Real Massachusetts deals, worked out
Each example runs through the same calculator above, line by line, so you can check every number yourself.
1Boston: new car with a trade-in
A buyer pays $30,000 and trades in $10,000 at a registered dealer, matching the Department of Revenue's own example.
| Vehicle price | $30,000.00 |
| Sales tax (6.25%) on $20,000.00 | $1,250.00 |
| Title fee | $75.00 |
| Registration (2 years) | $60.00 |
| Motor vehicle excise | $675.00 |
| Out-the-door | $32,060.00 |
| Due after the $10,000 trade-in | $22,060.00 |
2Private sale below book value
A buyer pays a friend $9,000 for a car whose NADA clean trade-in value is $12,000. Tax is on the higher $12,000.
| Price paid | $9,000.00 |
| Sales tax (6.25%) on $12,000.00 | $750.00 |
| Title fee | $75.00 |
| Registration (2 years) | $60.00 |
| Motor vehicle excise | $135.00 |
| Out-the-door | $10,020.00 |
Dealer and private sales
For dealer sales the tax is on the price minus the trade-in, using the gross trade-in allowance even if you still owe on the car. The Department of Revenue's example is a $30,000 car with a $10,000 trade-in: a registered dealer gives $1,250 in tax, while an unregistered seller would mean $1,875 on the full price.
On a private sale you pay the tax to the RMV, on the purchase price or the NADA clean trade-in value, whichever is higher. Casual sales get no trade-in reduction.
Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts's rules.
| Price | Tax | Tax with $10,000 trade-in | Taxes + fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15,000 | $937.50 | $312.50 | $1,410.00 |
| $25,000 | $1,562.50 | $937.50 | $2,260.00 |
| $35,000 | $2,187.50 | $1,562.50 | $3,110.00 |
| $50,000 | $3,125.00 | $2,500.00 | $4,385.00 |
Title, registration and the yearly excise
The title is $75 and a standard passenger registration is renewed every two years. Separately, your city or town bills a motor vehicle excise each calendar year at $25 per $1,000 of value. Value is a percentage of the MSRP: 90% in the model year, then 60%, 40%, 25% and 10% from the fifth year.
Massachusetts taxes and fees at a glance
Officialfrom a state agency sourceEst.varies or not yet confirmed
| Item (boston: new car with a trade-in) | Status | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sales tax (6.25%) | Official | $1,250.00 |
| Title fee | Official | $75.00 |
| Registration (2 years) | Official | $60.00 |
| Motor vehicle excise (yearly) | Estimate | $675.00 |
| Total taxes and fees | $2,060.00 |
Massachusetts car tax FAQ
What is the car sales tax in Massachusetts?
6.25%, on the price minus your trade-in at a registered dealer.
How is a private car sale taxed in Massachusetts?
On the higher of the price or the NADA clean trade-in value, with no trade-in credit.
What is the Massachusetts excise tax on cars?
A yearly town bill of $25 per $1,000 of value, which falls as the car ages.
Sources
We build every number from these agency pages. If something has changed, tell us and we'll fix it.