AutoTaxCalculatorUtah auto sales tax
Utah car sales tax is the 4.85% state rate plus local sales taxes, on the price after your trade-in. Combined rates differ by location, so the calculator takes your exact rate. Every time you register, you'll also pay a uniform age-based fee of $10 to $150 instead of property tax.
Sales tax on cars in Utah uses the same combined rate as other purchases. Utah's combined sales tax rates are made up of the state rate and several local pieces (county, city and special districts), which is why the total differs between, say, Salt Lake City, St. George and a small town in the Uintah Basin. The rate on your purchase is the one the dealer or DMV applies to your transaction. Ask your dealer which local rate is on the contract, or check the Utah State Tax Commission's current rate charts.
How to calculate sales tax on a car in Utah
- Taxable price: purchase price minus your trade-in.
- Sales tax: taxable price × the combined state and local rate.
- Add the age-based fee for the model year, plus registration and title fees, when you register.
Example: a $32,000 2025 SUV, $9,000 trade-in, 7.25% combined rate
- Taxable price: $32,000 − $9,000 = $23,000
- Sales tax: $23,000 × 7.25% = $1,667.50
- Uniform age-based fee for model year 2025: $150 → $1,817.50 before registration and title
The uniform age-based fee (2026)
Utah doesn't charge a yearly property tax on passenger vehicles. It charges a uniform age-based fee instead, paid each time the vehicle is registered: at the initial purchase and at every renewal. For passenger cars, light trucks, SUVs and vans, the 2026 amounts are:
| Model year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 – 2026 | $150 |
| 2021 – 2023 | $110 |
| 2018 – 2020 | $80 |
| 2015 – 2017 | $50 |
| 2014 and older | $10 |
Motorcycles, trailers, motor homes and other vehicle types have their own age-based fee tables. Because the fee depends on the model year, it steps down as your car ages into an older bracket.
Private sales and out-of-state purchases
On a private sale, no dealer collects the tax. You pay Utah sales tax to the DMV when you title and register the vehicle, on the price you paid. If you bought a car out of state and paid less sales tax there, Utah collects the difference when you register. If you paid more, nothing further is due.
Utah vehicle registration fees
Utah motor vehicle registration fees have several parts. At the DMV you'll pay the base registration fee for the vehicle type, the uniform age-based fee, a title fee for a new owner, and in some counties an emissions certificate. If you need a vehicle registration fee calculator, Utah DMV's online fee estimator shows the exact total for your vehicle, and your renewal notice lists the full amount each year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Utah car sales tax rate?
4.85% state sales tax plus local taxes, on the price after trade-in. The combined rate depends on location.
Does Utah charge property tax on cars?
Not on passenger vehicles. Utah charges the uniform age-based fee at each registration instead.
Does a trade-in reduce Utah sales tax?
Yes. Utah taxes the price minus the trade-in allowance.
How much is the age-based fee on a 2016 car in Utah?
$50 in 2026, the amount for model years 2015 to 2017.
Sources
- Utah DMV: 2026 uniform age-based fee tables
- Utah State Tax Commission: Publication 23 (sales tax on motor vehicles)
This calculator gives an estimate. Your dealer or the Utah DMV calculates the final amount. How we calculate