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

Sales tax, title and registration for a vehicle registered in Vermont. 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 Vermont estimate is $1,941.00 in taxes and fees (vermont sales tax (6%) $1,800.00, title $42.00, registration (passenger car, gas, diesel or hybrid) $91.00, motor vehicle warranty fee $8.00).

Your purchase

Vermont
Price
Vehicle
Fuel

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

Estimate / Vermont

Reviewed Oct 24, 2026

Total taxes and fees$1,941.00

Price plus these items: $31,941.00.

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

Sources

3 official pages, all opened Oct 24, 2026

  1. [1]
    Purchase and use tax (updated March 19, 2026)Supports: State sales tax rate, Local tax, Tax paid to another state
    Vermont DMVOpen page
  2. [2]
    Registration, Tax & Title instructions (VD-119i, 09/2025)Supports: State sales tax rate, Trade-in rule, Title, Registration (passenger car, gas, diesel or hybrid), Registration (passenger car, battery electric), Electric vehicle infrastructure fee, Motor vehicle warranty fee
    Vermont DMVOpen page
  3. [3]
    Tax page (updated March 10, 2026)Supports: Trade-in rule
    Vermont DMVOpen page

What changed

1 change to Vermont's numbers or rules

  1. Oct 24, 2026Added state with the 6% purchase and use tax after trade-in, title, registration by fuel type and the new-vehicle warranty fee. The electric vehicle infrastructure fee amount, the lien fee and credit for tax paid elsewhere are not included.

How Vermont works out this bill

Vermont charges a 6% purchase and use tax when you title a vehicle, figured on the price after your trade-in. The tax uses the higher of the price or the vehicle's book value.

The tax is 6% of the purchase price or the J.D. Power clean trade-in value, whichever is greater. The value of a trade-in comes off before the tax is figured.

Source: Vermont DMV - Purchase and use tax (updated March 19, 2026)Vermont DMV - Registration, Tax & Title instructions (VD-119i, 09/2025)

If you think the book value is higher than what the vehicle is worth, you can ask the DMV for a lower tax with an appraisal form at registration.

Source: Vermont DMV - Purchase and use tax (updated March 19, 2026)

Registration is paid yearly or for two years, and the fee depends on the fuel type. Battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles also pay an infrastructure fee.

Source: Vermont DMV - Registration, Tax & Title instructions (VD-119i, 09/2025)

All figures this calculator uses (8)

Common questions

Does a trade-in lower the tax in Vermont?

Yes. The instructions subtract the value of any trade-in vehicle or other allowable credit from the price before the tax is figured.

Source: Vermont DMV - Registration, Tax & Title instructions (VD-119i, 09/2025)

Why can the tax be higher than the price I paid?

Vermont taxes the higher of the purchase price or the J.D. Power clean trade-in value. A very low price does not lower the tax below the book value.

Source: Vermont DMV - Purchase and use tax (updated March 19, 2026)

Do electric vehicles pay more to register?

Yes. A battery electric vehicle has a higher registration fee than a gas vehicle and also pays an infrastructure fee.

Source: Vermont DMV - Registration, Tax & Title instructions (VD-119i, 09/2025)

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

$1,341.00

Vermont sales tax (6%) $1,200.00, Title $42.00, Registration (passenger car, gas, diesel or hybrid) $91.00, Motor vehicle warranty fee $8.00.

Gas vehicle with a trade-in

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

$1,461.00

Tax is charged on $22,000, so the trade-in saves $480.00 in sales tax.

Electric vehicle

$45,000 vehicle

$2,928.00

Vermont sales tax (6%) $2,700.00, Title $42.00, Registration (passenger car, battery electric) $178.00, Motor vehicle warranty fee $8.00.

Not included yet: Electric vehicle infrastructure fee.

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

  • The tax is figured on the price or the J.D. Power clean trade-in value, whichever is greater. If you think your vehicle is worth less, the DMV has an appraisal form that can lower the tax.
  • A plug-in hybrid pays a different registration fee that is not modeled.
  • Sales tax paid to another state may not be credited; check with the DMV before you buy out of state.