Iowa car sales tax and fees

Iowa charges 5% state sales tax on a vehicle purchase. No county or city tax is added on a vehicle purchase.

How Iowa taxes a car purchase

We have not researched Iowa'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.

Estimate

A $40,000 gas car (destination included, 3,500 lb) bought in Des Moines, ZIP 50309, no trade-in

Vehicle price$40,000.00

Sales tax (5% state)$2,000.00

Total$42,000.00

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

Not included
No fee rules on file for IA. 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
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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Iowa charges 5% state sales tax on a vehicle purchase. No county or city tax is added on a vehicle purchase.

About $42,000 in Des Moines, including $2,000 of sales tax. Title and registration fees are extra.