TX · TAG OFFICE ESTIMATERates checked October 12, 2026
Enter the vehicle price to see your estimate.
ESTIMATED TOTAL
Total excludes items marked "not available".
Estimate only. Confirm with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) or your county tax assessor-collector.
Texas vehicle fees at a glance (2026)
| Base registration, up to 6,000 lbs | $50.75/yr |
|---|---|
| Base registration, 6,001 – 10,000 lbs | $54/yr |
| County local fee | varies by county |
| Inspection replacement fee | $7.50 |
| Electric vehicle fee | $200/yr |
| Title application fee | $28 or $33 |
| Motor vehicle sales tax | 6.25% |
What this estimate does and does not include
- Since January 1, 2025, non-commercial vehicles no longer need a safety inspection. A $7.50 inspection replacement fee is paid at registration instead ($16.75 for a brand-new vehicle, covering two years).
- Vehicles registered in the 17 emissions counties (including Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Travis and El Paso) still need an emissions test. That fee is paid at the inspection station and is not included here.
- Brand-new vehicles get a two-year first registration. We have not confirmed from an official source how the base registration and county fees are charged for that two-year term, so they show as not available.
- TxDMV's out-of-state vehicle page lists a state inspection fee of up to $30.75 for new residents; the Texas DPS says non-commercial vehicles pay the $7.50 replacement fee since January 1, 2025. This calculator uses the DPS figure.
- Even trades pay a $5 tax instead of sales tax; rebuilt salvage vehicles pay a $65 fee. Neither is covered by this calculator.
- Private-party buyers must pay the tax within 30 calendar days of the sale. Late payment adds a 5% penalty (1–30 days late) or 10% (more than 30 days).
- TxDMV – Register Your Vehicle (base fee, local fees, EV fee, processing fee)
- TxDMV – Texas Registration Fees chart, by county (Fee Chart 1C)
- TxDMV – Out of State and Imported Vehicles (title fee, insurance verification fee)
- TxDMV – Form 130-U, Application for Texas Title (Rev 05/26)
- Texas DPS – Vehicle safety inspection changes, Jan 1, 2025 (inspection replacement fee)
- Texas Comptroller – Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax
- Texas Comptroller – Standard Presumptive Value (80% rule)
Texas registration questions
How much is car registration in Texas?
For most cars, $50.75 base registration plus your county's local fee (usually $10), the $7.50 inspection replacement fee and a $4.75 processing fee. Electric vehicles add $200 a year.
How is sales tax calculated on a private car sale in Texas?
6.25% of the price you paid, or of 80% of the car's standard presumptive value if you paid less than that. A certified appraisal can lower it. See our guide to Texas car sales tax.
I'm moving to Texas. Do I pay 6.25% sales tax?
No, if the vehicle was already registered in your name in another state or country. You pay a flat $90 new resident tax instead, plus the title and registration fees.