Texas motor vehicle tax

Texas Vehicle Sales Tax Calculator

Estimate the Texas tax before title and registration, with separate handling for dealer, private-party and qualifying special transactions.

Sources reviewed: 18 July 2026Rule version: 2026.1
Step 1 of 4

Start with the deal price.

Use the negotiated selling price, not the monthly payment.

The standard Texas rate

The standard engine applies 6.25% to the taxable vehicle amount. A qualifying trade allowance can reduce the taxable measure in the dealer-purchase path.

Why payoff is entered separately

The amount owed on the traded vehicle changes equity and financing. It does not replace the gross trade allowance when determining the entered qualifying tax reduction.

Verify the county total

Title and local fees can vary by county, and the final transaction may include inspection-related or other official charges. The calculator keeps these outside the sales-tax formula.

Source and method note

The calculator distinguishes official fixed rules from local or user-entered estimates. Dealer worksheets and licensing-office totals remain the final transaction records.

Review official sources