The average car sales tax for Nebraska is 6.324%. This value includes both state and local taxes, and the latter varies based on the county.
Buying a car doesn’t stop at the asking price. In Nebraska, the flat sales tax rate is only 5.5%—but you can expect to pay more when including county and local taxes. You’ll also have to consider (and pay) insurance costs, registration fees, and additional expenses.
Nebraska's sales tax rate is much lower than it is in other states across the map. Want to know what you’ll be paying where you liveH? Look no further than this guide from the car insurance
super app, Jerry
. Then we'll show you how to find cheap car insurance in Nebraska
! How much is the car sales tax rate in Nebraska?
The statewide sales tax for Nebraska is 5.5% for any new or used car purchases. While some counties forgo additional costs, most will charge a local tax on top of the state rate. The average combined sales tax rate for Nebraska is 6.324%.
The highest rate can be found in Gage County—home to a high concentration of car owners in the state—where the local sales tax is 3.5%. Residents in Gage County can expect a total combined tax rate of 8.0%.
MORE: When should you trade in your car
How are car trade-ins taxed in Nebraska?
In Nebraska, trade-ins will drastically reduce both a car’s purchase price and how much you’ll pay in taxes. This is because the trade-in value is not subject to taxation. Said simply, Nebraska will only tax the price of a vehicle after the trade-in credit has been subtracted.
Imagine you’re shopping for a new Hummer
, which costs roughly $36,000. You’d usually pay $1,980 in state taxes according to the 5.5% rate. However, if you were to trade in a car
worth, say, $18,000, the sales taxes on the new car would be sliced in half. Nebraska taxation won’t honor any rebates or incentives. For example, even if your auto dealer offers you $2,000 cash back with your new vehicle, you’ll still be taxed according to the full asking price.
How to calculate sales tax on a car in Nebraska
To calculate your tax payment, visit the Nebraska DMV website and use their Vehicle Fee estimator
. If you’d rather go the old-school route, combine Nebraska's statewide 5.5% rate with the tax rate of your dealer’s county. Doing so will estimate how much you should expect to pay. Key Takeaway The state tax rate when buying a vehicle in Nebraska is 5.5%. Combine this with the county rates to find out how much you’ll pay in sales tax.
Exemptions from Nebraska car sales tax
It’s challenging to avoid sales tax when buying a vehicle in Nebraska. However, you can be exempt under the following conditions:
You are a blind or disabled veteran
You are a member of an Indian tribe
You belong to the United States military or navy (or the spouse of one)
You represent a non-profit (or equally protected organization)
For more specific exemption requirements, explore the Nebraska statute 60-3,185
document. MORE: Car inspection in Nebraska
How to estimate Nebraska tax, title, and registration fees
Sales tax can be an important cost to consider when buying a new vehicle—but it isn’t the only one. Most dealerships will charge you a documentation fee for handling the paperwork. You’ll also have to pay for vehicle registration
and titling fees. Look to the chart below for a full breakdown of additional costs in Nebraska:
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| $10 ($14 for replacement) |
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MORE: Is car insurance tax deductible?
How to find affordable car insurance in Nebraska
If you’re looking for a great deal on a new car, do your wallet a favor and use the trade-in system. If you’re shopping for car insurance
in Nebraska, do yourself (and your wallet) a favor and use Jerry
—an app designed to find you the perfect policy without all the fuss. Jerry is your hub for cheap car insurance, speedy service, and convenient time-savers. The sign-up takes 45 seconds, and you’ll unlock access to some of the most competitive rates across dozens of insurance companies.
You won’t have to fill out any long forms to get situated with your new policy—Jerry will handle that for you. You’ll enjoy the perks long after your new car purchase since Jerry routinely shops before each policy renewal.
With consistent savings for the long haul, you can expect to save an average of $887 per year!
“I moved states recently, and my old provider didn’t cover me anymore, so I tried using Jerry
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