Car sales tax in Utah
Utah: State sales and use tax; local total rates run from 6.35% to 8.45% including the state rate, by where you buy or register it.
On a $30,000 used car from a dealer with no trade-in, the tax is $1,905.00–$2,535.00 and all taxes and government fees come to about $2,104.75–$2,747.75.
Trade-in: a $10,000 trade-in lowers the tax by $635.00–$845.00. Private sale ($15,000): tax $952.50–$1,267.50.
Estimate of government charges. Your DMV, tax office or county calculates the final amount.
Your own numbers
Set up for: buying from a dealer in Utah · Different situation?
Every line on a $30,000 dealer purchase
| Line | Group | Amount | Set by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales tax at your local total rate (includes the 4.85% state rate) | State & local tax | $1,905.00–$2,535.00 | Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (Utah State Tax Commission) |
| Title fee | Title | $6.00 | Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (Utah State Tax Commission) |
| Registration fee (passenger vehicle, 14,000 lb or less; CPI-indexed) | Registration & plates | $58.25 | Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (Utah State Tax Commission) |
| 2023 H.B. 301 fee (additional registration fee) | Registration & plates | $7.50 | Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (Utah State Tax Commission) |
| Electronic fee | Registration & plates | $3.25 | Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (Utah State Tax Commission) |
| Uninsured motorist identification fee | Registration & plates | $1.00 | Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (Utah State Tax Commission) |
| Automobile driver education fee | Registration & plates | $2.50 | Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (Utah State Tax Commission) |
| License plate fee (new standard plate) | Registration & plates | $11.25 | Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (Utah State Tax Commission) |
| Corridor preservation fee (11 counties) | Registration & plates | $0.00–$10.00 | Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (Utah State Tax Commission) |
| Air pollution control (local emissions) fee (5 counties, not EVs) | Registration & plates | $0.00–$3.00 | Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (Utah State Tax Commission) |
| Age-based uniform fee (in lieu of property tax), passenger cars/light trucks/SUVs/vans | Yearly taxes | $110.00 | Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (Utah State Tax Commission) |
How Utah taxes a car purchase
- Trade-in: Only a vehicle-to-vehicle trade in the same documented transaction between the same two parties. Selling your old car separately gives no credit (2026 H.B. 107 proposed changing this; we found no evidence it took effect).
- Private sale: Buyer pays sales tax at titling on the price actually paid (including loan payoffs and trades); the Tax Commission reviews under-reported prices (penalty up to 100% of unpaid tax or $500).
- Bought in another state: A Utah resident who buys outside Utah pays Utah use tax at titling, with credit for sales/use tax paid to the other state.
- Local tax: Dealer purchase: rate at the dealer's location. Private purchase: rate at the buyer's registration address. Motor vehicles are exempt from the resort communities tax, so the table uses the 'Resort Exempt' column where one exists (Tax Commission rate chart effective Oct 1, 2026). The table rate REPLACES ut_state_rate, it is not added to it.
Exemptions (check the official rule before relying on one)
- Vehicle not titled, registered or used in Utah: Buyers who only transport the vehicle to the state border.
- Resort communities tax: Motor vehicles are exempt from the resort communities tax and the correctional facility tax (already reflected in the local table).
Dealer fees
Doc, processing and prep fees are set by the dealer, not the state. No Utah dealer documentary fee cap was found on the fetched official pages. Document service fees are taxable (Pub 5).
Official tools: Utah DMV Fee Estimator (title, registration and sales tax) · Utah DMV Get Renewal Information · UDOT Road Usage Charge (EV per-mile option)
Sources
- Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (Utah State Tax Commission): Registration Taxes & Fees
- Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (Utah State Tax Commission): Summary of Common Fees
- Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (Utah State Tax Commission): Motor Vehicle Portal Fee Estimator result: 2020 gasoline passenger vehicle, Salt Lake City, $20,000 (captured 2026-11-05)
- Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (Utah State Tax Commission): Assessment Fees (2026 age-based uniform fee)
- Utah State Tax Commission: Publication 5, Sales Tax Information for Vehicle & Watercraft Dealers (Rev. 7/26)
- Utah State Tax Commission: Pub 5 (web version)
FAQ
How much is the sales tax on a car in Utah?
State sales and use tax; local total rates run from 6.35% to 8.45% including the state rate, by where you buy or register it. On a $30,000 used car from a dealer that is $1,905.00–$2,535.00 in tax (estimate).
Does Utah charge tax on the price minus the trade-in?
Only a vehicle-to-vehicle trade in the same documented transaction between the same two parties. Selling your old car separately gives no credit (2026 H.B. 107 proposed changing this; we found no evidence it took effect).
Do you pay sales tax on a private car sale in Utah?
Buyer pays sales tax at titling on the price actually paid (including loan payoffs and trades); the Tax Commission reviews under-reported prices (penalty up to 100% of unpaid tax or $500).
What if I buy a car in another state and register it in Utah?
A Utah resident who buys outside Utah pays Utah use tax at titling, with credit for sales/use tax paid to the other state.
Is there a cap on dealer doc fees in Utah?
Doc, processing and prep fees are set by the dealer, not the state. No Utah dealer documentary fee cap was found on the fetched official pages. Document service fees are taxable (Pub 5).