How car sales tax works in Ohio
Ohio charges 5.75% state sales tax plus the rate of the county where you live, for a combined 6.5% to 8.25%. You pay it to the county clerk of courts when the title is issued, at your home county's rate even if the dealer is in another county.
- Trade-in credit only on new cars. If you buy a used car, the trade-in does not lower the tax.
- Manufacturer rebates do not reduce the tax. A cash discount from the dealer does.
- The doc fee is not taxed (since May 1, 2023). It is capped at the lower of a yearly inflation-adjusted amount or 10% of the price.
- Private sales are taxed on the price at the title office, at your county's rate.
- Family: a sale between relatives is taxed on what is paid. A true gift with no payment is not taxed.
- New residents: no Ohio tax if you bought the car at least 6 months before moving.
| County | Combined rate |
|---|---|
| Licking (COTA area) | 8.25% |
| Cuyahoga, Franklin | 8% |
| Hamilton | 7.8% |
| Lucas | 7.75% |
| Mahoning, Montgomery | 7.5% |
| Warren (from Oct 1, 2026) | 7.25% |
| Summit | 6.75% |
| Allen | 6.85% |
| Butler, Lorain, Stark, Wayne | 6.5% |
Title and registration fees in Ohio
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Certificate of title (from Jan 1, 2026) | $18 |
| State registration fees (passenger car, 1 year) | about $36 |
| Deputy registrar service fee | about $8 |
| Local permissive tax | $0 - $30 |
| Electric vehicle fee (yearly) | $200 |
| Plug-in hybrid fee (yearly) | $150 |
| Hybrid fee (yearly) | $100 |
The title fee rose from $15 to $18 on January 1, 2026. Registration amounts also rose that day; the figures above are estimates until the BMV schedule is verified, and the permissive tax depends on your county, city and township.
Example: a $32,000 new car in Franklin County
Price $32,000.00, $1,000.00 manufacturer rebate, $8,000.00 trade-in and a $398.00 doc fee, bought from a dealer:
| Sales tax (5.75%) | $1,380.00 |
| Local tax (2.25%) | $540.00 |
| Title fee | $18.00 |
| Registration fee | ≈ $64.00 |
| Total taxes | $1,920.00 |
|---|---|
| Total government fees | $82.00 |
| Out-the-door price | $33,400.00 |
| After the trade-in, you pay | $25,400.00 |
Common mistakes
- Subtracting your trade-in when you buy a used car (Ohio only allows it on new cars).
- Using the dealer's county rate instead of the rate of the county where you live.
- Paying sales tax on the doc fee, which has been exempt since May 1, 2023.
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