How car sales tax works in Florida
Florida's tax on a car has two parts. The state sales tax of 6% applies to the price after your trade-in. On top of that, most counties add a discretionary sales surtax, but for a motor vehicle it's charged on only the first $5,000 of the sales price. That cap makes the county part small: at a 1% surtax it can never be more than $50.
The surtax rate is the one for the county on your title or registration address, not where the dealer is. Rates are set county by county and listed each year on the Department of Revenue's Form DR-15DSS.
Worked example
The surtax cap matters most on expensive cars. On a $60,000 car, the 1% surtax is still only $50, while the 6% state tax rises with the price.
Florida rules to know
- Trade-ins reduce the tax. The trade-in allowance comes off the taxable price when it's part of the same dealer sale.
- Rebates don't. A manufacturer rebate lowers what you finance but not the taxable price.
- County surtax, capped. Only the first $5,000 of the price is subject to the county surtax.
- Your county, not the dealer's. The surtax follows the residence address on your title or registration.
- Check the current rate. Enter your county's rate from Form DR-15DSS; the calculator starts at 0 so it never assumes a rate for you.
- Fees are extra. Registration and title fees aren't included.
Financing a car in Florida
Because the county part is capped, the state 6% and your loan rate drive most of the cost. Compare dealer financing with a credit union pre-approval, and use the main car loan calculator to see how the term changes the total interest. If you're also weighing a cheaper car and a bigger down payment, our savings goal calculator shows how long it takes to save the difference.
Trade-in or private sale in Florida?
A trade-in lowers Florida's 6% state tax, so it's worth its value plus 6% of that value: $600 of tax saved on a $10,000 trade-in. The county surtax usually doesn't change, because it's charged on only the first $5,000 and most taxable prices are well above that. A private sale would need to bring in more than about $10,600 to beat the dealer's $10,000 offer.
On a cheaper car the surtax cap can matter. If your taxable price after the trade-in falls below $5,000, the surtax applies to that smaller amount instead. In the calculator, enter your county's rate and the cap is applied for you.