Buying a car in New York

Every figure below is sourced to New York’s own revenue or motor vehicle publications and dated. Estimates only.

New York at a glance

State sales tax
4%
Local tax is added on top in most states — treat this as a floor.
Trade-in credit
Reduces your tax
You are taxed on the price less your trade-in allowance.
Dealer doc fee
Not confirmed
We have not confirmed a cap for this state, so we do not claim one.
Title and registration
$50.00
$50.00 title.

New York taxes a lease up front, not monthly

The whole sales tax on a lease is due at signing here rather than riding on each monthly payment. That is a different method, not a different rate, and it changes what you owe on the day — see the lease calculator above, which applies it.

Local tax in New York

The 4% state rate is combined with a local rate imposed by a city, county or school district (commonly 3% to 4.75%), plus an additional 0.375% inside the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (NYC and Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties). For a long-term motor vehicle lease the applicable combined rate is the rate where the LESSEE RESIDES, not where the dealership is.