Massachusetts Private Party Car Tax Calculator
Calculate your true first-year out-of-pocket costs for a private vehicle sale in Massachusetts. Accurately accounts for 6.25% excise/sales tax, $75.00 certificate of title fee, 2-year tag registration, and state-specific regulations.
Vehicle & Transaction Details
Enter purchase information to calculate true out-of-pocket costs in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Notice: Massachusetts gives no trade-in credit on a private sale. The tax is on the price or the clean trade-in value, whichever is higher.
Estimates only, not tax or legal advice. Verify with the Massachusetts RMV or Department of Revenue.
The estimate uses the price you enter. Massachusetts taxes the clean trade-in value instead when it is higher than the price, so the tax at the RMV can be more.
The yearly motor vehicle excise billed by your city or town is not included. It is $25 per $1,000 of value, where the value is a share of the manufacturer’s list price (90% in the model year, then 60%, 40%, 25%, and 10% from the fifth year on), with a $5 minimum.
Gifts recorded on Form MVU-24 have a $25 gift transfer fee, which is not included.
A motorcycle is $20 a year, shown here as $40 for the two-year view.
County & Local Tax Note: Massachusetts has no local sales tax on vehicles. Your city or town bills a separate motor vehicle excise every year: $25 per $1,000 of a value set from the original list price, not the price you paid. It is not included here.
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Estimated taxes & fees
Massachusetts
Sales/Excise Tax + Title Certificate + Tags & Registration
6.25% assessed on vehicle Fair Market Value
Standard state title certificate issuance
Unfinanced / cash purchase (waived $0.00)
Base license plates & tags
- mass.gov: motor vehicle and trailer sales and use tax
- mass.gov: apply for a registration and title for a vehicle purchased from an individual
- mass.gov: massachusetts registry of motor vehicles fees
- mass.gov: familygift transfers
- mass.gov: transfer your registration and title from out of state
- mass.gov: motor vehicle excise
Estimates only, not tax or legal advice. Verify with the Massachusetts RMV or Department of Revenue.
The estimate uses the price you enter. Massachusetts taxes the clean trade-in value instead when it is higher than the price, so the tax at the RMV can be more.
The yearly motor vehicle excise billed by your city or town is not included. It is $25 per $1,000 of value, where the value is a share of the manufacturer’s list price (90% in the model year, then 60%, 40%, 25%, and 10% from the fifth year on), with a $5 minimum.
Gifts recorded on Form MVU-24 have a $25 gift transfer fee, which is not included.
A motorcycle is $20 a year, shown here as $40 for the two-year view.
County & Local Tax Note: Massachusetts has no local sales tax on vehicles. Your city or town bills a separate motor vehicle excise every year: $25 per $1,000 of a value set from the original list price, not the price you paid. It is not included here.
Frequently Asked Questions: Massachusetts Vehicle Taxes & Fees
Essential statutory answers regarding Massachusetts vehicle sales taxes, titling requirements, and registration fees.
The use tax is 6.25% of the price you paid or the vehicle’s clean trade-in value, whichever is higher. You pay it to the RMV when you register the car.
Massachusetts Guides
Step-by-step help for titling and tagging a vehicle in Massachusetts:
Other State Car Tax Calculators
Calculate private-party vehicle taxes, titling, and registration across other US states: