Maryland Car Sales Tax Calculator – Fast, Free & Accurate

What Is the Maryland Car Sales (Titling) Tax?

In Maryland, you pay a 6% titling tax when registering your vehicle. Unlike some states that tax only the purchase price, Maryland uses the greater of the purchase price or the NADA Clean Retail Value (the state’s accepted reference for vehicle market value).

Here’s the breakdown:

• Tax Rate: 6%
• Tax Base: Higher of (Vehicle Price vs. NADA Value)
• Deductions Allowed: Trade-in value
• Minimum Tax: $38.40

This system prevents underreporting vehicle values and ensures the state collects tax fairly.

Why Use a Maryland Car Sales Tax Calculator?

Calculating Maryland’s titling tax isn’t always straightforward. Imagine you buy a car for $32,000, but the NADA value is $33,500. The state uses $33,500 as the tax base, not your lower purchase price.

Now subtract a $10,000 trade-in, and your taxable amount becomes $23,500. Multiply that by 6%, and your tax is $1,410.

Without a calculator, it’s easy to make mistakes. That’s where our tool helps—it handles the rules, the math, and even ensures you meet the minimum tax.

How to Use the Maryland Car Sales Tax Calculator

Our calculator is designed to be quick and user-friendly. Here’s how it works:

1. Enter Vehicle Price ($): The purchase price you paid or agreed upon.
2. Enter NADA Clean Retail Value ($): The official state reference value.
3. Enter Trade-in Value ($): If you traded in another vehicle, put its value here.
4. Click “Calculate Tax”: The tool instantly shows you:
   • Tax Base (the higher of the two values)
   • Taxable Amount (after subtracting trade-in)
   • Calculated Tax (6%)
   • Final Estimated Titling Tax (including the minimum tax rule)

If you need to start over, just hit Reset.

Example: Maryland Car Sales Tax in Action

Let’s run a quick example using the calculator:

• Vehicle Price: $28,000
• NADA Value: $30,000
• Trade-in Value: $5,000

Step 1: Tax base = $30,000 (higher of $28,000 and $30,000).
Step 2: Subtract trade-in → $30,000 – $5,000 = $25,000 taxable amount.
Step 3: 6% tax = $1,500.

Final Maryland titling tax = $1,500.

Key Takeaways

• Maryland charges 6% titling tax, based on the higher of the vehicle’s price or NADA value.
• Trade-in values reduce the taxable amount.
• The minimum tax is $38.40, no matter what.
• Our Maryland Car Sales Tax Calculator gives you a clear estimate in seconds.