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What a vehicle purchase costs in Connecticut, itemized and sourced.

Sales tax, title and registration for a vehicle registered in Connecticut. Every line cites the page it came from and the day we opened it.

On a $30,000.00 gas vehicle with no trade-in, the Connecticut estimate is $2,159.00 in taxes and fees (connecticut sales tax (6.35%) $1,905.00, title $25.00, registration (passenger car, suv or van) $120.00, license plate $5.00, administrative fee $10.00, clean air act fee $15.00, greenhouse gas fee $15.00, emissions exemption fee $40.00, passport to the parks fee $24.00).

Your purchase

Connecticut
Price
Vehicle
Fuel

Estimate only. Not tax or legal advice. Confirm with your Connecticut state agency before you pay.

Estimate / Connecticut

Reviewed Oct 24, 2026

  • Connecticut sales tax (6.35%)[1] source[2] source[3] source$1,905.00
  • Title[4] source$25.00
  • Registration (passenger car, SUV or van)[4] sourceCheck sourceThe fee page does not state the registration term, so this is marked partly verified.$120.00
  • License plate[4] source$5.00
  • Administrative fee[4] source$10.00
  • Clean Air Act fee[4] source$15.00
  • Greenhouse gas fee[4] source$15.00
  • Emissions exemption fee[4] sourceCheck sourceThe fee page charges this for gas vehicles that are four years old or newer. The calculator applies it to new and recent used vehicles only, because it cannot tell a three or four year old vehicle apart.$40.00
  • Passport to the Parks fee[4] sourceCheck sourceThe page says the fee became $24 on July 1, 2025. It does not say how often it is charged or whether it can be declined, so it is shown as a one-time charge and marked partly verified.$24.00
Total taxes and fees$2,159.00

Price plus these items: $32,159.00.

Estimate for a $30,000 vehicle.See all sources

Sources

4 official pages, all opened Oct 24, 2026

  1. [1]
    Sales tax on registrationsSupports: State sales tax rate, Higher rate on expensive vehicles, Trade-in rule, Local tax, Tax paid to another state
    Connecticut DMVOpen page
  2. [2]
    Tax questions: sales tax on registrationsSupports: State sales tax rate, Higher rate on expensive vehicles, Trade-in rule, Tax paid to another state
    Connecticut DMVOpen page
  3. [3]
    Special Notice 2011(10), motor vehicle sales tax ratesSupports: Higher rate on expensive vehicles
    Connecticut DRSOpen page
  4. [4]
    All feesSupports: Title, Registration (passenger car, SUV or van), License plate, Administrative fee, Clean Air Act fee, Greenhouse gas fee, Emissions exemption fee, Passport to the Parks fee
    Connecticut DMVOpen page

What changed

1 change to Connecticut's numbers or rules

  1. Oct 24, 2026Added state with the 6.35% sales tax, the higher rate on vehicles priced above $50,000, trade-in credit for dealer purchases, title, registration and DMV fees. The yearly town property tax is not included.

How Connecticut works out this bill

Connecticut charges 6.35% sales tax on a vehicle, with a higher rate on vehicles priced above a set amount, and no local sales tax. DMV fees for title and registration are added at registration.

The standard rate is 6.35%. Vehicles priced above a set amount are taxed at a higher rate, and the price is checked before any trade-in is subtracted.

Source: Connecticut DMV - Sales tax on registrations

When you buy from a dealership, the full trade-in value comes off the price before tax. A private sale is taxed on the higher of the bill of sale or the NADA average trade-in value.

Source: Connecticut DMV - Sales tax on registrations

If you paid sales tax in another state, you can get credit with the purchase invoice and the tax receipt. If the other state's rate was lower, you pay the difference at registration.

Source: Connecticut DMV - Sales tax on registrationsConnecticut DMV - Tax questions: sales tax on registrations

All figures this calculator uses (12)

Common questions

Does a trade-in lower the sales tax in Connecticut?

Yes, for a dealership purchase the state allows full trade-in credit. The check for the higher rate uses the price before the trade-in.

Source: Connecticut DMV - Sales tax on registrations

Is there a higher sales tax on expensive vehicles?

Yes. Vehicles priced above a set amount are taxed at a higher rate. The state pages do not say whether it applies to the whole price or only the part above, so the calculator applies it to the whole amount and marks that figure as partly verified.

Source: Connecticut DMV - Sales tax on registrationsConnecticut DMV - Tax questions: sales tax on registrations

Does the total include the yearly town tax?

No. Towns bill a property tax on vehicles each year, and the amount depends on your town and the vehicle's value.

Source: Connecticut DMV - Sales tax on registrations

How often is this page updated?

The data on this page was last reviewed on Oct 24, 2026. Pages get a changed-page check each month and a full re-verification each January and July.

How we check numbers

Worked examples

Gas vehicle, no trade-in

$20,000 vehicle

$1,524.00

Connecticut sales tax (6.35%) $1,270.00, Title $25.00, Registration (passenger car, SUV or van) $120.00, License plate $5.00, Administrative fee $10.00, Clean Air Act fee $15.00, Greenhouse gas fee $15.00, Emissions exemption fee $40.00, Passport to the Parks fee $24.00.

Gas vehicle with a trade-in

$30,000 vehicle, $8,000 trade-in

$1,651.00

Tax is charged on $22,000, so the trade-in saves $508.00 in sales tax.

Gas vehicle, no trade-in

$50,000 vehicle

$3,429.00

Connecticut sales tax (6.35%) $3,175.00, Title $25.00, Registration (passenger car, SUV or van) $120.00, License plate $5.00, Administrative fee $10.00, Clean Air Act fee $15.00, Greenhouse gas fee $15.00, Emissions exemption fee $40.00, Passport to the Parks fee $24.00.

Each example runs the same calculation as the calculator above. Local tax and county fees are left out unless the example says otherwise, because they depend on where you live. Estimates only.

What this calculator does not cover

  • Your town bills a yearly property tax on the vehicle, which is not included.
  • A hybrid pays a different registration fee that is not modeled.
  • A lien adds a fee that is not included.