What is the Missouri sales tax rate on cars?

Missouri charges a state motor-vehicle sales tax of 4.225%, the same as its general sales tax. On top of that you pay your local city and county sales tax rates, which can push the combined rate to 7% to 10% depending on where you title the vehicle.

Does a trade-in reduce my car sales tax in Missouri?

Yes. Missouri allows you to subtract the value of a trade-in vehicle from the purchase price before tax is calculated, so you are only taxed on the difference. You generally have a limited window to apply a sale-of-vehicle credit if you sell rather than trade in.

Do manufacturer rebates reduce the taxable amount?

In Missouri, manufacturer rebates do not reduce the taxable price — tax is computed on the price before the rebate is applied. Dealer discounts that lower the actual selling price do reduce tax, but a cash-back rebate does not.

When do I pay Missouri car sales tax?

You pay the sales tax when you title and register the vehicle at a Missouri license office, generally within 30 days of purchase. Paying late adds penalties, so budget the tax as part of your purchase.

Which local rate applies — where I live or where I buy?

Missouri applies the sales tax rate for the address where the vehicle is titled, which is normally your home address, not the dealer's location. Use your home city and county combined rate for the most accurate estimate.

Missouri Car Sales Tax Calculator

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When you buy a car in Missouri, the sales tax is collected at the license office when you title and register the vehicle — not at the dealership. Missouri charges a 4.225% state motor-vehicle tax plus your local city and county rates, and it lets you subtract a trade-in from the taxable price. This calculator combines those rules to estimate what you will owe at registration.

How it works

Missouri taxes the purchase price minus an allowed trade-in, at the combined state plus local rate. Crucially, a manufacturer rebate does not reduce the taxable amount:

taxable amount = purchase price - trade-in allowance
combined rate  = 4.225% state + local city/county rate
sales tax      = taxable amount × combined rate

A cash rebate is shown for context but is not subtracted from the taxable base, because Missouri taxes the pre-rebate price.

Example

Buy a $30,000 car, trade in a vehicle worth $8,000, in a county with a 3.5% local rate:

taxable     = 30,000 - 8,000 = 22,000
rate        = 4.225% + 3.5% = 7.725%
sales tax   = 22,000 × 0.07725 = $1,699.50

Tips and notes

Always use the combined rate for the address where you will title the vehicle — usually your home, not the dealer. Trade-ins genuinely cut the tax in Missouri, so a trade rather than a private sale can save you money up front. Confirm your exact local rate with the Missouri Department of Revenue rate lookup, since rates vary by city, special taxing district, and county.