What you pay in tax when you buy a vehicle in West Virginia, from the statute and the revenue department.
Verified September 21, 2026 · statute and revenue department cross-checked
The statute and the actual bill do not match. Two statutes both open with the word five percent. The old privilege tax in § 17A-3-4 was abolished in 2008, and § 11-15-3c was raised to 6 percent in 2017. Reading only the first line of either one gives you the wrong number.
Advertisement
Buying the car is only half the cost. You still owe an annual registration fee.
West Virginia gives no credit for sales tax paid to another state on a purchase, which is rare and can mean paying twice. Your trade-in must be titled in West Virginia in exactly the same name to count. A vehicle two model years old or newer bought from a private seller is taxed on NADA clean loan value no matter what you paid.
W. Va. Code § 11-15-3c “beginning July 1, 2017, the rate of tax imposed by this section shall increase to six percent of the sales price for purchases of motor vehicles ... no municipal sales or use tax or local sales or use tax ... shall be imposed ... on sales of motor vehicles”
West Virginia DMV, Titles “a 6% titling sales tax on vehicles with a net purchase price over $500 (or a flat $30.00 if the net price is under $500) ... Manufacturer rebates are fully taxable and cannot be subtracted from the purchase price. ... if another state collects sales tax on your purchase, West Virginia does not grant credit for taxes paid to out-of-state entities.”
Last verified: September 21, 2026.
Advertisement
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.