Do I pay the rate where I buy the car or where I live?

Where you live. PennDOT says the 7% rate is for residents of Allegheny County and the 8% rate for residents of the City of Philadelphia, so a Philadelphia resident buying in another county still pays 8%.

Does a trade-in lower Pennsylvania car sales tax?

Yes. When the seller takes your vehicle as a trade-in, tax is on the difference. On a $30,000 car with a $10,000 trade-in in Allegheny County, sales tax falls from $2,100.00 to $1,400.00.

How much is a Pennsylvania title and registration?

The certificate of title is $72 and a one-year passenger registration is $48, including a standard plate (PennDOT MV-70S, April 2026). Recording a lien adds $36.

What is the $5 county fee?

A fee for local use that 27 counties have adopted under Act 89 of 2013. It is $5 for each year of registration, so $10 on a two-year registration. The calculator adds it when you choose a participating county.

Is a private sale taxed on the price I paid?

PennDOT says the tax is on the purchase price or the current market value of the vehicle. If you pay far less than the vehicle is worth, expect to be asked to explain the price, and the tax may be on more than you paid.

Do electric vehicles pay extra in Pennsylvania?

Yes. From 2026, electric vehicles pay a $250 road user charge a year and plug-in hybrids $63, on top of registration. The calculator does not add it.

Are you covering other states?

Yes. Texas, California, Florida, New York, Georgia, North Carolina, Washington, Arizona, Michigan and Illinois are live too, and more states are added once their rates and fees are verified from each state's own pages. Each state uses its own published rules. Pick your state on the vehicle tax, title and license calculator by state.

Pennsylvania·Updated for 2026·Figures in USD · your county sets the rate and any local fee

Pennsylvania Car Sales Tax Calculator (2026)

Pennsylvania charges 6% sales tax on the price of a vehicle, less any trade-in: 7% if you live in Allegheny County and 8% in Philadelphia. Then come a $72 title, $48 for a year of registration and, in 27 counties, a $5 local fee. Choose your county to see your estimate.

Your purchase

Purchase price

What you pay for the vehicle

Trade-in value (optional)

Taken by the seller as part of the same sale

Financing the vehicle? (PennDOT charges $36 to record the lien on the title)

New or used

County

Sets your rate (Allegheny 7%, Philadelphia 8%) and any $5 county fee

Enter the purchase price. Your Pennsylvania tax, title and license estimate appears here as you type — there is no button to press.

Show the mathSee how this was worked outHide

This is a planning estimate, not the exact number a dealer or PennDOT agent will quote. Agents add their own processing fees, so check with the dealer or agent before you buy.

Updated October 19, 2026Source: PennDOT fee schedule and fact sheetsRuns entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded

Written by KnownSum · Last reviewed October 19, 2026

Pennsylvania car sales tax, in plain English

Figures last verified October 19, 2026. From PennDOT's Schedule of Fees (MV-70S, April 2026) and its fact sheets. Fees change, so check current PennDOT guidance.

How much is sales tax on a car in Pennsylvania?

6% statewide, 7% for Allegheny County residents and 8% for City of Philadelphia residents. On a $30,000 car with no trade-in:

Charge	Lancaster (6%)	Allegheny (7%)	Philadelphia (8%)
Sales tax	$1,800.00	$2,100.00	$2,400.00
Certificate of title	$72.00	$72.00	$72.00
Registration (one year)	$48.00	$48.00	$48.00
County fee for local use	$0.00	$5.00	$5.00
Estimated total	$1,920.00	$2,225.00	$2,525.00

Financing the car? Recording the lien adds $36: the Lancaster total becomes $1,956.00.

Does a trade-in lower the tax?

Yes. When the seller takes your vehicle as a trade-in, the tax is on the difference between the price and the trade-in value. A $30,000 car with a $10,000 trade-in in Allegheny County is taxed $1,400.00 instead of $2,100.00.

Which counties charge the $5 fee?

Under Act 89 of 2013, a county can add $5 a year to every registration. These 27 counties do, according to PennDOT's August 2026 fact sheet: Allegheny, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Centre, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Greene, Lackawanna, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Union, Wayne, Westmoreland, York.

Pennsylvania title and registration fees

Fee	Amount	Source
Certificate of title	$72	PennDOT MV-70S
Passenger registration, including a standard plate	$48 for one year, $96 for two	PennDOT MV-70S
Recording a lien	$36	PennDOT MV-70S
Transfer of a registration plate	$11	PennDOT MV-70S
Fee for local use, participating counties	$5 a year of registration	PennDOT fact sheet
Road user charge, electric / plug-in hybrid	$250 / $63 a year (not in the estimate)	PennDOT MV-70S

Pennsylvania car sales tax FAQ

How much is sales tax on a car in Pennsylvania?: 6% of the purchase price, less any trade-in. Residents of Allegheny County pay 7% and residents of the City of Philadelphia pay 8%. On a $30,000 car that is $1,800.00, $2,100.00 or $2,400.00.
Do I pay the rate where I buy the car or where I live?: Where you live. PennDOT says the 7% rate is for residents of Allegheny County and the 8% rate for residents of the City of Philadelphia, so a Philadelphia resident buying in another county still pays 8%.
Does a trade-in lower Pennsylvania car sales tax?: Yes. When the seller takes your vehicle as a trade-in, tax is on the difference. On a $30,000 car with a $10,000 trade-in in Allegheny County, sales tax falls from $2,100.00 to $1,400.00.
How much is a Pennsylvania title and registration?: The certificate of title is $72 and a one-year passenger registration is $48, including a standard plate (PennDOT MV-70S, April 2026). Recording a lien adds $36.
What is the $5 county fee?: A fee for local use that 27 counties have adopted under Act 89 of 2013. It is $5 for each year of registration, so $10 on a two-year registration. The calculator adds it when you choose a participating county.
Is a private sale taxed on the price I paid?: PennDOT says the tax is on the purchase price or the current market value of the vehicle. If you pay far less than the vehicle is worth, expect to be asked to explain the price, and the tax may be on more than you paid.
Do electric vehicles pay extra in Pennsylvania?: Yes. From 2026, electric vehicles pay a $250 road user charge a year and plug-in hybrids $63, on top of registration. The calculator does not add it.
Are you covering other states?: Yes. Texas, California, Florida, New York, Georgia, North Carolina, Washington, Arizona, Michigan and Illinois are live too, and more states are added once their rates and fees are verified from each state's own pages. Each state uses its own published rules. Pick your state on the vehicle tax, title and license calculator by state.

Buying in another state? Try the calculator for Texas, California, Florida, New York, Georgia, North Carolina, Washington, Arizona, Michigan or Illinois, or pick any state on the vehicle tax, title and license calculator by state.

Sources

Sales tax: 6% of the purchase price or current market value, 7% for Allegheny County residents and 8% for City of Philadelphia residents; a trade-in taken by the seller is subtracted (PennDOT fact sheet). Certificate of title $72, passenger registration $48 a year, lien $36 (MV-70S, 4-26). $5 annual fee for local use in 27 counties (PennDOT fact sheet, August 2026).