Out-the-door cost
Maryland out-the-door cost, step by step
The sticker price is not what you pay. Here is the state-set part of the bill, from MVA pages checked October 15, 2026.
The state-set pieces
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Excise (titling) tax | 6.5% of the taxable price, minimum tax $41.60 (based on a $640 minimum price) | MVA Excise Tax, MVA Fees |
| Certificate of title | $200 for most vehicles | MVA bulletin on HB 352 |
| Registration, passenger car up to 3,500 lbs | $120.50 per year (includes a $40 yearly EMS surcharge). Heavier cars cost more. Check the MVA fee page for your weight class. | MVA Fees |
| Dealer processing fee (dealer purchases) | Up to $800. The fee is taxable. | MVA Taxable Price |
| Safety inspection (most used vehicles) | Set by the inspection station. Ask for the price. | MVA Safety Inspections |
Not included above: license plate or specialty tag fees, insurance, loan costs, and any county or city charges. These vary, so get each in writing.
How the 6.5% excise tax is figured
- For a recent purchase, the tax is 6.5% of the total purchase price, or of the valuation in the national used-car publication the MVA uses, adjusted for mileage.
- If the reported price is $500 or more below that valuation, you may need documents to support the price. Since October 1, 2026, a notarized bill of sale is no longer required for private sales of vehicles under 7 years old. In a dispute, the MVA can tax on the valuation unless you document the lower price.
- Vehicles seven years and older are taxed on the greater of the purchase price or a $640 minimum value.
- At a dealer, the taxable price includes the dealer processing fee. A trade-in allowance on a non-leased vehicle reduces it. Dealer discounts and rebates and extended warranties are not taxed. See the MVA Taxable Price bulletin for the full list.
- New to Maryland within 60 days with a car 6 model years or newer? There are credit rules for tax paid to your previous state. See the MVA Excise Tax page.
Worked example: private-party purchase
Made-up numbers: a car you buy privately for $10,000, with a valuation within $500 of the price, passenger car under 3,500 lbs.
| Excise tax, 6.5% of $10,000 | $650.00 |
| Certificate of title | $200.00 |
| Registration, 1 year | $120.50 |
| State fees and tax | $970.50 |
|---|
Add the inspection station's fee, plates if applicable, and insurance. The total paid to the seller and the MVA is about $10,970 before those extras.
Worked example: dealer purchase
Made-up numbers: $20,000 vehicle price, $800 dealer processing fee (the maximum), no trade-in. The dealer fee is part of the taxable price.
| Vehicle price | $20,000.00 |
| Dealer processing fee | $800.00 |
| Excise tax, 6.5% of $20,800 | $1,352.00 |
| Certificate of title | $200.00 |
| Registration, 1 year | $120.50 |
| Out the door (approx.) | $22,472.50 |
|---|
Ask the dealer for a line-by-line buyer's order. If a line is not on the list above, ask what it is and whether you can decline it.
Calculator
Rough estimate using the rates above. It is not a quote. It ignores plates, inspection, insurance, financing and the new-resident rules.
Sources
- MVA, Excise Tax: https://mva.maryland.gov/title-registration/fees-payment-options/excise-tax
- MVA, Fees (effective September 1, 2025): https://mva.maryland.gov/title-registration/fees-payment-options
- MVA bulletin, HB 352 fee and excise tax changes (certificate of title $200): https://mva.maryland.gov/your-mva-guide/businesses/bulletins-businesses/new-vehicle-registration-fees-and-term
- MVA bulletin, Taxable Price (April 23, 2026): https://mva.maryland.gov/your-mva-guide/businesses/bulletins-businesses/taxable-price
- MVA bulletin, repeal of notarized bill of sale requirement (September 15, 2026): https://mva.maryland.gov/your-mva-guide/businesses/bulletins-businesses/sb125-hb251-repeal-notarized-bill-sale-requirement
- MVA, Maryland safety inspections: https://mva.maryland.gov/title-registration/vehicle-emissions-safety-inspections/safety-inspections
Checked October 15, 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm on the source before you pay.