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Florida · What a car really costs

Buying a car in Florida.

Florida charges sales and use tax plus county discretionary sales surtax of 6% at the state level, and local jurisdictions add their own, which brings a typical vehicle to about 7%. A trade-in does reduce the taxable price, which is real money on the deal.

7%
Typical combined tax on a vehicle
Full credit
Trade-in reduces the taxable price
$77.25
Title fee
$46
Registration, typical new car
~$999
Doc fee, typical (no cap)

How the tax works.

Dealers collect the surtax of the county where the vehicle will be registered, on the first $5,000 only; 2026 county rates range 0% (Citrus, Collier) to 2.0% (Hamilton); the most common rate is 1.0% and the large metro counties are 0.5%-1.5% (DR-15DSS calendar 2026).

Manufacturer rebates do not reduce the taxable sales price in Florida; dealer discounts do.

Title fee $77.25 is for an electronic new title; $75.25 base plus $2 for a vehicle previously titled out of state; add $2.50 for a printed paper title.

County surtax applies only to the first $5,000 of the sales price (maximum surtax $100 at 2%).
Trade-ins: Trade-in allowance for tangible personal property taken in trade at the time of sale reduces the taxable price (F.S. 212.09).

At the DMV.

FeeAmount
Title$77.25
Registration (weight-based)~$46
Plates$28.00
Initial Registration Fee (first time a plate is issued to the owner (no plate transferred))$225.00
Paper title service fee (if a paper title is printed instead of electronic)$2.50
Base annual fee by net weight: up to 2,499 lbs $14.50; 2,500-3,499 lbs $22.50; 3,500 lbs and over $32.50. Statutory add-ons (reflectorization $0.50, LERSTF $1, juvenile justice $1, air pollution $1, $2.50 transportation, $5 and $10 surcharges, etc.) bring a 3,500+ lb car to roughly $46 per year; the $6.25 tax collector service fee may apply.

Leasing in Florida.

Lease tax applies to each monthly payment rather than to the full price of the car, so you pay it as you go.

Cities in Florida.

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

MiamiMiami-Dade CountyOrlandoOrange CountyTampaHillsborough CountyJacksonvilleDuval CountyFort LauderdaleBroward CountySaint PetersburgPinellas CountyPensacolaEscambia CountyTallahasseeLeon CountySarasotaSarasota CountyGainesvilleAlachua County
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Questions.

How much is sales tax on a car in Florida?

Florida charges 6% at the state level and local jurisdictions add more, so a typical combined rate on a vehicle is about 7% and can reach 8% at the high end. The rate is set by the address you register the car to, so pick your city above for the exact figure.

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

Trade-in allowance for tangible personal property taken in trade at the time of sale reduces the taxable price (F.S. 212.09).

What are title and registration fees in Florida?

Title is $77.25. Base annual fee by net weight: up to 2,499 lbs $14.50; 2,500-3,499 lbs $22.50; 3,500 lbs and over $32.50. Statutory add-ons (reflectorization $0.50, LERSTF $1, juvenile justice $1, air pollution $1, $2.50 transportation, $5 and $10 surcharges, etc.) bring a 3,500+ lb car to roughly $46 per year; the $6.25 tax collector service fee may apply.

Is the doc fee capped in Florida?

No. Florida sets no statutory cap, and dealers typically charge around $999. No cap; must be disclosed as a 'pre-delivery service fee' with statutory notice (F.S. 501.976). Florida has the highest typical fees (CarEdge 2026, secondary).

How is a lease taxed in Florida?

Tax applies to each monthly payment rather than the whole price of the car, so the tax is spread across the lease.

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.