Car Sales Tax in Florida
The average combined state and county sales tax on car purchases in Florida is 7.037%.
Written by Amber Reed
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
A state tax rate of 6% applies to all car sales in Florida, but your total tax rate will vary based on county and local taxes, which can be anywhere from 0 to 1.5%. The average total car sales tax in Florida is 7.037%.
When you’re shopping for cars, chances are good that the number you’re paying attention to is the big one on the sticker. However, it’s important to be mindful of the additional fees and taxes involved, as they can really add up! The amount of sales tax you pay for a car will vary depending on where the purchase is made.
Florida has a state sales tax that’s higher than average, and to know what your final tax total will be, you need to narrow it down to the city where you’ll be buying the car. Fortunately,
car insurance
super app Jerry
has done all the math for you. Read on to find out how much you can expect to pay on sales tax when you’re buying a car in The Sunshine State. And, as an added bonus, we'll show you how to lower your Florida car insurance costs
!Find out if you can reduce your monthly car payments in minutes
* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score
Check your rate
* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score
How much is the car sales tax rate in Florida?
Florida charges a statewide sales tax of 6% on the purchase of all cars, new or used. In addition, Florida allows for local governments to charge a tax of up to 1.5%.
The cities with the highest combined tax rate of 7.5% are Tampa, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and Kissimmee. Citrus County has the lowest combined tax rate at 6.5%. On average, you can expect to pay a total of 7.037% for all state and local sales taxes in Florida.
MORE: Florida gas tax
How are car trade-ins taxed in Florida?
Frequently when you are purchasing a new car, you are
trading in
an old one. How does this affect the amount of tax you will pay? In Florida, the value of your trade-in is deducted from the purchase price, and you only have to pay taxes on the difference. This saves you money on your tax bill!For example: let’s say you’re buying a
Jeep Cherokee Limited
for $35,000 in Jacksonville
, and you’re trading in your old Toyota Camry
for a $4,000 credit. You’ll only have to pay tax on $31,000 of the purchase price. It’s worth mentioning that any dealer rebates or incentives are not exempt from sales tax. They may lower the amount you’ll pay for the car itself, but you will pay taxes on the price before any rebates or incentives are applied.
How to calculate sales tax on a car in Florida
If you want to calculate what you’ll pay for taxes beforehand, you’ll need to find out what the local sales tax is and add it to the base 6% state sales tax. There are many
online calculators
you can use for this purpose if you know the zip code where you will be purchasing the vehicle. Key Takeaway Combine the statewide sales tax of 6% with the local or county sales tax to get the total car sales tax where you are.
Exemptions from Florida car sales tax
Typically, most car purchases in Florida will have some kind of sales tax involved. However, there are a few situations where you might be all or partially exempt from paying sales tax. Here’s a quick look at two reasons where this might apply:
- If a dealer is delivering the purchased car to a buyer outside of Florida, it is tax-exempt
- If you live out of Florida, then you will pay the sales tax rate of your home state—unless it’s higher than 6%, then you will pay Florida’s rate
In order to apply for an out-of-state partial exemption, you must fill out
Form DR-123
and register the car in your home state within 45 days of purchase. For more detailed information about sales tax and exemptions for motor vehicles, contact the Florida Department of Revenue
. How to estimate Florida tax, title, and registration fees
Sales taxes aren’t the only numbers you’ll need to note. Title, registration, and dealer documentation fees will all contribute to the total cost of your new car. Unfortunately, Florida has some of the highest dealership documentation fees in the nation, typically ranging from $500 to as high as $900.
Here’s a quick glance at how all the extra taxes and fees will break down:
Fee | Average cost |
|---|---|
Sales tax | 7.037% |
Registration fee | $225.00 |
Title fee | $77.25 |
Plate transfer | included in registration fee |
Documentation fee | $670 |
Find out if you can reduce your monthly car payments in minutes
* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score
Check your rate
* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score
MORE: Is car insurance tax deductible?
How to find affordable car insurance in Florida
Now that you’ve negotiated a sticker price and figured out your taxes and fees, there’s just one more number to crunch: getting car insurance that meets Florida’s
minimum legal requirements
. Fortunately, Jerry
’s got your back on this aspect of your car purchase, too. Download the app, enter a little bit of info, and within minutes, you’ll have competitive
car insurance
quotes from a pool of over 50 top providers. Jerry can take care of signing you up completely through the app—no paperwork or phone calls needed! If you have questions at any point in the process, fully-licensed brokers are available to get you all the answers you need. “I had limited time to find a new insurance plan in Florida, so I triedJerry. My experience was personalized and professional, and they found me a plan that fits my portfolio. You should give them a try.” —Valencia T.
RECOMMENDED
Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry
This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍
Gabriella R.
Find insurance savings
4.7/5 Rating on App Store
FAQ
How much is sales tax on a used car in Florida?
The sales tax for used cars in Florida is the same as for new ones—a statewide rate of 6%, plus any local or county tax rate.
Reduce your monthly car payments in minutes?
Find out if Jerry can reduce your payments by an average of $150/month
4.7You might also be interested
