District of Columbia car sales tax and fees

District of Columbia charges 6% state sales tax on a vehicle purchase. No county or city tax is added on a vehicle purchase.

State vehicle tax: 6%
Local tax: None

How District of Columbia taxes a car purchase

State rate: 6% of the price.
The tax is assessed on vehicle weight and fuel economy, not price, so a percentage of the price is only a rough guide.
No county or city tax is added on a vehicle purchase.

We have not researched District of Columbia's title, registration and dealer fee rules yet, so they are not in the example. Expect a few hundred dollars more.

Drafted from the state's tax table. Not every figure has been checked by hand yet, so confirm with the dealer or the DMV before you sign.

Worked example

Out-the-door

Estimate

A $40,000 gas car (destination included, 3,500 lb) bought in Washington, ZIP 20001, no trade-in

Vehicle price$40,000.00

Sales tax (6% state)$2,400.00

Total$42,400.00

What this estimate rests on

4 items are missing or approximate, so the real figure will differ.

Not included
No fee rules on file for DC. Title, plate, registration and the trade-in tax treatment are all unknown.
Not included
No documentation fee was entered and none is on file for this state. Dealers charge one on essentially every sale, so the total is understated.
Not included
This state's vehicle tax is assessed on vehicle weight and fuel economy, not price, which this calculator cannot model. The figure below applies a plain percentage instead and will be wrong.
Not included
No registration rule for this state; registration is omitted from the total.
Unchecked
This rate has not been checked against the taxing authority’s published table.

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Buying in District of Columbia

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Common questions

What is the sales tax on a car in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia charges 6% state sales tax on a vehicle purchase. No county or city tax is added on a vehicle purchase. The tax is assessed on vehicle weight and fuel economy, not price, so a percentage of the price is only a rough guide.

What is the out-the-door price of a $40,000 car in District of Columbia?

About $42,400 in Washington, including $2,400 of sales tax. Title and registration fees are extra.