New Jersey Tax, Title and License Calculator (NJ)

New Jersey charges 6.625% sales tax on a car, the same everywhere in the state, and EVs now pay it too. New cars priced at $45,000 or more also pay a one-time 0.4% surcharge. A title costs $60 ($85 with a loan), and yearly registration runs $46.50 to $84 based on weight and age.

Use this tax, title and license calculator for NJ to estimate the full cost of a new or used car, from a dealer or a private seller. The guide below explains each charge.

Checked against the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission and the NJ Division of Taxation on October 13, 2026. This is an independent estimate. The MVC sets your final amount.

New Jersey Car Tax and Fees at a Glance

How New Jersey Car Sales Tax Is Calculated

Sales tax = (price + dealer fees − trade-in) × 6.625%

New Jersey has one statewide rate, so it doesn’t matter which town you live in or where the dealer is. A dealer collects the tax. In a private sale, you pay it to the MVC when you title the car. New Jersey’s tax has no cap, unlike South Carolina, which caps its one-time fee at $500.

Does a trade-in lower the tax?

Yes. A trade-in at the dealer comes off the price before tax. A $48,000 car with a $14,000 trade-in is taxed on $34,000.

Are rebates taxed in New Jersey?

Yes. New Jersey taxes the price before a manufacturer rebate. Bills to change that have been introduced but haven’t passed. A dealer discount does lower the taxable price.

Do EVs pay sales tax in New Jersey?

Yes, now they do. New Jersey phased out its zero emission vehicle exemption. EVs paid half the rate (3.3125%) from October 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, and the full 6.625% from July 1, 2025.

New Jersey Luxury and Fuel-Inefficient Surcharge

New Jersey charges a one-time 0.4% surcharge on a new car, SUV, van or light truck if either is true:

• The sales or lease price is $45,000 or more (unless it averages over 40 mpg or is a zero emission vehicle).
• It averages under 19 mpg combined, at any price.

The surcharge uses the gross price before trade-in or rebates, and the dealer collects it. A pending bill (A923) would raise the price threshold to $70,000, but as of October 2026 it hasn’t passed.

How Much Is Car Sales Tax in New Jersey?

Example 1: New SUV from a dealer

Assumptions: $48,000 price, $1,500 manufacturer rebate, $14,000 trade-in, financed, over 3,500 lbs, gas engine averaging 24 mpg.

Example 2: Private sale

You buy a used car from a neighbor for $12,000. You pay $795 in sales tax at the MVC, plus the $60 title and registration for its weight and age.

New Jersey Title and Registration Fees

A title transfer is $60, or $85 with a lien. Drivers 65 and older and people with disabilities pay $7 less for passenger vehicles.

New Jersey EV (ZEV) fee

Zero emission vehicles pay a yearly fee on top of registration. It started at $250 on July 1, 2024, and rises $10 each July for four years: $260 in July 2025, $270 from July 1, 2026, $280 in 2027 and $290 in 2028. On a four-year registration, all four years of the fee are due upfront.

That’s higher than most nearby states. Washington charges $225 for EVs and Rhode Island charges $200.

Private Sales, Gifts and Inspections

In a private sale, the buyer pays 6.625% sales tax at the MVC when transferring the title, based on the price paid. A true gift, where nothing is paid, isn’t a sale, so no sales tax is due.

New Jersey inspects passenger cars every two years at state inspection stations for free. New cars are exempt for their first five years. Private inspection facilities can also do it for a fee.

See also: Pennsylvania: a 6% state tax plus local add-ons.

See also: Maryland: a 6.5% excise tax at titling.

See also: Connecticut: a 6.35% sales tax plus a town car tax.

See also: Vermont: a 6% purchase and use tax.

See also: Delaware: no sales tax, but a 5.25% document fee.

How to Use an NJ Tax, Title and License Calculator by Hand

• Start with the price and dealer fees.
• Subtract your trade-in. Don’t subtract a rebate.
• Multiply by 6.625%.
• New car at $45,000+ or under 19 mpg: add 0.4% of the gross price.
• Add the $60 title ($85 with a loan).
• Add registration for weight and age.
• EV: add $270 (from July 1, 2026).

What This Estimate Includes

• 6.625% sales tax
• Trade-in credit, with rebates taxed
• $60 or $85 title
• Registration by weight and age
• ZEV fee for electric cars

What This Estimate Does Not Include

• Luxury and fuel-inefficient surcharge
• Plate and specialty plate fees
• Dealer add-ons, insurance and loan costs
• Private inspection fees

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Expecting EVs to be tax-free. The exemption ended; EVs pay 6.625%.
• Forgetting the 0.4% surcharge on new cars at $45,000 or more.
• Subtracting the rebate. New Jersey taxes it.
• Using last year’s EV fee. It rises every July.
• Paying sales tax on a true gift. No sale, no sales tax.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the sales tax on a car in New Jersey?

It’s 6.625% statewide, for gas, hybrid and electric cars alike.

• What is the NJ luxury tax on cars?

A one-time 0.4% surcharge on new vehicles priced at $45,000 or more, or rated under 19 mpg. It uses the price before trade-in or rebates.

How does a tax title and license calculator for New Jersey handle trade-ins?

It subtracts the trade-in from the price before applying 6.625%. It doesn’t subtract manufacturer rebates.

• How much is the NJ EV fee in 2026?

It’s $270 a year from July 1, 2026, up from $260. It reaches $290 in July 2028.

How much is a title in New Jersey?

A title transfer is $60, or $85 if there’s a lien.

Official Sources

• NJ MVC: Registration and title fees
• NJ Division of Taxation: Zero emission vehicle sales tax notice
• NJ Division of Taxation: Luxury and Fuel-Inefficient Vehicle Surcharge
• NJ MVC: Luxury and Fuel Inefficient Surcharge
• NJ Legislature: A923 (2026), LFIS threshold bill

This page is an independent estimate tool and guide. It isn’t affiliated with the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission or the Division of Taxation. Rates and fees can change, so confirm your total before you pay.