How car sales tax works in Florida
Florida charges 6% state sales tax on the full price, plus a county discretionary surtax that applies only to the first $5,000 of the price. The surtax is set by the county where the car is registered (where you live), and ranges from 0% to 2%. That means it never adds more than $100.
- Trade-in credit: a trade-in in the same transaction is subtracted before tax.
- Dealer fees are taxable. Florida does not cap the dealer or doc fee, and it often runs several hundred dollars.
- Private sales: you pay the 6% plus surtax at the tax collector's office when you title the car.
- New residents: no Florida tax if you used the car outside Florida for 6 months or more before moving. Otherwise you get credit for tax paid to the other state.
Title, tag and registration fees in Florida
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Title (electronic) | $75.25 |
| Paper title | + $2.50 |
| Car previously titled in another state | + $10 |
| Initial registration fee (no plate to transfer) | $225 |
| New license plate | $28 |
| Annual registration (under 2,500 / 2,500–3,499 / 3,500+ lb) | $27.60 / $35.60 / $45.60 |
The $225 initial registration fee is the one that surprises most buyers. You avoid it if you transfer a plate from a car you already own in Florida.
Example: a $32,000 new car in Hillsborough County
Price $32,000.00, $1,000.00 manufacturer rebate, $8,000.00 trade-in and a $999.00 doc fee, bought from a dealer:
| State sales tax (6%) | $1,499.94 |
| County surtax (1.5% on the first $5,000) | $75.00 |
| Title fee | $75.25 |
| Initial registration fee | $225.00 |
| Annual registration (by weight) | ≈ $35.60 |
| New license plate | $28.00 |
| Total taxes | $1,574.94 |
|---|---|
| Total government fees | $363.85 |
| Out-the-door price | $33,937.79 |
| After the trade-in, you pay | $25,937.79 |
Common mistakes
- Applying the county surtax to the whole price (it only applies to the first $5,000).
- Forgetting that the dealer fee is taxable.
- Paying the $225 initial registration fee when you could transfer your current plate.
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