Sales tax, title and registration for a vehicle registered in Tennessee. 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 Tennessee estimate is $2,193.00 in taxes and fees (tennessee sales tax (7%) $2,100.00, additional state tax on the second $1,600 of the price (2.75%) $44.00, title $14.00, county clerk fee for handling the title application $8.50, registration (standard) $26.50).
Reviewed Oct 24, 2026
Not the full cost. This total leaves out 1 item, listed below.
Price plus these items: $32,193.00.
Tennessee charges 7% state sales tax on the whole price, an extra state tax on a slice of the price, and a local tax that applies only to the first part of the price.
The state rate is 7% of the purchase price after your trade-in. The trade-in must be listed on the invoice and be of like kind.
Source: Tennessee Dept. of Revenue - SUT-6, Single Article Tax overview (Mar 2025)Tennessee Dept. of Revenue - County Clerk Sales and Use Tax Manual for Automobiles & Boats (March 2021)
An additional state tax applies to the slice of the price between two set amounts, so for most vehicles it is the same flat dollar amount.
Source: Tennessee Dept. of Revenue - SUT-6, Single Article Tax overview (Mar 2025)Tennessee Dept. of Revenue - County Clerk Sales and Use Tax Manual for Automobiles & Boats (March 2021)
The local tax applies only to the first part of the price, so it adds a small, nearly fixed amount for most vehicles.
Source: Tennessee Dept. of Revenue - Single article special tax ratesTennessee Dept. of Revenue - County Clerk Sales and Use Tax Manual for Automobiles & Boats (March 2021)
Registration is paid every year, and many counties add a wheel tax and clerk fees on top.
Source: Tennessee Dept. of Revenue - VR-5, Registration fees for hybrid or electric vehicles (Jan 2024)
Yes. Tax is figured on the net difference between the price and the trade-in, as long as the trade-in is listed on the invoice and is of like kind and character.
The local tax applies only to the first part of the price of a single item, so it does not grow with the price of the vehicle.
Source: Tennessee Dept. of Revenue - Single article special tax ratesTennessee Dept. of Revenue - County Clerk Sales and Use Tax Manual for Automobiles & Boats (March 2021)
Yes. All-electric vehicles pay an additional yearly fee on top of the standard registration fee, and the state has set a higher amount that starts on a scheduled date.
Source: Tennessee Dept. of Revenue - VR-5, Registration fees for hybrid or electric vehicles (Jan 2024)
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.
Gas vehicle, no trade-in
$1,493.00
Tennessee sales tax (7%) $1,400.00, Additional state tax on the second $1,600 of the price (2.75%) $44.00, Title $14.00, County clerk fee for handling the title application $8.50, Registration (standard) $26.50.
Not included yet: County wheel tax and clerk fees.
Gas vehicle with a trade-in
$1,633.00
Tax is charged on $22,000, so the trade-in saves $560.00 in sales tax.
Not included yet: County wheel tax and clerk fees.
Electric vehicle
$3,443.00
Tennessee sales tax (7%) $3,150.00, Additional state tax on the second $1,600 of the price (2.75%) $44.00, Title $14.00, County clerk fee for handling the title application $8.50, Registration (standard) $26.50, Electric vehicle fee (all-electric) $200.00.
Not included yet: County wheel tax and clerk fees.
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.