Car Cost by State in 2026
Every state charges a different mix of sales tax, title/plate/registration fees, and carries a different average insurance premium. The figures below use a $35,000 reference vehicle and our 2026 state DMV/insurance dataset. Taxes and fees are estimates — confirm the exact amount with your state DMV and insurer.
| State | Sales Tax | Tax on $35k | Reg + DMV Fees | Avg Insurance/yr | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 7.25% | $2,538 | $392 | $2,150 | California vehicle costs |
| Texas | 6.25% | $2,188 | $159 | $1,480 | Texas vehicle costs |
| Florida | 6.00% | $2,100 | $191 | $1,720 | Florida vehicle costs |
| New York | 4.00% | $1,400 | $223 | $1,960 | New York vehicle costs |
| Illinois | 6.25% | $2,188 | $436 | $1,390 | Illinois vehicle costs |
| Georgia | 7.00% | $2,450 | $78 | $1,670 | Georgia vehicle costs |
| North Carolina | 3.00% | $1,050 | $164 | $1,340 | North Carolina vehicle costs |
| Ohio | 5.75% | $2,013 | $108 | $1,230 | Ohio vehicle costs |
| Michigan | 6.00% | $2,100 | $246 | $2,610 | Michigan vehicle costs |
| Arizona | 5.60% | $1,960 | $58 | $1,500 | Arizona vehicle costs |
| New Jersey | 6.63% | $2,319 | $162 | $1,920 | New Jersey vehicle costs |
| Washington | 6.50% | $2,275 | $145 | $1,440 | Washington vehicle costs |
| Pennsylvania | 6.00% | $2,100 | $169 | $1,480 | Pennsylvania vehicle costs |
| Alabama | 4.00% | $1,400 | $68 | $1,800 | Alabama vehicle costs |
| Alaska | 0.00% | $0 | $225 | $1,650 | Alaska vehicle costs |
| Arkansas | 6.50% | $2,275 | $75 | $1,950 | Arkansas vehicle costs |
| Colorado | 2.90% | $1,015 | $182.2 | $2,150 | Colorado vehicle costs |
| Connecticut | 6.35% | $2,223 | $310 | $2,100 | Connecticut vehicle costs |
| Delaware | 0.00% | $0 | $135 | $2,050 | Delaware vehicle costs |
| District of Columbia | 6.00% | $2,100 | $391 | $2,300 | District of Columbia vehicle costs |
| Hawaii | 4.00% | $1,400 | $105 | $1,450 | Hawaii vehicle costs |
| Idaho | 6.00% | $2,100 | $109 | $1,300 | Idaho vehicle costs |
| Indiana | 7.00% | $2,450 | $72 | $1,480 | Indiana vehicle costs |
| Iowa | 6.00% | $2,100 | $130 | $1,300 | Iowa vehicle costs |
| Kansas | 6.50% | $2,275 | $100 | $1,750 | Kansas vehicle costs |
| Kentucky | 6.00% | $2,100 | $63 | $2,000 | Kentucky vehicle costs |
| Louisiana | 5.00% | $1,750 | $128 | $2,900 | Louisiana vehicle costs |
| Maine | 5.50% | $1,925 | $118 | $1,250 | Maine vehicle costs |
| Maryland | 6.00% | $2,100 | $390 | $2,300 | Maryland vehicle costs |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% | $2,188 | $220 | $1,900 | Massachusetts vehicle costs |
| Minnesota | 6.88% | $2,406 | $88.25 | $1,900 | Minnesota vehicle costs |
| Mississippi | 7.00% | $2,450 | $52 | $1,950 | Mississippi vehicle costs |
| Missouri | 4.23% | $1,479 | $55 | $2,050 | Missouri vehicle costs |
| Montana | 0.00% | $0 | $457 | $1,950 | Montana vehicle costs |
| Nebraska | 5.50% | $1,925 | $45 | $1,900 | Nebraska vehicle costs |
| Nevada | 6.85% | $2,398 | $114 | $2,400 | Nevada vehicle costs |
| New Hampshire | 0.00% | $0 | $141 | $1,300 | New Hampshire vehicle costs |
| New Mexico | 4.88% | $1,706 | $81 | $1,650 | New Mexico vehicle costs |
| North Dakota | 5.00% | $1,750 | $95 | $1,400 | North Dakota vehicle costs |
| Oklahoma | 4.50% | $1,575 | $214 | $2,000 | Oklahoma vehicle costs |
| Oregon | 0.00% | $0 | $501 | $1,600 | Oregon vehicle costs |
| Rhode Island | 7.00% | $2,450 | $182 | $2,400 | Rhode Island vehicle costs |
| South Carolina | 6.00% | $2,100 | $105 | $1,900 | South Carolina vehicle costs |
| South Dakota | 4.50% | $1,575 | $80 | $1,900 | South Dakota vehicle costs |
| Tennessee | 7.00% | $2,450 | $75 | $1,800 | Tennessee vehicle costs |
| Utah | 6.10% | $2,135 | $104 | $1,700 | Utah vehicle costs |
| Vermont | 6.00% | $2,100 | $182 | $1,400 | Vermont vehicle costs |
| Virginia | 5.30% | $1,855 | $105 | $1,600 | Virginia vehicle costs |
| West Virginia | 6.00% | $2,100 | $127 | $2,000 | West Virginia vehicle costs |
| Wisconsin | 5.00% | $1,750 | $349.5 | $1,500 | Wisconsin vehicle costs |
| Wyoming | 4.00% | $1,400 | $85 | $1,900 | Wyoming vehicle costs |
Sources: VehCalc state DMV/insurance dataset (2026); AAA national average gas price $4.06/gal (Daily Fuel Gauge Report, retrieved 2026-08-06); Experian State of the Automotive Finance Market Q1 2026 (new 6.39% / used 11.43% APR); IRS / One Big Beautiful Bill Act (federal EV credit expired 2025-09-30). Retrieval date: 2026-08-11.
Federal EV credit is gone in 2026
Before 2026 many calculators subtracted a $4,000–$7,500 federal EV credit. That credit ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. If you are comparing a gas, hybrid, or electric vehicle in 2026, do not count on a federal subsidy — only state or utility rebates may apply, and they vary. See our Gas vs EV vs Hybrid cost tool built on 2026 prices (gas $4.06/gal, no federal credit).
Used-car financing is much costlier
The average used-car loan rate in Q1 2026 was 11.43% versus 6.39% for new cars (Experian). A used car’s lower sticker price is often offset by a much higher rate. Model both with our car affordability calculator and loan vs cash tool.