States › Delaware
Delaware · What a car really costs

Buying a car in Delaware.

Delaware charges no sales tax on a vehicle.

No sales tax
No sales tax; DMV vehicle document fee of 5.25% at titling on a vehicle
Full credit
Trade-in reduces the taxable price
$35.00
Title fee
$40
Registration, typical new car
~$475
Doc fee, typical (no cap)

How the tax works.

Delaware has no sales tax; the state instead collects a 5.25% 'document fee' at the DMV when a vehicle is titled, which functions like a vehicle tax.

Vehicles sold before October 1, 2025 but titled on or after November 1, 2025 pay the new 5.25% rate.

Title and registration amounts are from the DMV fee schedule as updated October 2025 (fees increased October 1 and 10, 2025).

Document fee = 5.25% of purchase price or NADA average trade-in value, whichever is higher, rounded to the nearest dollar; minimum $8 (price $0-$399) or $13.75 ($400-$500). Rate rose from 4.25% to 5.25% on October 1, 2025 (HB 164).
Trade-ins: The DMV document fee is computed on the purchase price after the trade-in allowance for a vehicle traded to the dealer (21 Del. C. 2915).

At the DMV.

FeeAmount
Title$35.00
Registration~$40
Title with lien (in place of the $35 title fee when a lien is recorded)$55.00
Alternative fuel vehicle fee (annual, EV/PHEV 6,000 lbs or less)$110.00
Passenger vehicle registration $40 per year (up to 5,000 lbs). Alternative fuel vehicles (EV/PHEV) 6,000 lbs or less pay an additional $110 per year since October 2025.

Leasing in Delaware.

DMV document fee is charged when the leased vehicle is titled; Delaware has no sales tax on lease payments

Cities in Delaware.

Pick your city for the exact combined rate where you register, plus what title and registration run there.

WilmingtonNew Castle CountyNewarkNew Castle CountyDoverKent CountyNew CastleNew Castle CountyBearNew Castle CountyBethany BeachSussex CountyBethelSussex CountyBridgevilleSussex CountyCamden WyomingKent CountyCheswoldKent County
What is my car worth? How buying with us works Every state

Questions.

How much is sales tax on a car in Delaware?

There is no sales tax on a vehicle in Delaware. Delaware has no sales tax; the state instead collects a 5.25% 'document fee' at the DMV when a vehicle is titled, which functions like a vehicle tax.

Does a trade-in lower the sales tax in Delaware?

The DMV document fee is computed on the purchase price after the trade-in allowance for a vehicle traded to the dealer (21 Del. C. 2915).

What are title and registration fees in Delaware?

Title is $35.00. Passenger vehicle registration $40 per year (up to 5,000 lbs). Alternative fuel vehicles (EV/PHEV) 6,000 lbs or less pay an additional $110 per year since October 2025.

Is the doc fee capped in Delaware?

No. Delaware sets no statutory cap, and dealers typically charge around $475. The dealer's own documentation fee has no statutory cap and is separate from the 5.25% DMV document fee. Typical from CarEdge 2026 (secondary).

How is a lease taxed in Delaware?

DMV document fee is charged when the leased vehicle is titled; Delaware has no sales tax on lease payments

Where these numbers come from.

Rates, fees, and rules change. These figures are estimates for planning, not tax advice; confirm the final numbers with the dealer and your state's motor vehicle agency before you buy.