How Delaware taxes car purchases
- State vehicle tax rate
- 5.25%
- Trade-in lowers the tax
- Yes
- Tax cap
- None
- Source
- Official source, checked 2026-10-05
These are the rules for a new car bought from a dealer. Used-car and private-sale rules can differ. How we check this data.
Delaware charges 5.25% at the state level. A vehicle document fee, not a sales tax. It rose from 4.25% to 5.25% on October 1, 2025. That rate is higher than 22 states and lower than 28 states. County and city taxes may add to it, so check your local rate and enter the total in the calculator.
What to know in Delaware
Delaware has no sales tax, but buying a car here isn't tax-free. The state charges a document fee, a percentage of the price collected when the vehicle is titled. It rose from 4.25% to 5.25% on October 1, 2025, which adds $350 to the fee on a $35,000 car.
The fee is figured on the price after your trade-in, so trading in at the dealer still lowers it. Because Delaware has no general sales tax, there are no county or city rates to add on top.
Does Delaware tax your trade-in?
No. Delaware only taxes the difference between the new car's price and your trade-in. On a $35,000 car with a $10,000 trade-in, you'd pay $1,312.50 in state tax instead of $1,837.50, a saving of $525.00. That saving is worth counting when you compare a dealer's trade-in offer with selling the car yourself.
Example: a car loan in Delaware
A $35,000 car with $5,000 down, $1,500 in fees, and a 60-month loan at 6.5% APR ($1,837.50 state tax, rolled into the loan):
- Monthly payment: $652.29
- Amount financed: $33,338
- Total interest: $5,800
- Total cost of the car: $44,137
Change any number in the calculator above to see your own figures.
Rebates and fees
The calculator charges tax on the price before any manufacturer rebate. Ask the dealer how Delaware treats your specific rebate. Title, registration and dealer documentation fees vary, so ask for an itemized out-the-door price and put the fee total in the calculator.
Other states
States with similar vehicle tax rates:
- Iowa 5%
- Louisiana 5%
- Maine 5.5%
- Mississippi 5%
- Nebraska 5.5%