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How much is sales tax on a car in Mississippi?
Mississippi car sales tax guide
Short answer: Mississippi charges 5% state tax on vehicle purchases, about $1,500 on a $30,000 car (about $1,518 with typical local tax). Source: state revenue/DMV rules, checked October 28, 2026; local taxes and fees may add.
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Start $39 DIY Audit →Mississippi taxes cars and light trucks at 5%. Doc fee taxability rule (Mississippi DOR — Motor Vehicle Sales Tax (Miss. Code Ann. § 27-65-17)): a separately stated document/service fee is added after the 5% motor vehicle sales tax in this page. Rebates and add-ons aren't modeled.
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Mississippi car sales tax, at a glance: 5% state tax on vehicle purchases. Mississippi taxes cars and light trucks at 5%. Trade-in credit: allowed. A $30,000 car owes about $1,500 in state tax, or $1,000 with a $10,000 trade-in.
Statutory Status: Reviewed. Base sales tax: Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2026, Table 18 (State & Local Sales Tax Rates), as of October 28, 2026. Vehicle rules: Best-effort, checked October 28, 2026.
Leasing or getting a rebate in Mississippi?
Leases and rebates change the tax line on your quote. Here is how Mississippi handles each, in plain English, with the official source for each. Compare it to the tax on your dealer's worksheet.
Leasing in Mississippi
Tax on each monthly payment · 5% + local
5% on gross lease income (payments and amounts paid at signing); the 6% rental tax applies only to 30 days or less.
Cash down taxed at signing: Yes · Rebates taxed: Yes · Trade-in value taxed: Yes
Source: 35 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. IV, Subpt. 5, Ch. 03 (Rules 101, 203, 401); MS DOR FAQ (checked Oct. 20, 2026)
Manufacturer rebates in Mississippi
Taxed on the price before the rebate
A manufacturer rebate assigned to the dealer is part of taxable gross proceeds.
Estimate: a $1,000 rebate adds about $50 in state tax (state rate only; local tax can add more).
Source: Mississippi DOR technical bulletin: coupons and rebates (checked Oct. 21, 2026)
Best pick for your situation
If you have a car to sell: trade it in at the dealer when the private-sale price is less than $500 higher. Mississippi gives a trade-in credit, so a $10,000 trade cuts state tax on a $30,000 car from $1,500 to $1,000. If a private buyer would pay more than $10,000 + $500, selling privately comes out ahead.
The math:
- $30,000 car, no trade-in: $1,500 state tax at 5%
- $30,000 car, $10,000 trade-in: $1,000 state tax (trade-in rule: allowed)
- Local county/city tax adds to both; enter yours above.
Sources: Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2026, Table 18 (State & Local Sales Tax Rates) (October 28, 2026); vehicle rules best-effort from state DMV/revenue (Best-effort, checked October 28, 2026).
A situational guide based on published state tax and fee rules, not legal or financial advice. VaultRubric accepts zero dealer, lender, or affiliate compensation.
Your roadmap
- Enter the price, trade-in and your county above to see your exact tax.
- Get a written trade-in offer and a private-sale estimate, then compare using the math above.
- Ask for the out-the-door price in writing with tax, doc fee and title listed separately.
- Verify the rate with the Mississippi DMV or revenue department before signing; dealer quotes can be wrong.
- Plug the total into the to see the monthly payment.
Mississippi car sales tax by price
| Vehicle price | State tax, no trade | With $10,000 trade-in |
|---|---|---|
| $15,000 | $750 | $250 |
| $20,000 | $1,000 | $500 |
| $25,000 | $1,250 | $750 |
| $30,000 | $1,500 | $1,000 |
| $40,000 | $2,000 | $1,500 |
| $50,000 | $2,500 | $2,000 |
| $60,000 | $3,000 | $2,500 |
State-level tax only; add your county or city rate in the guide above.
Sources & as-of dates
- Base sales tax: Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2026, Table 18 (State & Local Sales Tax Rates) (as of October 28, 2026).
- Vehicle-specific rates and trade-in rules: best-effort compilation from state DMV/revenue rules (Best-effort, checked October 28, 2026); e.g. Virginia DMV, Michigan Treasury Form 485, California CDTFA Regulation 1610.
- Local vehicle tax (estimate): Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2026, Table 18 (average local sales tax rate, as of January 1, 2026) (retrieved October 28, 2026). Mississippi's 5% vehicle rate may have small local add-ons in a few cities. Why still an estimate: no official free list of which city levies apply to vehicles. This is a population-weighted average of local rates for general sales, not your exact rate. Enter your own local rate if you know it. Data file: ms.json.
FAQ
How much is car sales tax in Mississippi?
5% at the state level. Mississippi taxes cars and light trucks at 5%. Local taxes may add. On a $30,000 car with no trade-in that's about $1,500 in state tax.
Does Mississippi charge sales tax on a trade-in?
Yes. Mississippi generally taxes the price minus your trade-in value, so a $10,000 trade-in on a $30,000 car cuts the state tax from $1,500 to $1,000. (Verified from state statute / DMV rules.)
Is Mississippi's general sales tax the same as its car tax?
Mississippi's statewide general sales tax is 7% (Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2026, Table 18 (State & Local Sales Tax Rates), as of October 28, 2026); the rate applied to vehicles is 5%.
Does Mississippi add county or city tax on a car?
Usually, but we don't have an exact county/city table yet. Mississippi's 5% vehicle rate may have small local add-ons in a few cities. Why still an estimate: no official free list of which city levies apply to vehicles. We pre-fill the 0.06% statewide average local rate as an estimate (Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2026, Table 18 (average local sales tax rate, as of January 1, 2026)); enter your own rate for accuracy.
Does this include the doc fee, title and registration?
No. Those vary by dealer, county, vehicle weight and value.
Is this tax advice?
No. Estimates from best-effort state rules, not tax or financial advice; confirm with your state agency or dealer.
How are car leases taxed in Mississippi?
Tax on each monthly payment (5% + local). 5% on gross lease income (payments and amounts paid at signing); the 6% rental tax applies only to 30 days or less. Source: 35 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. IV, Subpt. 5, Ch. 03 (Rules 101, 203, 401); MS DOR FAQ.
Is a car rebate taxed in Mississippi?
Yes, tax is figured on the price before a manufacturer rebate. A manufacturer rebate assigned to the dealer is part of taxable gross proceeds. Source: Mississippi DOR technical bulletin: coupons and rebates.
Educational auto deal, sales tax, doc-fee, and loan/lease math only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Dealerships are independent sellers; verify all out-the-door figures on your written buyer's order before signing.