Pennsylvania Private Party Car Tax Calculator

The certificate of title fee is $72.00 (PennDOT Form MV-70S). If the vehicle is financed, recording a lien adds $36.00 per lien.

No. Pennsylvania only allows trade-in credits when you trade a vehicle into a licensed dealership. Private-to-private sales are taxed on the full purchase price or market value without trade-in deduction.

Passenger vehicle registration is $48.00 for one year or $96.00 for two years. Motorcycles are $25.00 for one year or $50.00 for two. Participating counties also charge a $5 annual fee for local use, collected with registration.

Yes. When you title the vehicle in Pennsylvania you pay Pennsylvania sales tax (6%, or 7% in Allegheny County and 8% in Philadelphia) through an authorized PennDOT agent, along with the title and registration fees.

A true gift, with no money, property, service, or debt forgiveness in exchange, is exempt from sales tax when both parties complete the Affidavit of Gift (Form MV-13ST). A sale between family members is taxable, and the Department of Revenue may review family sales priced well below fair market value.

The buyer and seller complete the transfer together at an authorized PennDOT agent (a notary, tag service, or dealer), and the agent must submit the application to PennDOT within 20 days of the sale. A used vehicle must also be inspected within 10 days of sale unless it already has a valid inspection sticker.