Minnesota Car Sales Tax Calculator – Fast, Free & Accurate

What Is the Minnesota Car Sales Tax?

Minnesota charges a 6.5% Motor Vehicle Sales Tax (MVST) on most vehicle purchases. Unlike regular sales tax on goods, this tax is applied specifically to vehicles.

But that’s not all:

• Statewide MVST rate: 6.5%
• Metro Area transit tax: Additional 0.5% in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties.

So, depending on where you register your vehicle, your effective tax rate will be either 6.5% (rest of Minnesota) or 7.0% (metro counties).

How the Tax Is Calculated

The good news is that Minnesota allows you to subtract your trade-in value before calculating the tax. That means you only pay tax on the reduced amount.

Formula:

(Total Vehicle Price – Trade-In Value) × (State Tax Rate + Local Tax Rate) = Total Sales Tax

Example:

• Vehicle price: $31,000
• Trade-in value: $7,000
• Location: Hennepin County (6.5% + 0.5%)

Taxable amount = $31,000 – $7,000 = $24,000
Total tax = $24,000 × 7% = $1,680

Without a trade-in, you’d be paying $2,170 in taxes. That’s a big difference.

Why Use a Minnesota Car Sales Tax Calculator?

Instead of manually crunching numbers, the calculator does all the work for you. Here’s what it offers:

• Quick estimates: Enter your vehicle price, trade-in value, and location.
• Accurate breakdowns: See state tax, local tax (if applicable), and your total.
• Error handling: If you forget to enter a price or location, it prompts you with a friendly reminder.
• Reset option: Start over anytime without refreshing the page.

This is especially useful when you’re comparing cars or negotiating a deal.

Try It Yourself

Here’s a fully functional Minnesota Car Sales Tax Calculator you can use:

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Simply:

1. Enter your vehicle’s purchase price.
2. Add your trade-in value (if any).
3. Select your county or “Rest of Minnesota.”
4. Hit Calculate Tax and see your results instantly.

Extra Tips for Minnesota Car Buyers

• Factor in other fees: Don’t forget registration fees, title fees, and dealer document fees.
• Check exemptions: Some transfers between family members or inherited vehicles may qualify for reduced or waived taxes.
• Use trade-ins strategically: A higher trade-in lowers your taxable amount, saving you real money.
• Shop location-smart: Taxes differ only slightly between metro and non-metro, but every dollar counts.