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Pennsylvania · What a car really costs

Buying a car in Pennsylvania.

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

6%
Typical combined tax on a vehicle
Full credit
Trade-in reduces the taxable price
$72.00
Title fee
$48
Registration, typical new car
$490
Doc fee, capped by law

How the tax works.

Sales tax is paid at the rate of the buyer's residence: 6% statewide, 7% Allegheny County, 8% Philadelphia.

Manufacturer rebates do not reduce the taxable purchase price in Pennsylvania.

Leases over 30 days: 6% (7%/8%) sales tax plus a 3% Public Transportation Assistance Fund tax on each lease payment.

Title ($72) and registration ($48) reflect PennDOT's April 2026 fee schedule (Act 89 indexing).

Local tax only for residents of Allegheny County (1%, total 7%) and the City of Philadelphia (2%, total 8%); all other residents pay 6%.
Trade-ins: Trade-in value is deducted from the taxable purchase price (PennDOT fact sheet; 72 P.S. 7201).

At the DMV.

FeeAmount
Title$72.00
Registration~$48
Lien recording (per lien, in addition to the title fee)$36.00
County fee for local use (annual in counties that adopted it)$5.00
Passenger vehicle registration $48 per year (plates included) per MV-70S (4-26). Some counties add a $5 Fee for Local Use. EVs pay a $200 annual fee (2025 Act 85), PHEVs $50.

Leasing in Pennsylvania.

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 Pennsylvania.

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

PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia CountyPittsburghAllegheny CountyErieErie CountyHarrisburgDauphin CountyWilkes BarreLuzerne CountyScrantonLackawanna CountyReadingBerks CountyLancasterLancaster CountyAllentownLehigh CountyJohnstownCambria County
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Questions.

How much is sales tax on a car in Pennsylvania?

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

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

Trade-in value is deducted from the taxable purchase price (PennDOT fact sheet; 72 P.S. 7201).

What are title and registration fees in Pennsylvania?

Title is $72.00. Passenger vehicle registration $48 per year (plates included) per MV-70S (4-26). Some counties add a $5 Fee for Local Use. EVs pay a $200 annual fee (2025 Act 85), PHEVs $50.

Is the doc fee capped in Pennsylvania?

Yes, at $490. 63 P.S. 818.327(c): 2026 maximum $490 for electronic processing, $409 non-electronic (State Board notice 01/13/2026; CPI-adjusted annually). Typical $449 per CarEdge (secondary).

How is a lease taxed in Pennsylvania?

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.