DMV Title Transfer Fee Calculator
What it really costs to put a car in your name — the title fee plus the tax that comes due at transfer, itemized for 15 states.
Tell us about your vehicle
Your itemized estimate
Transferring the title of this $25,000 vehicle in a typical California county, California costs about $15 in DMV fees.
| Title transfer fee Charged when ownership changes. | $15 |
Notes & assumptions (2)
- Small county/district service fees (roughly $1–$20) are not yet itemized here.
- Estimate only — verify the final amount with the CA DMV.
Quick answer: the title fee is the cheap part — $4 in Arizona up to $165 in Illinois. What actually costs money is the tax due when ownership changes: 6.25% in Texas, 7% TAVT in Georgia, 3% Highway Use Tax in North Carolina — and nothing at all on private-party sales in Arizona and Nevada.
Title fees by state (2026)
| State | Title fee | Tax charged at transfer |
|---|---|---|
| California | $15 | Sales tax 7.25%–10.75% (no trade-in credit) |
| Texas | $28 | 6.25% of price or SPV ($10 gift tax) |
| Florida | $85.25 | 6% + county surtax on first $5,000 |
| New York | $50 | 4% + local (8.875% NYC) |
| Pennsylvania | $72 | 6% (7% Allegheny, 8% Philadelphia) |
| Illinois | $165 | 6.25% + local, or private-party use tax table |
| Ohio | $18 | 5.75% + county |
| Georgia | $18 | 7% TAVT (one-time) |
| North Carolina | $66.75 | 3% Highway Use Tax |
| Michigan | $15 | 6% (capped trade-in credit) |
| Arizona | $4 | Dealer only — private sales exempt |
| Washington | $15 | 6.8%–10.5% incl. motor-vehicle tax |
| Colorado | $7.20 | 2.9% + local |
| Nevada | $28.25 | Dealer only — private sales exempt |
| Missouri | $8.50 | 4.225% + local, paid at licensing |
Title fee shown is the state certificate fee; county clerks, tag services and notaries may add their own processing charges. Sources are listed on each state page.
What actually happens at a title transfer
Transferring a title is a tax event first and a paperwork event second. Here’s what drives the bill.
The title fee is almost never the expensive part
Missouri charges $8.50. California and Michigan charge $15. Even Illinois’ outlier $165 is dwarfed by what comes next — the tax. If you’re budgeting for a used-car purchase, the title fee is a rounding error.
Transfer is when the tax comes due
Most states collect vehicle tax at the moment the title changes hands, not when you buy. Georgia’s entire vehicle tax system is a one-time 7% TAVT charged at titling. Missouri makes you pay 4.225% plus local rates at the license office within 30 days. Texas taxes the higher of your price or the Standard Presumptive Value, so a suspiciously cheap bill of sale won’t save you anything.
Private-party sales can be tax-free — in two states
Arizona and Nevada exempt casual sales between private parties from sales tax entirely. That’s a real multi-thousand-dollar difference on an expensive car, and it makes both states unusually good private-party markets.
Miss the deadline and the penalties stack fast
Most states allow 30 days. Missouri charges $25 per 30 days late, capped at $200. Texas adds 5% of the tax if you’re 1–30 days late and 10% after that. Because the penalty is a percentage of the tax, it grows with the value of the car.
Title transfer questions
How much does it cost to transfer a car title?
The title fee itself is usually small — $4 in Arizona, $7.20 in Colorado, $8.50 in Missouri, $15 in California, $15 in Michigan, $15 in Washington, rising to $165 in Illinois. The bigger cost is the tax that becomes due when ownership changes, which is a percentage of the vehicle’s value in most states.
Do I pay sales tax when transferring a title?
Usually yes — the title transfer is when most states collect vehicle tax. Texas charges 6.25%, Georgia charges a 7% TAVT, North Carolina charges a 3% Highway Use Tax. Exceptions matter: Arizona and Nevada charge no tax on private-party sales at all, and gift or family transfers are often reduced (Texas charges a flat $10 gift tax).
How long do I have to transfer a title?
Most states give you 30 days, and the penalties for missing it are real: Missouri charges $25 for every 30 days late up to $200, Texas adds 5%–10% of the tax due. Transfer promptly — it’s one of the most commonly-paid avoidable penalties.
Does a trade-in reduce the tax at title transfer?
In most states, yes, on dealer purchases — Texas, Florida, Ohio, Illinois, New York and others subtract the trade-in value before calculating tax. California does not: it taxes the full purchase price regardless. Michigan caps how much of the trade-in counts.
What about gifted or inherited vehicles?
Rules vary a lot. Texas charges a flat $10 gift tax instead of 6.25%. Many states exempt transfers between spouses, parents and children. You still pay the title fee, and you still have to file within the deadline.