Washington car sales tax and fees

Washington charges 7% state sales tax on a vehicle purchase. County, city and district tax adds between 1.1% and 4.2% depending on where you live (2.1% is typical).

State vehicle tax: 7%
Local tax: Up to 4.2%

How Washington taxes a car purchase

State rate: 7% of the price.
County, city and district tax adds between 1.1% and 4.2% depending on where you live (2.1% is typical).

We have not researched Washington'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 Seattle, ZIP 98101, no trade-in

Vehicle price$40,000.00

Sales tax (7% state + 4.05% local)$4,420.00

Total$44,420.00

What this estimate rests on

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

Not included
No fee rules on file for WA. 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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Buying in Washington

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Common questions

What is the sales tax on a car in Washington?