How Washington taxes car purchases
- State vehicle tax rate
- 6.8%
- 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.
Washington charges 6.8% at the state level. 6.5% state sales tax plus the 0.3% motor vehicle sales tax; local taxes add more. That rate is higher than 43 states and lower than 7 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 Washington
Washington's 6.8% rate combines the 6.5% state sales tax with the 0.3% motor vehicle sales tax, and local sales taxes add more, so the combined rate is well above 6.8% in most of the state.
A like-kind trade-in is excluded from the taxable price, so trading in at the dealer lowers the tax. Look up your combined local rate, add the 0.3% motor vehicle tax, and enter the total in the calculator.
Does Washington tax your trade-in?
No. Washington 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 $1,700.00 in state tax instead of $2,380.00, a saving of $680.00. That saving is worth counting when you compare a dealer's trade-in offer with selling the car yourself.
Example: a car loan in Washington
A $35,000 car with $5,000 down, $1,500 in fees, and a 60-month loan at 6.5% APR ($2,380.00 state tax, rolled into the loan):
- Monthly payment: $662.90
- Amount financed: $33,880
- Total interest: $5,894
- Total cost of the car: $44,774
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 Washington 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:
- Nevada 6.85%
- Minnesota 6.875%
- New Jersey 6.625%
- Georgia 7%
- Indiana 7%