Ohio Car Sales Tax Calculator
Estimate Ohio vehicle sales tax using the purchaser's exact county and transit district, with separate new-dealer, used-dealer, and private-party paths.
Last verified: October 2026Your Ohio vehicle tax estimate will appear here.
Ohio sales tax rules
How Ohio car sales tax is calculated
Ohio car sales tax starts with the 5.75% state rate, then adds the county and, where applicable, transit-district rate tied to the purchaser's taxing location. The combined rate varies across Ohio, and a county or ZIP code by itself may not identify the right district—select the exact address in the Ohio Department of Taxation's Finder.
On a qualifying new-vehicle dealer purchase, the dealer-accepted trade allowance can reduce the taxable price. Ohio does not provide the same deduction for a used vehicle bought from a dealer. An ordinary private-party transaction follows its own sales/use-tax path and does not get a dealer trade allowance in this calculator.
For the supported new-dealer case, the method is vehicle price plus taxable additions and any negative equity included in vehicle price, minus seller discounts and the qualifying trade allowance. A qualifying documentary service charge is shown separately and excluded from the sales-tax base under Ohio law.
Trade value, payoff, and equity are different numbers. A $5,000 allowance and $7,000 payoff create negative $2,000 equity, but the new-car tax deduction remains the $5,000 allowance. Whether the negative equity enters the taxable price depends on how the retail buyer's agreement presents it.
Engine example: new versus used dealer purchase
Using the Franklin County 8.00% district, a $25,000 new vehicle, $5,000 qualifying trade allowance, and $7,000 payoff shown as paid to a third party after vehicle-price calculation:
- New vehicle taxable base ($25,000 − $5,000 trade)
- $20,000.00
- New vehicle estimated tax at 8.00%
- $1,600.00
- Used vehicle taxable base (no trade deduction)
- $25,000.00
- Used vehicle estimated tax at 8.00%
- $2,000.00
- Private-party $15,000 price taxable base
- $15,000.00
- Private-party tax at 8.00%
- $1,200.00
- Tax difference from the trade deduction
- $400.00
The $398 qualifying documentary service charge in the new-purchase inputs is not included in the tax base. If the $2,000 negative equity is instead included in vehicle price, the engine adds it to the taxable base.
What changes the estimate
- Choosing the purchaser's actual Ohio taxing district, including COTA or TARTA where it applies.
- Selecting new dealer, used dealer, or private-party purchase correctly.
- Matching taxable additions, seller discounts, documentary charge, trade allowance, payoff, and negative-equity contract treatment to the buyer's order.
For more on the trade deduction and contract treatment, see Ohio trade-in sales tax rules and the Ohio car sales tax guide. For the complete government-fee subtotal, use the Ohio Tax, Title & License Calculator.
Ohio car tax questions
Frequently asked questions
What is Ohio's state car sales-tax rate?
The state component is 5.75%. County and transit taxes can increase the combined rate, so use the purchaser's exact taxing location.
Does an Ohio trade-in reduce sales tax?
A qualifying dealer trade allowance can reduce tax on a new-vehicle dealer purchase. The used-dealer path does not receive the same deduction. See the Ohio trade-in guide.
Does the payoff reduce the trade-in tax deduction?
No. Tax deduction uses the qualifying trade allowance, not allowance minus payoff. Negative equity may separately affect taxable price depending on contract presentation.
Which Ohio sales-tax rate should I use?
Use the purchaser's actual taxing district from the Ohio Department of Taxation Finder. Some counties have different rates inside transit districts.
Is an Ohio dealer documentary fee taxable?
A qualifying documentary service charge imposed under ORC 4517.261 is exempt from Ohio sales tax; other dealer charges may be treated differently.
Does a private-party buyer get a dealer trade-in deduction?
No. This tool's ordinary private-party path does not apply the dealer-accepted new-vehicle trade deduction.