Florida car-buying guide
Florida Car Sales Tax: How It Works in 2026
Florida generally charges 6% state sales tax on a vehicle purchase plus the purchaser county's discretionary surtax. Learn how trade-ins and the $5,000 surtax rule work.
Published and verified October 2, 2026
Florida car sales tax is generally 6% of the taxable amount of a motor vehicle purchase, plus the purchaser's applicable county discretionary sales surtax. The county portion normally applies only to the first $5,000 of the taxable amount.
What Florida vehicle sales tax applies to
The starting point is the vehicle selling price. Florida's taxable selling amount can also include dealer-required preparation, handling, delivery, commission, accessories, and similar costs connected to the sale.
Separately itemized charges required by Florida law for title, licensing, registration, or recording a lien are treated separately rather than as dealer selling charges. Optional or unclear charges should not be assumed taxable without knowing what they represent.
How the taxable vehicle amount is determined
For the ordinary supported purchase path, add verified taxable dealer-required charges and taxable accessories to the selling price, then subtract a qualifying trade-in allowance. The result cannot go below zero.
Vehicle price + taxable dealer charges + taxable accessories − qualifying trade-in = taxable amount
The 6% state tax applies to the taxable amount. County discretionary sales surtax is calculated separately.
Does a trade-in reduce Florida car sales tax?
A qualifying trade-in can reduce Florida motor vehicle tax because its allowed value reduces the taxable selling amount. The relevant number is the trade-in allowance, not the buyer's equity after subtracting a loan payoff.
A down payment or money from selling another vehicle separately is not automatically a qualifying trade-in allowance. Use the Florida car sales tax calculator when you have the figures from the actual transaction.
Florida county surtax on vehicles
The applicable county is based on the purchaser's residence address used for title and registration—not the dealership location. County rates vary, including counties with a 0% rate in the verified 2026 table.
The county surtax generally applies only to the first $5,000 of taxable value. The separate Florida county surtax guide explains why a $20,000 and $30,000 taxable amount can produce the same county portion.
Florida car sales tax worked example
Miami-Dade's county portion is $50 because its verified 1% rate applies to the first $5,000, not the full $20,000 taxable amount.
Tax is only one part of the purchase
Title, registration, the Initial Registration Fee, and a new plate may add separate government costs. Dealer documentation fees, optional products, and financing costs also remain separate from government TTL.
| Cost | How it is handled |
|---|---|
| State and county vehicle tax | Calculated from the taxable selling amount |
| Title and registration | Separate government charges |
| Dealer or optional products | Separate seller-controlled charges; tax treatment depends on the charge |
For the supported government costs together, use the Florida tax, title and license calculator.
Get your estimate
Calculate Florida Car Sales Tax
Enter your vehicle price, purchaser county, taxable additions and qualifying trade-in to get an itemized estimate.
Official Florida sources
Rules and amounts in this guide were checked against these primary government sources.