Estimate your Texas Vehicle Title, Registration, and Sales Tax costs.
Harris County
Dallas County
Tarrant County
Travis County
Collin County
Denton County
Montgomery County
Fort Bend County
Williamson County
El Paso County
Other County (Assumed 0% County Use Tax)
(Find this on the vehicle's door jamb sticker or owner's manual)
Estimated Total TTL Cost:
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(Excludes potential fees for title transfers, license plates, or specialty plates)
Understanding Texas Car Title & Registration (TTL) Costs
When you purchase a vehicle in Texas, you'll incur several fees to legally transfer ownership and register it. The primary components are the state sales tax, county use tax (in some counties), and registration fees. This calculator helps you estimate these costs.
Key Components:
State Sales Tax: This is the largest component and is based on the vehicle's purchase price or market value, whichever is greater. The standard rate is 6.25% of the purchase price.
State Sales Tax = Vehicle Purchase Price * 0.0625
County Use Tax: Some Texas counties impose an additional "Use Tax" that is also levied on the vehicle's purchase price. This tax is typically 1.25% in applicable counties. If your county is not listed as having a use tax, this component will be 0%.
County Use Tax = Vehicle Purchase Price * (County Use Tax Rate) (Note: This calculator uses a simplified rate of 1.25% for listed counties; check local government for exact rates if needed.)
Annual Registration Fee: This is a base fee set by the state. The fee can vary slightly based on the vehicle's weight and age. For typical passenger vehicles, the base fee is often around $30.00 to $40.00. Heavier vehicles will incur higher fees. This calculator uses a simplified estimation for common passenger vehicles.
Registration Fee = Base Fee + Weight-Based Surcharge (Note: This calculator uses a base estimate and a simplified weight surcharge. Actual fees can vary.)
How the Calculator Works:
This calculator takes your vehicle's purchase price, the county where you will register the vehicle, and the vehicle's weight to estimate the total cost. It calculates:
The 6.25% state sales tax on the purchase price.
The 1.25% county use tax for specific counties (or 0% for others).
An estimated annual registration fee based on vehicle weight.
The total estimated cost is the sum of these components. Please note that this is an estimate. Actual costs may vary due to specific vehicle details, additional state/local fees, late penalties, or if the vehicle is purchased from a private party vs. a dealer (which may have different reporting requirements).
Important Considerations:
Used Vehicles: For used vehicles, the tax is calculated on the purchase price OR the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) average retail value, whichever is *greater*. This calculator assumes the purchase price is the relevant value.
Trade-ins: If you trade in a vehicle, the sales tax is typically calculated on the difference between the new vehicle's price and the trade-in value.
Exemptions: Certain vehicles or situations may be exempt from sales tax (e.g., military personnel under specific circumstances, certain agricultural vehicles).
Specialty Plates/Fees: Additional fees apply for personalized license plates, electric vehicles, or other specialized services.
Always consult the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) or your local county tax assessor-collector's office for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
function calculateTTL() {
var vehicleValue = parseFloat(document.getElementById("vehicleValue").value);
var county = document.getElementById("county").value;
var weightKg = parseFloat(document.getElementById("weightKg").value);
var resultDisplay = document.getElementById("result-value");
resultDisplay.textContent = "–"; // Reset result
// — Input Validation —
if (isNaN(vehicleValue) || vehicleValue <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid positive vehicle purchase price.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(weightKg) || weightKg <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid positive vehicle weight in kilograms.");
return;
}
// — Constants and Rates —
var stateSalesTaxRate = 0.0625; // 6.25%
var countyUseTaxRate = 0.0000; // Default to 0%
// Define counties with a 1.25% use tax
var countiesWithUseTax = ["harris", "dallas", "tarrant", "travis", "collin", "denton", "montgomery", "fort bend", "williamson", "el paso"];
if (countiesWithUseTax.includes(county.toLowerCase())) {
countyUseTaxRate = 0.0125; // 1.25%
}
// Simplified Registration Fee Estimation (based on weight)
// These are approximations and can vary.
var baseRegistrationFee = 30.00; // Base fee for most passenger vehicles
var weightSurcharge = 0.00;
if (weightKg <= 1814) { // Up to 4000 lbs
weightSurcharge = 0.00; // No additional surcharge for lighter vehicles
} else if (weightKg <= 2721) { // 4001 – 6000 lbs
weightSurcharge = 10.00;
} else if (weightKg <= 3628) { // 6001 – 8000 lbs
weightSurcharge = 20.00;
} else { // Over 8000 lbs
weightSurcharge = 30.00; // Higher surcharge for very heavy vehicles
}
var estimatedRegistrationFee = baseRegistrationFee + weightSurcharge;
// — Calculations —
var stateSalesTax = vehicleValue * stateSalesTaxRate;
var countyUseTax = vehicleValue * countyUseTaxRate;
var totalTTL = stateSalesTax + countyUseTax + estimatedRegistrationFee;
// — Display Result —
resultDisplay.textContent = "$" + totalTTL.toFixed(2);
}