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Arkansas Guide

How to Title a Private Car Sale in Arkansas

Last verified: October 2026 against Arkansas DFA sources

When you buy a used car from a private seller in Arkansas, you register it at a State Revenue Office within 60 days and pay the sales tax there.

Here is the order to do it in, what it costs, and what to bring.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Complete the title assignment

    The seller prints your name in the assignment section on the back of the title. You and the seller both sign and print your names in the right places.

  2. 2

    Get a bill of sale and odometer statement

    Bring a bill of sale and an odometer statement. If you financed the car, bring the lien contract too.

  3. 3

    Have proof of assessment, property tax, and insurance

    Registration requires proof that the vehicle was assessed and that personal property taxes were paid in your county, plus proof of insurance.

  4. 4

    Register within 60 days

    You have 60 days from the date of purchase. After that, a penalty of 10% of the sales tax due applies, plus $3 for each 10 days the car is not registered.

  5. 5

    Pay the tax and fees

    Used vehicles under $4,000 owe no sales tax. From $4,000 to $9,999 the state rate is 3.5%, and at $10,000 and up it is 6.5%. City and county taxes (0% to 6.125%) are not reduced and apply to the first $2,500 of the price.

    The title is $10 and a lien is $0.50. Registration is by weight: $17 for 3,000 lbs or less, $25 for 3,001 to 4,500 lbs, $30 above that, plus a $2.50 validation decal.

Selling your old car lowers the tax

  • If you sell your old vehicle within 60 days before or after buying, you pay tax only on the difference, as with a trade-in.
  • Bring the bill of sale for the vehicle you sold when you register.
  • If you sell after registering, the sale must be within 45 days of the purchase and you claim a refund.
  • A gift or an insurance settlement does not count as a sale.

What to bring

  • The title, with the assignment completed and signed by you and the seller
  • Bill of sale
  • Odometer statement
  • Lien contract, if financed
  • Proof of assessment and proof of personal property taxes paid
  • Proof of insurance

Estimate your Arkansas costs

Enter the car’s weight for the registration fee. The calculator applies the price tiers and local tax on the first $2,500; county property tax is not included.

Open the full Arkansas calculator

Vehicle & Transaction Details

Enter purchase information to calculate true out-of-pocket costs in Arkansas.

51 Jurisdictions Active
Arkansas 6.5% tax base
$
7 years old
Sets the registration fee

Arkansas prices registration by the vehicle's unladen weight. Check the sticker on the driver's side door frame. Blank uses 3,500 lbs.

Arkansas tag options
1-Year Term (Arkansas registers for one year)
EV surcharge rules
Lien fee: $0.5.00
Arkansas: Deductible
$

Arkansas Statute: Arkansas allows trade-in value on private sales to be deducted from the purchase price before applying the 6.5% fee.

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Estimated taxes & fees

Estimated taxes & fees

Jurisdiction

Arkansas

Estimated taxes & fees
$1,012.50 – $1,165.63

Sales/Excise Tax (State + Local Range) + Title Certificate + Tags & Registration

Itemized Line ItemEstimated Fee
1Vehicle Sales / Excise Tax (6.5% State + Local Range)

State tax $975.00 + Local tax (varies by county) $0.00–$153.13 on the first $2,500.00

$975.00 – $1,128.13
2Certificate of Title Fee

Standard state title certificate issuance

$10.00
3Lien / Security Filing Fee

Unfinanced / cash purchase (waived $0.00)

$0.00
4Registration & Tag Fee

Base license plates & tags for 3,500 lbs

$27.50

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Arkansas rates last verified: October 2026
Official Notice & Statutory Disclaimers

Estimates only, not tax or legal advice. Verify with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA).

Used vehicles under $4,000 owe no sales tax. From $4,000 to $9,999 the state rate is 3.5% and from $10,000 it is 6.5%. City and county taxes (0% to 6.125%) apply to the first $2,500 only.

Registration shown is the DFA fee by weight ($17 for 3,000 lbs or less, $25 for 3,001 to 4,500 lbs, $30 above) plus the $2.50 validation decal. Electric vehicles add $200, plug-in hybrids $100, and hybrids $50.

To register, you also need proof that the vehicle was assessed and that personal property taxes were paid in your county. County property tax is not included.

County & Local Tax Note: City and county sales taxes in Arkansas run from 0% to 6.125% (October to December 2026) and apply only to the first $2,500 of a vehicle’s price. A used vehicle under $4,000 owes no sales tax.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this Arkansas DFA process.

60 days from the date of purchase. After that, a 10% sales tax penalty and $3 for each 10 days late apply.

Sources

Last verified: October 2026. Rules change, so check with Arkansas DFA before you go.

More Arkansas guides

How to Gift a Car in ArkansasWhen a gift is tax-free, the affidavit, and registering.Titling a Car in Arkansas After Moving From Another StateThe documents, lienholder-held titles, and fees.
Arkansas Private Party Car Tax Calculator