How Illinois taxes car purchases
- State vehicle tax rate
- 6.25%
- 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.
Illinois charges 6.25% at the state level. Local taxes add more. That rate is higher than 35 states and lower than 13 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 Illinois
Illinois charges 6.25% at the state level on vehicles bought from a dealer, and local taxes are added on top. Trade-ins lower the taxable price in full. In 2020 and 2021 Illinois capped the trade-in credit at $10,000, and some calculators and articles still mention that limit, but it ended on January 1, 2022.
If you're trading in a valuable car, the change matters. A $20,000 trade-in now saves $1,250 in state tax, double the $625 it would have saved under the old cap.
Does Illinois tax your trade-in?
No. Illinois 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 $1,562.50 in state tax instead of $2,187.50, a saving of $625.00. That saving is worth counting when you compare a dealer's trade-in offer with selling the car yourself.
Example: a car loan in Illinois
A $35,000 car with $5,000 down, $1,500 in fees, and a 60-month loan at 6.5% APR ($2,187.50 state tax, rolled into the loan):
- Monthly payment: $659.13
- Amount financed: $33,688
- Total interest: $5,861
- Total cost of the car: $44,548
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 Illinois 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:
- Massachusetts 6.25%
- Texas 6.25%
- Connecticut 6.35%
- Arkansas 6.5%
- Florida 6%