Texas vehicle costs
Estimate the state, county, title, inspection, electric-vehicle, processing, sales-tax, use-tax, new-resident, gift, and standard-presumptive-value charges that may apply when titling or registering a vehicle in Texas.
These are common statewide figures. Your final total depends on the vehicle type, weight, county, title transaction, inspection status, plate choice, tax treatment, and payment method.
| Charge | Typical amount |
|---|---|
| Passenger cars and light trucks | $50.75 base registration fee, plus $1 for TexasSure |
| Pickup trucks from 6,001 to 10,000 pounds | $54 base registration fee |
| Trailers up to 6,000 pounds | $45 base registration fee |
| Motorcycles and mopeds | $30 base registration fee |
| Title application | $28 or $33, depending on county |
| Local county fees | $0 to $31.50 |
| Processing and handling | $4.75 |
| Inspection replacement fee | $7.50 for most annual non-commercial registrations |
| New two-year vehicle inspection replacement fee | $16.75 |
| Fully electric vehicle fee | $200 annually, or $400 with a qualifying initial two-year registration |
Texas motor vehicle sales tax is 6.25% of the taxable sales price. A qualifying motor-vehicle trade-in generally reduces the taxable amount. Separately stated title, registration, inspection, and lawful document-processing charges are generally not part of the taxable vehicle price.
Tax is generally 6.25% of the greater of the reported sales price or 80% of the vehicle's standard presumptive value. A timely certified appraisal may establish a different taxable value when the purchase price is below that threshold.
An existing Texas resident generally owes 6.25% use tax, less allowable credit for sales or use tax paid to another state. A qualifying new resident generally pays the $90 new-resident tax instead.
A qualifying gift generally carries a $10 tax and requires the gift-transfer affidavit. A qualifying even exchange is generally taxed at $5. Transfers that do not meet the statutory rules may be treated as taxable sales.
If $20,000 is at least 80% of the vehicle's standard presumptive value, sales tax is $1,250. Title, registration, county, inspection-replacement, processing, and any plate or EV fees are added separately.
The taxable amount is generally $30,000, producing $1,875 in motor vehicle sales tax, before title, registration, county, inspection, processing, or specialty charges.
The base fee is $50.75. TxDMV also lists a $1 TexasSure insurance-verification charge, making the standard state registration line $51.75 before local, inspection, processing, specialty-plate, or electric-vehicle charges.
The rate is 6.25%. Dealer purchases are generally taxed on the sales price after an allowed motor-vehicle trade-in. Private-party purchases may be taxed on the greater of the sales price or 80% of the standard presumptive value.
A qualifying new resident generally pays a $90 new-resident tax instead of the 6.25% use tax when the vehicle was previously registered in the resident's name outside Texas.
An eligible motor-vehicle gift is generally subject to a $10 gift tax when the transfer qualifies under Texas law and the required gift-transfer affidavit is filed.
No. County road-and-bridge, transportation, and child-safety fees can vary. TxDMV says local fees can range from $0 to $31.50.