AutoTaxCalculatorHow much is tax, title and license in Texas?
Texas TT&L = 6.25% motor vehicle tax + title fee + registration. If you itemize, the motor vehicle tax may be deductible; see is car sales tax deductible? On a $35,000 car with a $10,000 trade-in registered in Harris County, that's $1,562.50 tax + about $111 in title and registration ≈ $1,674.
The tax is by far the biggest part. Texas charges 6.25% statewide with no city or county sales tax on vehicles, so the tax is the same in Dallas as in a small rural county. Title and registration add roughly $100 to $135 for most passenger cars, depending on your county.
Texas sales tax on vehicles: the five ways it's charged
| Situation | Tax | When it's due |
|---|---|---|
| Bought from a Texas dealer | 6.25% of price minus trade-in | Collected by the dealer |
| Private-party sale (used) | 6.25% of the price or 80% of SPV, whichever is higher | Within 30 days, at the county tax office |
| Bought out of state by a Texas resident | 6.25% use tax, minus tax paid to the other state | Within 30 days of bringing it into Texas |
| New resident with a car already registered in their name | $90 new resident tax | Within 30 days of moving |
| Gift | $10 gift tax | At title transfer |
| Even exchange of vehicles | $5 | At title transfer |
Active-duty military members get 60 days instead of 30 to pay the tax on a purchase.
Private sales and standard presumptive value
For private-party sales, Texas compares the price you paid with the vehicle's standard presumptive value (SPV), a value TxDMV assigns from market data. If you paid at least 80% of the SPV, you're taxed on the price. If you paid less, you're taxed on 80% of the SPV. If a car really is worth less, for example because it needs major repairs, you can get a certified appraisal and be taxed on that value instead.
Example: you paid $9,000 for a used car with an SPV of $14,000
- 80% of SPV: $14,000 × 80% = $11,200, which is higher than the $9,000 price
- Tax: $11,200 × 6.25% = $700.00
- In Lubbock County: $28 title + $51.75 registration + $10 local + $7.50 + $4.75 = $102 → $802.00 total
Texas vehicle registration fees in 2026
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base registration, cars and trucks up to 6,000 lbs | $50.75 |
| Base registration, 6,001–10,000 lbs | $54.00 |
| Motorcycles and mopeds | $30.00 |
| Trailers up to 6,000 lbs | $45.00 |
| TexasSure insurance verification (added to the base fee) | $1.00 |
| County local fee | $0 – $21.50 in 2026 |
| Inspection program replacement fee | $7.50 |
| Emissions inspection fee (emissions counties) | $2.75 |
| Processing and handling fee | $4.75 |
| Electric vehicle fee (fully electric) | $200.00 |
County local fees are set by each Commissioners Court and can include up to $10 for the road and bridge fund, up to $20 for transportation projects in some counties, and a child safety fee of up to $1.50. In 2026 most counties charge $10 to $11.50. The highest are Bexar and Cameron at $21.50, and eight counties, including Borden, King and Loving, charge nothing. The calculator uses the exact 2026 fee for your county.
Safety inspections ended in 2025
Since January 1, 2025, non-commercial vehicles in Texas no longer need a safety inspection before registration. Every vehicle now pays the $7.50 inspection program replacement fee at registration instead. In the 18 counties with emissions testing (Bexar, Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Ellis, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis and Williamson), you still need to pass an emissions inspection.
Title fees in Texas
The title application fee is charged when the title is transferred into your name. It's commonly $28, or $33 in counties that take part in the emissions program, which is how the calculator handles it. Your county tax office can confirm the exact amount. Compare it with other states in our title transfer fees by state guide. To see the full title transfer cost, use the calculator above as a Texas title transfer cost calculator: pick a private sale and it adds the motor vehicle tax on top of the title fee. For a title transfer you'll submit Form 130-U (Application for Texas Title and/or Registration) signed by the buyer, along with the signed title.
Lost title or title change
How much is a lost title in Texas? A certified copy of your title costs $5.45 in person at a TxDMV Regional Service Center, or $2 by mail, using Form VTR-34. All recorded owners must sign and show photo ID, and a credit card payment adds a convenience fee. As for how much a title change in Texas costs, adding a name or making another ownership change means a new title application at the regular title fee ($28 or $33). A name change after marriage or a lien release doesn't trigger motor vehicle tax.
Deadlines and penalties
On a private sale, you have 30 calendar days from the purchase to pay the motor vehicle tax at the county tax assessor-collector's office. Pay 1 to 30 days late and a 5% penalty is added. Pay more than 30 days late and the penalty is 10%. New residents have 30 days from moving to Texas to register their vehicle.
More worked examples
New $35,000 SUV from a dealer, $10,000 trade-in, Harris County
- Tax: ($35,000 − $10,000) × 6.25% = $1,562.50
- Title $33 + registration $51.75 + local $11.50 + inspection replacement $7.50 + emissions $2.75 + processing $4.75 = $111.25
- Tax, title and license: $1,673.75
Moving to Austin with a car you already own
- New resident tax: $90 (no 6.25% use tax)
- Plus title, registration and Travis County fees, and an emissions inspection
Frequently asked questions
What is the auto sales tax rate in Texas?
6.25% statewide, on the price minus trade-in. Cities and counties don't add sales tax on vehicles.
How much are Texas title and registration fees together?
For a passenger car, about $100 to $135: the $28 or $33 title fee, $51.75 registration, your county's local fee, the $7.50 inspection replacement fee, the $4.75 processing fee and, in emissions counties, $2.75.
Do I pay sales tax on a gifted car in Texas?
No. A qualifying gift pays a $10 gift tax instead. The giver and receiver complete the Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Gift Transfer.
Do I still need a safety inspection in Texas?
Not for non-commercial vehicles since January 1, 2025. You pay a $7.50 replacement fee instead. Emissions testing is still required in 18 counties.
Can I renew my Texas registration online?
Yes, up to 90 days before it expires, and you get a $1 discount for renewing online.
Sources
- Texas Comptroller: Motor vehicle sales and use tax (rates, SPV, $90/$10/$5, deadlines, penalties)
- TxDMV Fee Chart 1C: Texas registration fees effective January 1, 2026 (all county local fees)
- TxDMV: Register your vehicle (fees, inspections, emissions counties)
- TxDMV: Get a copy of your vehicle title (certified copy fees)
- TxDMV: Standard presumptive value calculator
This calculator gives an estimate. Your county tax assessor-collector calculates the final amount. How we calculate