Ohio Car Sales Tax Calculator
Ohio charges a state vehicle sales/use tax of 5.75% on a car purchase. On a $20,000 vehicle that is about $1,150.00 in state tax before any local add-ons. Enter your own price below — and your trade-in, if Ohio allows a trade-in credit — to estimate what you'll owe.
Quick answer: Ohio’s state vehicle sales/use tax rate is 5.75%. Local (county/city) taxes may apply on top.
Estimate your Ohio car sales tax
Enter the vehicle price. If Ohio gives a trade-in tax credit, add your trade-in value to reduce the taxable amount.
State rate only. Many Ohio 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 Ohio taxes a car purchase
| State vehicle sales/use tax rate | 5.75% |
| Taxable amount | Price − trade-in credit (where allowed) |
| Local / county tax | Varies by jurisdiction — added on top of the state rate |
Ohio's certificate-of-title fee is $18 statewide (a few counties add up to $5 for a $23 total), and standard annual passenger registration is $36. State sales tax is 5.75%; counties add 0.25%–2.25%. [2026-07-23: HB 96 raised the title fee ($15→$18) and noncommercial registration ($31→$36) effective 2026-01-01; confirmed against the live bmv.ohio.gov fee page on 2026-07-23 — the earlier automated-fetch block that left these unverified has been resolved.]
Sales tax on a used car in Ohio
Ohio applies the same 5.75% 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 Ohio
Ohio dealers collect sales tax based on the buyer's home-county rate and submit the title paperwork on the buyer's behalf. Private-party buyers must take the assigned title, ID, and proof of insurance to their county clerk of courts' title office (sometimes called the title bureau) within 30 days to pay tax and receive a new title. The Ohio BMV's deputy-registrar offices handle plates and registration, but not titles.
Source ↗What's different about Ohio vehicle tax
Ohio assesses sales/use tax on private-party vehicle sales, not just dealer sales. Tax is collected by the county clerk of courts when you apply for title, calculated on the actual sale price unless the price is unreasonably low — in which case the clerk may use the vehicle's published market value. Casual sales between immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild) qualify for an exemption with a properly completed DTE 100M Form.
Source ↗County & local taxes in Ohio
Ohio's combined state-plus-county sales-and-use tax ranges from 6.5% to 8% depending on county. Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) is 8.0%, Franklin County (Columbus) is 7.5%, Hamilton County (Cincinnati) is 7.8%, Lucas County (Toledo) is 7.75%. The rate that applies is the rate at the buyer's residence — county clerks of court will look up the correct rate when you process the title.
Source ↗Worked example: buying a car in Ohio
Jessica buys a used 2018 Ford Escape from a private seller in Franklin County, Ohio for $13,500.
| Vehicle price | $13,500.00 |
| State sales/use tax | $1,012.50 |
| Title fee | $15.00 |
| Registration fee | $31.00 |
| Estimated total | $14,558.50 |
Franklin County's combined state-plus-county rate is 7.5%. Jessica pays $15 for the title at the Franklin County Clerk of Courts' auto title bureau (where she also pays $1,012.50 in sales tax on the $13,500 sale price), then visits a deputy-registrar agency for the $31 base registration and plates. No E-Check is required because Franklin County is not in the E-Check zone.
What this estimate excludes
- Local and district taxes. County, city, and transit taxes are added on top of the Ohio state rate.
- Title, registration, and plate fees. These are separate from sales tax — use the Ohio 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 Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).
Official Ohio sources
Related Ohio tools & guides
Frequently asked questions
How much is sales tax on a car in Ohio?
The Ohio state vehicle sales/use tax rate is 5.75%. 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 Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).
Do I pay sales tax when buying a used car from a private seller in Ohio?
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 Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).
Does Ohio 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 Ohio's treatment before you rely on the estimate above.
Are there local or county car sales taxes in Ohio?
Often, yes. The rate shown here is the Ohio state rate only; many counties, cities, and transit districts add a local sales tax on vehicle purchases, so your combined rate can be higher. Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) publishes the official combined rates.
Can you legally avoid sales tax on a used car in Ohio?
The legitimate ways to lower or avoid vehicle sales/use tax in Ohio 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 Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) against the vehicle's fair-market value. Confirm any exemption with Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) before relying on it.
Why do I need to visit both the clerk of courts and the BMV in Ohio?
Ohio splits responsibilities: the county clerk of courts issues titles (and collects sales tax), while the Ohio BMV handles registration and plates. So a typical Ohio title transfer is: county clerk's auto title office first to get the title in your name and pay tax, then a deputy-registrar (BMV) office for plates. Some counties combine both functions; most do not.
Do I need an E-Check before transferring a title in Ohio?
E-Check is required for registration, not for the title itself, and only in seven northeast Ohio counties (Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, Summit). If you live outside those counties, no emissions test is needed. If you live inside them and your vehicle is older than four model years and not otherwise exempt, you must pass E-Check before getting plates issued.
Can I avoid Ohio sales tax by buying from a family member?
Yes, but only for immediate family — spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild. The buyer must submit DTE Form 100M (Statement of Reason for Exemption from Sales/Use Tax) when the title is processed. Transfers to in-laws, cousins, aunts, or uncles do not qualify.
Last reviewed: 2026-01-01 · Reviewed by the Car Paperwork editorial team · Based on official Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) sources · Independent resource · Not legal advice