How We Calculate

CarBuyCost estimates what you’ll pay in taxes and government fees when you buy and register a car. Here’s where the numbers come from and what they don’t cover.

Where our numbers come from

Every rate and fee comes from the state’s own agencies: the department of revenue or taxation, the motor vehicle agency, and the state’s published laws. Each state page lists the exact pages and documents we used. We last checked all states in October 2026.

What’s included

• State and local sales tax (or the state’s replacement, like Georgia’s TAVT or North Carolina’s highway use tax)
• How trade-ins and private sales are taxed in that state
• Title, plate and registration fees for a standard passenger car
• Yearly value-based taxes where the state has one
• Dealer documentation fees, if you enter them

What’s not included

• Fees that vary by town or that only some buyers pay, like special plates, inspections, emissions tests and late penalties (unless a state page says otherwise)
• Extended warranties, add-ons, insurance and financing costs
• Exemptions for military members, people with disabilities, nonprofits and similar cases

Keeping it current

Tax rates and fees change, often on January 1 or at the start of a quarter. We recheck every state against its official sources and update the date shown on each page.