Real Delaware deals, worked out
Each example runs through the same calculator above, line by line, so you can check every number yourself.
1Wilmington: new car with a trade-in
A buyer pays $36,000 and trades in $11,000. The 5.25% document fee is on $25,000, and the car is financed, so the title is $55.
| Vehicle price | $36,000.00 |
| Document fee (5.25%) on $25,000.00 | $1,312.50 |
| Title fee | $55.00 |
| Registration | $40.00 |
| Out-the-door | $37,407.50 |
| Due after the $11,000 trade-in | $26,407.50 |
2New electric car
A buyer pays $44,000 for an electric car under 6,000 pounds. The document fee applies to the full price, and the $110 AFV fee is due each year with registration.
| Vehicle price | $44,000.00 |
| Document fee (5.25%) on $44,000.00 | $2,310.00 |
| Title fee | $35.00 |
| Registration | $40.00 |
| Alternative fuel vehicle fee (electric vehicle) | $110.00 |
| Out-the-door | $46,495.00 |
The document fee
The document fee works like a sales tax. Delaware law sets the purchase price as the gross price minus any trade-in allowance, and the fee is 5.25% of that. The minimums are $8 for a price under $400 and $13.75 from $400 to $500. Cars sold before October 1, 2025 but titled from November 1, 2025 pay the higher rate.
Delaware car tax at common prices
What a new gas car bought from a dealer comes to at four prices. The trade-in column shows how much a $10,000 trade-in changes the tax under Delaware's rules.
| Price | Tax | Tax with $10,000 trade-in | Taxes + fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15,000 | $787.50 | $262.50 | $862.50 |
| $25,000 | $1,312.50 | $787.50 | $1,387.50 |
| $35,000 | $1,837.50 | $1,312.50 | $1,912.50 |
| $50,000 | $2,625.00 | $2,100.00 | $2,700.00 |
Title, registration and the AFV fee
The title fee is $35, or $55 with a lien, and passenger registration is $40 a year. Since October 1, 2025 an alternative fuel vehicle fee is added at registration: electric cars pay $110 under 6,000 pounds and $150 from 6,001 to 10,000; plug-in hybrids pay $85 and $115; regular hybrids pay $60 and $80.
Delaware taxes and fees at a glance
Officialfrom a state agency sourceEst.varies or not yet confirmed
| Item (wilmington: new car with a trade-in) | Status | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Document fee (5.25%) | Official | $1,312.50 |
| Title fee | Official | $55.00 |
| Registration (yearly) | Official | $40.00 |
| Total taxes and fees | $1,407.50 |
Delaware car tax FAQ
Does Delaware have sales tax on cars?
No, but it charges a 5.25% document fee when you title a car.
When did the Delaware document fee go up?
On October 1, 2025, from 4.25% to 5.25%.
Does a trade-in lower the Delaware document fee?
Yes. The fee is on the price minus your trade-in allowance.
How much is the Delaware EV fee?
$110 a year for an electric car under 6,000 pounds, $150 from 6,001 to 10,000 pounds.
Sources
We build every number from these agency pages. If something has changed, tell us and we'll fix it.