Ohio car sales tax and fees
How Ohio taxes a vehicle you buy at Jeff Wyler Springfield Toyota, what title and registration cost, and how our documentation fee fits in.
See your out-the-door price
Every vehicle price on our website already includes the Toyota offers in effect and our $398 documentation fee. Tax, title and registration are added when you buy, and this page explains each one.
Live outside Ohio?
Tax works differently when you will register the vehicle in another state. See how it works.
Questions?
Our sales team is here Monday through Saturday. Call (937) 960-7236.
How Ohio taxes a car sale
Ohio charges a 5.75% state sales tax plus a county rate. The county that counts is the one where you live, not where you buy. For a Clark County resident, it works out like this:
| Rate | |
|---|---|
| State of Ohio | 5.75% |
| Clark County | 1.50% |
| City of Springfield | None |
| Total for a Clark County resident | 7.25% |
The tax is collected when the title is issued. If you live in another Ohio county, your county's rate replaces the Clark County line above. Leases and out-of-state buyers follow different rules, explained below.
What is taxed, and what is not
| Part of the deal | How Ohio treats it |
|---|---|
| Vehicle price | Taxed, along with accessories added at the sale. |
| Your trade-in | On a new vehicle from a new vehicle dealer, the trade-in comes off the taxed amount. On a used vehicle, there is no trade-in credit. |
| Toyota manufacturer rebate | Does not lower the taxed amount. Ohio counts amounts the manufacturer pays the dealer as part of the price. |
| Dealer discount | Comes off the taxed amount. |
| Our documentation fee | Taxed. Ohio includes charges for services needed to complete the sale in the taxed price. Ours is $398. |
Title and registration
Ohio raised several title and registration fees on January 1, 2026. Here is what a passenger vehicle pays:
| Example | Amount |
|---|---|
| Certificate of title | $18.00 |
| State registration tax | $20.00 |
| Additional registration fee | $16.00 |
| Deputy registrar service fee | $8.00 |
| Local permissive taxes, depending on where you live | $0 to $30 |
| Hybrid surcharge (hybrids only) | $100.00 |
| Plug-in hybrid surcharge | $150.00 |
| Electric vehicle surcharge | $200.00 |
We apply for your title, and your county clerk of courts issues it within a few business days. Your temporary tag is good for 45 days. Registration and plates are handled through an Ohio BMV deputy registrar. Clark County has no E-Check emissions testing.
Putting it together
A Clark County resident buys a new gas Toyota priced at $32,000 and trades in a paid-off vehicle worth $10,000.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle price, including our $398 documentation fee | $32,398.00 |
| Trade-in | −$10,000.00 |
| Sales tax, 7.25% of $22,398.00 | $1,623.86 |
| Certificate of title | $18.00 |
| Total, before registration and plates | $24,039.86 |
If a rebate is part of your deal, Ohio still taxes the price before the rebate. On a used vehicle, the full price is taxed even with a trade-in.
If you lease
On a lease, Ohio charges sales tax up front, at signing, on the total of the payments for the lease term, rather than month by month. Leases to buyers who live outside Ohio are not subject to Ohio sales tax. Our lease vs. finance guide covers the rest.
Buying from out of state
| Your situation | Ohio tax |
|---|---|
| You live in Kentucky | None, when you complete Ohio form STEC-NR. You pay Kentucky usage tax when you register at home. |
| You live in Indiana | Collected at 7%, using Indiana's rules. A trade-in lowers the taxed amount on new and used vehicles. |
| You live in Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan or South Carolina | Collected using your home state's rate and rules. |
| You live in any other state | None, when you complete Ohio form STEC-NR. |
These rules come from Ohio Department of Taxation Information Release ST 2007-04. Your home state may charge its own tax or fees when you register.
If you live outside Ohio, your taxes may differ. What you pay depends on the state where you will register the vehicle. Call us at the number above and we will work out your exact numbers before you visit.
Our fees, in full
There is one dealer fee on every sale: our $398 documentation fee, already included in every price on our website. It covers preparing and processing the paperwork for your sale. It does not include preparing legal documents or documents tied to extending credit.
- Documentation fee: $398, on every sale
- Credit card convenience fee: 3%, only if you pay by credit card
- Accessories and protection products: only the ones you choose, each listed with its price
See how we price our vehicles.
Questions, answered
What is the sales tax on a car in Ohio?
As of November 2026, Ohio charges 5.75% state sales tax plus your county's rate, based on the county where you live. For Clark County residents the total is 7.25%.
Which county's tax rate do I pay?
The county where you live, not the county where the dealership is. A Clark County resident pays 7.25% whether they buy in Springfield or elsewhere in Ohio.
Does a trade-in lower the sales tax in Ohio?
Yes, when you buy a new vehicle from a new vehicle dealer. Ohio does not give a trade-in credit when you buy a used vehicle.
Do Toyota rebates lower the sales tax in Ohio?
No. Ohio counts a manufacturer rebate as part of the price, so tax is figured on the price before the rebate. A discount from the dealer does lower it.
How much is an Ohio title?
The certificate of title fee is $18 as of January 1, 2026. Your county clerk of courts issues the title.
What does Ohio registration cost?
A passenger vehicle registration includes a $20 state tax, a $16 registration fee and an $8 deputy registrar service fee, plus up to $30 in local taxes depending on where you live. Hybrids add $100, plug-in hybrids $150 and electric vehicles $200.
I live in Kentucky. Do I pay Ohio sales tax?
No. Kentucky residents who complete Ohio form STEC-NR pay no Ohio sales tax. You pay Kentucky usage tax when you register the vehicle at your county clerk.
I live in Indiana. Do I pay Ohio sales tax?
Yes. Indiana is one of seven states where Ohio collects tax using your home state's rules. For Indiana that is 7%.
I live in another state. How much tax will I pay here?
It depends on your state. Residents of most states pay no Ohio sales tax with form STEC-NR, and seven states are taxed at their own rate. Call us and we will give you exact numbers.
Do I need an E-Check in Clark County?
No. Ohio E-Check emissions testing applies only in seven Northeast Ohio counties, and Clark County is not one of them.
How long is my temporary tag good for?
An Ohio temporary tag is valid for 45 days and cannot be renewed. We apply for your title, which the clerk issues within a few business days.
Ready to see your numbers?
Where these numbers come from
- Ohio Revised Code 5739.02: sales tax rate and leases
- Ohio Revised Code 5739.01: taxable price and trade-ins
- Ohio Department of Taxation county sales tax rates
- Ohio Information Release ST 2007-04: nonresident buyers
- Ohio Revised Code 4505.09: title fee
- Ohio Revised Code 4503.10: registration fees
- Ohio LSC analysis of House Bill 96
- Ohio Revised Code 4517.261: documentary service charge
- Ohio EPA: E-Check counties
Jeff Wyler Springfield Toyota, a Toyota and used vehicle dealership at 2237 W 1st St, Springfield, OH 45504. A documentary service fee of $398 is included in every vehicle price in Ohio. Tax rates and government fees on this page are as of November 2026 and can change. This page is general information, not tax advice; your buyer's order shows the exact amounts. Serving Springfield, Clark County and the Dayton area.