Florida Car Sales Tax Calculator

Florida’s car sales tax is 6% plus your county’s surtax, but the county part only applies to the first $5,000 of the price. That keeps the local add-on small: at most $100. The bigger surprise is the $225 initial registration fee when you don’t have a Florida plate to transfer.

Florida car taxes and fees at a glance

State sales tax6%
County surtax0% to 2% by county, only on the first $5,000; uses the county where the car is registered
Trade-inSubtracted from the price
Title$75.25 transfer; $77.25 first title of a new car; $85.25 first Florida title of a used car; +$2 lien
Registration (1 year)$28.10, $36.10 or $46.10 by weight
New plate$28 plate + $225 initial registration fee if you have no plate to transfer

Rules worth knowing

  • Citrus and Collier counties have no surtax; Hamilton County has the highest at 2%.
  • Hillsborough County collects 1.5% again after a temporary suspension (Florida DOR TIP 25A01-02).
  • The $225 initial registration fee applies to a car being registered when you have no Florida plate to move onto it, such as a first car or a move from another state.
  • Private buyers pay the sales tax at the county tax collector when they title the car.

Example: what you’d pay in Florida

Buying a $30,000.00 used car from a dealer in Orange, with a $5,000.00 trade-in:

State sales tax (6%)$1,500.00
Orange County surtax (0.5%)$25.00
Title fee (electronic)$75.25
Registration (1 year)$36.10
Taxes and fees$1,636.35
Out-the-door price$26,636.35

Dealer documentation fees aren’t included in this example; add your dealer’s fee in the calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Florida only tax the first $5,000 at the county rate?

Florida law limits the local discretionary surtax to the first $5,000 of a single item. The 6% state tax still applies to the full price.

Which county rate do I pay if I buy in another county?

The county where you’ll register the car, not where the dealer is.

How do I avoid the $225 initial registration fee?

Transfer a Florida plate you already have onto the new car. The fee only applies when there’s no plate to transfer.

Checked October 2026 against official Florida sources. Rates and fees change; your dealer or the motor vehicle office has the final numbers. How we calculate.

Sources

Other states