What is the difference between Maryland's Vehicle Excise Tax and a sales tax?
Functionally similar, legally distinct. Maryland's general retail sales tax is 6%, but motor vehicles are exempt from it — instead, the MVA collects a 6.5% Vehicle Excise Tax at title transfer. The Excise Tax is applied to the higher of the actual purchase price or a state-published book value, which is a stricter rule than most states use for sales tax. Family transfers between certain immediate family members can qualify for a reduced or zero Excise Tax.
Do I need a VEIP emissions test for my Maryland title transfer?
Only if your registration address is in a VEIP-program jurisdiction — primarily the Baltimore-Washington corridor. Vehicles registered in non-VEIP counties (most of the Eastern Shore and far western Maryland) are exempt. The Maryland Department of the Environment publishes the VEIP county map.
Last reviewed: 2026-01-01 · Reviewed by the Car Paperwork editorial team · Based on official Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) sources · Independent resource · Not legal advice