Real Ohio deals, worked out
Each example runs through the same calculator above, line by line, so you can check every number yourself.
1Columbus: new car with a trade-in
A Franklin County buyer agrees to $35,000 for a new car from a new-car dealer, trades in $10,000 and pays a $387 doc fee. Because the car is new, the trade-in comes off before Franklin County's 8% is applied, and the doc fee isn't taxed.
| Vehicle price | $35,000.00 |
| Dealer doc fee | $387.00 |
| Sales tax (8%) on $25,000.00 | $2,000.00 |
| Certificate of title | $18.00 |
| Registration ($20 base tax + $16 state fee) | $36.00 |
| Deputy registrar service fee | $8.00 |
| Local permissive license tax | $25.00 |
| Out-the-door | $37,474.00 |
| Due after the $10,000 trade-in | $27,474.00 |
2Cleveland: used car with a trade-in
A Cuyahoga County buyer pays $20,000 for a used car and trades in $5,000. The trade-in still lowers what they owe the dealer, but not the tax: Ohio taxes the full $20,000 at 8%. The same deal on a new car would have saved $400 in tax.
| Vehicle price | $20,000.00 |
| Dealer doc fee | $387.00 |
| Sales tax (8%) on $20,000.00 | $1,600.00 |
| Certificate of title | $18.00 |
| Registration ($20 base tax + $16 state fee) | $36.00 |
| Deputy registrar service fee | $8.00 |
| Local permissive license tax | $25.00 |
| Out-the-door | $22,074.00 |
| Due after the $5,000 trade-in | $17,074.00 |
3Cincinnati: private sale
A Hamilton County buyer pays a private seller $12,000. Ohio taxes casual sales too, at the buyer's county rate of 7.8%, paid at the clerk of courts title office when the title is transferred.
| Price paid | $12,000.00 |
| Sales tax (7.8%) on $12,000.00 | $936.00 |
| Certificate of title | $18.00 |
| Registration ($20 base tax + $16 state fee) | $36.00 |
| Deputy registrar service fee | $8.00 |
| Local permissive license tax | $25.00 |
| Out-the-door | $13,023.00 |
4Akron: new electric car
A Summit County buyer pays $45,000 for a new EV at Summit's 6.75% rate. Ohio adds a $200 yearly fee for battery electric vehicles on top of registration.
| Vehicle price | $45,000.00 |
| Sales tax (6.75%) on $45,000.00 | $3,037.50 |
| Certificate of title | $18.00 |
| Registration ($20 base tax + $16 state fee) | $36.00 |
| Deputy registrar service fee | $8.00 |
| Local permissive license tax | $25.00 |
| Electric vehicle fee | $200.00 |
| Out-the-door | $48,324.50 |
How Ohio figures the tax
The state rate is 5.75%, and each county and some transit authorities add their own, up to a combined 8.75%. The rate that counts is your county of residence, not the dealer's, and the tax is paid to the county clerk of courts when the title is issued. Dealers handle this as part of the paperwork.
Since May 1, 2023, a dealer's documentary service charge is excluded from the taxable price. Manufacturer rebates are not: Ohio counts them in the price, while a cash discount at the time of sale that no third party reimburses does lower it. If you bought the car out of state and paid sales tax there, Ohio gives credit for it when you show proof to the clerk. Tax paid to a foreign country doesn't count.
Car sales tax by county
Rates from the Ohio Department of Taxation's table for October 1 to December 31, 2026. Warren County rose from 6.75% to 7.25% on October 1, 2026.
| County | Total rate | Tax on a $30,000 car |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 8% | $2,400.00 |
| Cuyahoga County | 8% | $2,400.00 |
| Hamilton County | 7.8% | $2,340.00 |
| Lucas County | 7.75% | $2,325.00 |
| Montgomery County | 7.5% | $2,250.00 |
| Mahoning County | 7.5% | $2,250.00 |
| Lake County | 7.25% | $2,175.00 |
| Warren County | 7.25% | $2,175.00 |
| Delaware County (outside the COTA area) | 7% | $2,100.00 |
| Summit County | 6.75% | $2,025.00 |
| Butler County | 6.5% | $1,950.00 |
| Stark County | 6.5% | $1,950.00 |
| Lorain County | 6.5% | $1,950.00 |
Parts of Delaware, Fairfield, Licking and Union counties in the COTA transit area pay 8%.
Trade-ins count only on new cars
When you buy a new car from a new-car dealer, the value of your trade-in reduces the taxable price. When you buy a used car, it doesn't, even though the trade-in still lowers what you owe the dealer. Ohio's tax law has no definition of new or used, so it follows the BMV's classification of the vehicle. Here's what that difference is worth at Franklin County's 8% rate.
| Trade-in value | Tax saved on a new car | Tax saved on a used car |
|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $400.00 | $0.00 |
| $10,000 | $800.00 | $0.00 |
| $15,000 | $1,200.00 | $0.00 |
| $20,000 | $1,600.00 | $0.00 |
Check the tax on your dealer's quote
Enter the numbers from your purchase agreement and your county's add-on rate. The checker uses the new-car rules; on a used car, expect no trade-in credit.
The quote taxes the doc fee. In Ohio a doc fee listed separately isn't taxed, so ask the dealer to remove $23.92 of tax.
Title, registration and EV fees
The Ohio title fee rose from $15 to $18 on January 1, 2026, and some counties charge $23 with local approval. From January 1, 2026, a passenger registration is the $20 base tax plus a $16 state fee and an $8 deputy registrar service fee, or $44, plus local permissive license taxes of $0 to $30 set by your county and city. The calculator uses $25 for the local part.
Ohio adds a yearly registration fee of $100 for hybrids, $150 for plug-in hybrids and $200 for battery electric vehicles, prorated if you register for part of a year.
Common mistakes in Ohio estimates
These are easy mistakes to make when estimating Ohio car tax, and what each one does to the number.
| Common mistake | What the rule is | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Subtracting a trade-in on a used car | Only new-car purchases get the trade-in credit | $400 too low on a $5,000 trade-in at 8% |
| Using the dealer's county rate | The rate follows the buyer's county of residence | Up to 1.5% of the price |
| Taxing the doc fee | Ohio excludes the documentary service charge since May 1, 2023 | $30.96 too high on a $387 fee at 8% |
| Using the old $15 title fee | The title fee is $18 since January 1, 2026 | $3 too low |
| Using Warren County's old 6.75% rate | Warren went to 7.25% on October 1, 2026 | $150 too low on $30,000 |
| Forgetting the hybrid or EV fee | $100 hybrid, $150 plug-in, $200 EV each year | Up to $200 too low |
Ohio taxes and fees at a glance
Officialfrom a state agency sourceEst.varies or not yet confirmed
| Item (columbus: new car with a trade-in) | Status | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sales tax (8%) | Official | $2,000.00 |
| Certificate of title | Official | $18.00 |
| Registration ($20 base tax + $16 state fee) | Official | $36.00 |
| Deputy registrar service fee | Official | $8.00 |
| Local permissive license tax | Estimate | $25.00 |
| Total taxes and fees | $2,087.00 |
Ohio car tax FAQ
What is the car sales tax in Ohio?
5.75% state tax plus your county's rate, usually 6.5% to 8% combined. Franklin and Cuyahoga counties are 8%.
Does Ohio give a trade-in tax credit on used cars?
No. Ohio subtracts the trade-in only when you buy a new vehicle from a new-car dealer.
Which county's rate do I pay in Ohio?
Your county of residence, regardless of where the dealer is.
Do I pay sales tax on a private car sale in Ohio?
Yes. You pay your county's rate on the purchase price at the title office.
Is the doc fee taxed in Ohio?
No. Since May 1, 2023, a dealer's documentary service charge is excluded from the taxable price.
How much does registration cost in Ohio?
From 2026, $44 in state fees ($20 base tax, $16 state fee and $8 deputy registrar fee) plus $0 to $30 in local permissive taxes.
How much is a title in Ohio?
$18 since January 1, 2026. Some counties charge $23.
How much is the Ohio EV registration fee?
Battery electric vehicles pay an extra $200 a year, plug-in hybrids $150 and hybrids $100.
Sources
We build every number from these agency pages. If something has changed, tell us and we'll fix it.
- Ohio Dept. of Taxation – Rates by County, Oct 1 – Dec 31, 2026
- Ohio Dept. of Taxation – Sales tax for motor vehicles
- Ohio Dept. of Taxation – Motor vehicle taxability for dealers (trade-ins)
- Ohio BMV – Documents & Fees
- Ohio Revised Code 5739.02 (doc fee exclusion, (B)(59))
- Ohio LSC – HB 96 analysis (2026 registration and service fees)
- Ohio Revised Code 4503.10 (hybrid and EV fees)
Rules and fees checked on