Connecticut Car Sales Tax Calculator

What you pay in tax when you buy a vehicle in Connecticut, from the statute and the revenue department.

Verified September 21, 2026 · statute and revenue department cross-checked

Vehicle price (USD) Trade-in value (USD)

Buying the car is only half the cost. You still owe an annual registration fee.

See Connecticut vehicle registration fees →

What to know about Connecticut

Cross $50,000 and the rate jumps to 7.75 percent on the entire price, not just the part above the line. That one dollar can cost you about $700. Connecticut has no local sales tax. Trade-in credit applies only to dealer purchases; in a private sale you get none, and the tax is based on the higher of the bill of sale or NADA average trade-in value.

Sources

Statute: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-408, § 12-431

Connecticut DMV, Sales tax on first time registrations
“Passenger vehicles and light duty trucks purchased from private owners (not a dealership) are subject to sales tax of 6.35% (or 7.75% for vehicles over $50,000). Connecticut Sales and Use Tax is based on the NADA average trade-in value or bill of sale value (whichever is higher). ... We allow full trade-in credit when computing the Connecticut Sales and Use tax if the vehicle was purchased from a licensed dealership.”

Last verified: September 21, 2026.

Estimates only. Your dealer or the state issues the final bill, and exemptions can change what you owe. This page does not collect or store anything you enter.