Mississippi Vehicle Sales Tax Calculator

Mississippi charges 5% sales tax on a car, truck or SUV. At a dealer, the tax is figured on the net price, which is the price after dealer discounts and your trade-in. There is no county or city add-on for most buyers. The bigger bill comes later, in the ad valorem tax you pay at the tag office.

Use this Mississippi vehicle sales tax calculator to estimate the tax, title and tag cost on a new or used vehicle. Below, you'll find the rules for trade-ins, rebates, private sales and family transfers, plus three worked examples.

Checked against the Mississippi Department of Revenue and the Mississippi Code on October 22, 2026. This is an independent estimate. Your county tax collector sets the final amount.

Mississippi Car Tax and Fees at a Glance

How Mississippi Vehicle Sales Tax Is Calculated

Sales tax = (price − dealer discount − trade-in) × 5%

The Department of Revenue says the 5% rate applies to the net purchase price. That means the price after dealer discounts and trade-ins. A dealer collects the tax when you buy. You don't pay it twice at the tag office.

Mississippi has no county sales tax. Two cities have local sales taxes, Jackson (1%) and Tupelo (0.25%). Jackson's tax applies only to sales already taxed at 7% or more, so it doesn't reach vehicles. Tupelo buyers should ask their tag office.

Other states layer local tax on top of the state rate. Alabama charges a 2% state automotive rate plus local tax, and Louisiana adds parish and city tax to a 5% state rate. In Mississippi, the sales tax stays at 5%.

Does a trade-in lower the tax in Mississippi?

Yes. At a dealer, your trade-in comes off the price before the 5% is applied. If you trade in an $8,000 car on a $30,000 purchase, you pay tax on $22,000. In a private sale, the trade-in comes off the state's true value instead of the price.

Do rebates and dealer discounts lower the tax?

A dealer discount shown on the invoice lowers the price, so it lowers the tax. A manufacturer rebate does not. The taxable price isn't reduced by the manufacturer's rebate, according to county tax collectors who apply the state rules. A $1,500 rebate won't save you $75 in tax.

What isn't part of the tax?

The title, tag and privilege fees aren't taxed. They're separate charges. Ad valorem tax is also separate. It's a property tax, and it goes to your county and city, not the state.

How Much Is Car Sales Tax in Mississippi?

These figures show the 5% tax on the net price. Add your title, tag and ad valorem amounts for the full cost.

Example 1: New SUV from a dealer

Assumptions: $30,000 price, $1,000 dealer discount, $8,000 trade-in, $1,500 manufacturer rebate, first-time registration, gas engine. The rebate does not lower the taxable price.

Ad valorem tax comes on top. It depends on your county and city, so it isn't in this total.

Example 2: Used car from a private seller

Assumptions: you pay $9,000, and the DOR's assessment schedule lists the car at a true value of $12,000. The car is less than 10 years old, and the seller is not a close relative. Tax is figured on the $12,000.

Example 3: New electric car from a dealer

Assumptions: $48,000 price, no trade-in, no discount. The base EV fee is $150. The DOR changes it every July 1, so yours may be a little higher.

Mississippi Ad Valorem Tax: The Part Most Buyers Miss

Ad valorem is Latin for "according to value." In Mississippi, it's a yearly property tax on your vehicle, and you pay it when you register or renew. It funds your county and city, and it often costs more than the tag itself.

Ad valorem tax = assessed value × local millage rate

The assessed value is 30% of the vehicle's MSRP, reduced for depreciation over 10 years. The state sets a $100 minimum assessed value for passenger vehicles. The millage rate is set by your county and city. Your tax collector can tell you the rate.

An example, with the math shown

Say a vehicle's assessed value is $9,000 after depreciation. If your local rate is 100 mills (0.100), the tax is $9,000 × 0.100 = $900. These numbers are only an illustration. Real millage rates differ from county to county.

What is the Legislative Tag Credit?

It's a credit that lowers your ad valorem bill. The Legislature created it in 1994 at 5%. The Department of Revenue recalculates the percentage each year, using money from vehicle sales tax. Your receipt shows the credit.

Vehicles over 10,000 lbs gross weight don't pay motor vehicle ad valorem tax. Other exemptions are listed in Mississippi Code 27-51-41.

Mississippi Title, Tag and Privilege Fees

Mississippi tags renew every year in the month you first acquired the vehicle. You get 15 extra days after that month before a penalty. If you buy a vehicle, register it within 30 working days. A county tax collector handles the tag, and the DOR handles the title.

Mississippi Electric Vehicle and Hybrid Fees

Mississippi adds a yearly fee for electric and hybrid vehicles. State law sets the base amounts at $150 for an all-electric vehicle and $75 for a plug-in hybrid or hybrid. Since July 2021, the Department of Revenue raises the fee each year to match inflation.

The Department of Revenue says you pay these fees at initial registration and at every renewal, and that they change every July 1. The amounts above are the base. Your tag office shows the exact figure for this year.

Not every neighbor works the same way. Tennessee charges electric cars $200 a year at renewal and doesn't charge the fee on a first registration.

Private Sales, Family Transfers and Out-of-State Purchases

How is tax figured on a private car sale in Mississippi?

Mississippi taxes a private sale at 5% of the vehicle's true value, not the price you paid. The true value comes from the DOR's official motor vehicle assessment schedule. You pay the tax to the county tax collector when you register. If you trade in a vehicle, you pay on the difference.

Which transfers are exempt?

The state doesn't tax these transfers between individuals. The seller can't be a dealer selling in the regular course of business.

• Between husband and wife
• Between parent and child
• Between grandparents and grandchildren
• Between siblings
• Under a will, or by the law that handles someone who dies without a will
• Of a vehicle ten or more years after it was manufactured
• Between a trust and a beneficiary, with no payment, using a DOR affidavit

Cousins, aunts, uncles and friends aren't on the list. A sale between them is taxed. The vehicle must also be registered in the seller's name for the family rule to apply.

What if I buy a car in another state?

Mississippi won't credit tax you paid to another state on a vehicle you first register here. A buyer who paid 6% elsewhere still owes the full 5% in Mississippi. That's unusual, since most states credit the other state's tax. Arkansas charges 6.5% on most vehicles, so a Mississippi resident buying there could pay both.

If you buy outside your home county, you have 48 hours to take the vehicle to your home or business. Then you have 30 working days to register it.

See also: Wyoming: a 4% state sales tax plus local taxes.

See also: Nevada: dealer sales tax and a yearly governmental services tax.
See also: Maryland: a 6.5% excise tax at titling.

How to Calculate Mississippi Tax, Title and License Costs by Hand

• Start with the price. Subtract any dealer discount.
• Subtract your trade-in if you're buying from a dealer.
• Multiply the result by 5% (3% for trucks over 10,000 lbs that carry property). Don't subtract a manufacturer rebate.
• For a private sale, use the DOR true value instead of the price. Skip this step if the sale is exempt.
• Add $9 for the title.
• Add $14 for the tag ($12.75 at renewal) and $15 for the privilege tax.
• Add the electric or hybrid fee, if it applies.
• Add ad valorem tax: assessed value × your local millage rate, less the Legislative Tag Credit.

Your county tax collector can give you the final amount, and the DOR has a tag fee calculator for estimates.

What This Estimate Includes

• 5% sales tax with trade-in and discount rules
• $9 title and lien fees
• Tag and privilege fees
• Electric and hybrid fees (base amounts)
• Private-sale and exemption rules

What This Estimate Does Not Include

• Ad valorem tax (it depends on your county and city)
• The current inflation-adjusted EV and hybrid amount
• Dealer documentation fees
• Insurance, loan interest and optional products
• Late fees and penalties

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting ad valorem tax. It's often the biggest part of the tag bill.
• Subtracting a manufacturer rebate. Only dealer discounts lower the price.
• Using the price on a private sale. The state taxes the true value from its schedule.
• Expecting credit for tax paid elsewhere. Mississippi doesn't give it for vehicles.
• Assuming every relative qualifies. The exemption covers spouses, parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren and siblings.
• Using the old EV fee. The DOR changes it every July 1.
• Waiting too long to register. You have 30 working days.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the sales tax on a car in Mississippi?

It's 5% of the net price after dealer discounts and trade-ins. Trucks over 10,000 lbs that carry property are taxed at 3%.

Does a Mississippi vehicle sales tax calculator subtract a trade-in?

Yes, at a dealer. The trade-in reduces the price before the 5% is applied.

How much is sales tax on a $30,000 car in Mississippi?

It's $1,500 if the net price is $30,000. A trade-in or dealer discount would lower that.

How much does a car tag cost in Mississippi?

The tag is $14 the first time and $12.75 at renewal, plus a $15 privilege tax for most cars. Ad valorem tax is added, and it varies by county and city.

How much is a title in Mississippi?

A title is $9. Fast Track service costs $39.

Are manufacturer rebates taxed in Mississippi?

Yes. A manufacturer rebate doesn't lower the taxable price. A dealer discount does.

Do I pay tax on a private sale in Mississippi?

Yes, unless an exemption applies. You pay 5% of the DOR true value to the tax collector when you register.

Is there a family exemption for cars in Mississippi?

Yes, for transfers between spouses, parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, and siblings. Transfers under a will are exempt too.

Does Mississippi credit sales tax paid to another state?

No. You owe the full Mississippi tax when you first register a vehicle here.

How long do I have to register a car in Mississippi?

You have 30 working days from the purchase date.

Official Sources

• Mississippi DOR: Motor Vehicle Frequently Asked Questions
• Mississippi DOR: Motor Vehicle Titles
• Mississippi DOR: Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Taxes
• Mississippi DOR: Sales and Use Taxes
• Mississippi DOR: Business Tax FAQ (local taxes)
• Mississippi DOR: Property Tax FAQ
• Mississippi DOR: Tax Laws, Rules and Regulations
• Mississippi Administrative Code, Title 35: Automobile dealers (rebates)

This page is an independent estimate tool and guide. It isn't affiliated with the Mississippi Department of Revenue or any county tax collector. Rates and fees can change, so confirm your total before you pay.