What is Ohio's car sales tax rate?

Ohio charges a 5.75% state sales tax on vehicle purchases. Counties and transit authorities add a permissive rate, usually between 0.5% and 2.25%, so combined rates typically range from about 6.25% to 8% depending on where you register the car.

Does a trade-in reduce sales tax in Ohio?

Yes. Ohio taxes only the net price after subtracting your trade-in allowance from a licensed dealer. A $5,000 trade-in on a $25,000 car means you pay tax on $20,000, which can save several hundred dollars.

Which county rate applies to a car purchase?

Ohio sales tax on a vehicle is based on the buyer's county of residence, not the dealer's location. So you pay your home county's combined rate even if you buy the car elsewhere in the state.

Are dealer doc fees taxed in Ohio?

Dealer documentation fees are generally part of the taxable price of the vehicle in Ohio, so they are included before the tax rate is applied. This tool lets you add the doc fee to the taxable amount.

Do I pay Ohio tax on a private-party car sale?

Yes. Casual sales between private parties are still subject to Ohio sales tax, collected by the BMV when you title the vehicle. However, the trade-in deduction does not apply to private-party purchases.

Ohio Car Sales Tax Calculator

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Buying a car in Ohio adds sales tax at the BMV when you title it. The rate is the 5.75 percent state tax plus your county and transit permissive rate, applied to the price after any trade-in. This calculator works out the exact tax and total.

How it works

The taxable amount and tax are computed as:

taxable    = purchase price + doc fee - trade-in allowance
total rate = 5.75% state + county/transit permissive rate
sales tax  = taxable x total rate

Ohio uses the buyer’s county of residence for the rate, and the trade-in deduction applies only to purchases from a licensed dealer, not private-party sales.

Example

A 25,000 dollar car with a 5,000 dollar trade-in in a county with a 1.5 percent permissive rate is taxed on 20,000 dollars at a combined 7.25 percent. That is 1,450 dollars of sales tax, on top of the negotiated price and registration fees.

Notes

Combined rates and permissive components vary by county and change over time, and some leases and out-of-state moves follow special rules. Confirm your county’s current rate and titling requirements at tax.ohio.gov and bmv.ohio.gov before finalizing a purchase.