How much will my sales tax be on my car in Missouri?

Expect at least 4.225% of your car’s net purchase price (price minus any trade-in) for Missouri’s state tax, plus a local sales tax based on your home address that typically adds about 1% to 5% more; many buyers end up between roughly 5% and 9.5% total. You’ll pay this at the license office when you title the vehicle (dealer or private sale), and you may receive credit for any qualifying tax paid to another state.

What determines your Missouri car sales tax

The final tax you owe depends on a few specific elements Missouri uses when you title the vehicle. The points below outline what’s included and what isn’t.

• State tax rate: 4.225% applied to the net purchase price when you title in Missouri.
• Local tax: City/county (and sometimes special district) motor-vehicle tax based on where you live/garage the vehicle—not where you bought it. Rates vary by jurisdiction.
• Trade-in credit: You’re taxed on the purchase price minus the value of a vehicle you trade in on the same transaction.
• Rebates and down payments: Manufacturer rebates and your cash down payment do not reduce the taxable amount.
• Out-of-state purchases: If you paid sales/use tax to another state, Missouri generally credits that amount; you pay any difference if Missouri’s state+local rate is higher for your address.
• Where and when you pay: For dealer and private-party purchases, the tax is paid to the Missouri Department of Revenue when you apply for title and plates.
• Not the same as fees: Title, registration, and processing fees are separate and not part of sales tax.

Taken together, this means two neighbors with the same car can owe different total tax if their local rates differ, while the 4.225% state rate applies consistently statewide.

How to estimate it now

Use this quick process to get a solid estimate before you head to the license office. You’ll need your bill of sale and your address.

1. Calculate your net purchase price: purchase price minus any trade-in value shown on the bill of sale.
2. Find your local motor vehicle tax rate for your home address using the Missouri Department of Revenue’s Sales/Use Tax Rate Lookup or by calling your local license office.
3. Compute tax: apply 4.225% (state) to the net price, then add your local rate multiplied by the same net price.
4. If bought out of state, subtract any eligible sales/use tax you already paid elsewhere; if that prior tax is lower than Missouri’s total (state+local), you’ll owe the difference.
5. Set aside extra for non-tax costs (title, registration, potential emission/inspection), which are separate from sales tax.

This method will put you within a few dollars of the final number; local rates can change quarterly, so always use the most current rate for your address.

Example calculations

These scenarios illustrate how Missouri applies the state and local portions to the same net price.

Example A: Dealer purchase with trade-in

Purchase price $30,000; trade-in $8,000; net price $22,000; local rate assumed 3.00%.

State tax: 4.225% of $22,000 = $929.50. Local tax: 3.00% of $22,000 = $660.00. Total sales tax due at titling: $1,589.50.

Example B: Private-party purchase, no trade-in

Purchase price $18,500; no trade; local rate assumed 2.00%.

State tax: 4.225% of $18,500 = $781.63. Local tax: 2.00% of $18,500 = $370.00. Total sales tax due at titling: $1,151.63.

Your exact total will depend on your local rate and whether you have a trade-in or an out-of-state tax credit.

Where to get the exact local rate

Local motor-vehicle tax rates in Missouri are tied to the address where you keep the vehicle. Here are reliable ways to confirm the current rate before you title.

• Use the Missouri Department of Revenue Sales/Use Tax Rate Lookup and select the motor vehicle option for your home address.
• Call your local license office and ask for the current motor-vehicle local sales tax rate for your address.

Because some jurisdictions adjust rates periodically, checking just before you title helps avoid surprises.

Key timing and special cases

A few timing rules and special situations can affect what you owe or when you owe it.

• 30-day window: Title within 30 days of purchase to avoid escalating title penalties; the penalty is separate from tax.
• Leased vehicles: Tax is generally collected on lease payments by the lessor at your local rate rather than as a one-time titling tax; your lease contract will reflect this.
• Moving to Missouri: If a vehicle is already titled in your name from another state, Missouri typically does not assess sales tax when you retitle it here.

If your situation is unusual—such as multiple trade-ins, business use, or complex out-of-state tax credits—your local license office or a tax professional can confirm the exact treatment.

Summary

Missouri charges a 4.225% state tax on your car’s net purchase price, plus a local tax based on your home address, commonly bringing the total to about 5%–9.5%. Subtract any trade-in value to get your taxable amount; rebates and down payments don’t reduce it. Verify your precise local rate using the Missouri DOR lookup, and be ready to pay the combined tax at the license office when you title the vehicle.