Buying a car · 50 states and DC
Out-the-door price calculator
The out-the-door price is the only number that matters at signing: everything you owe, government fees included.
Built by Radif Partners · How the fees are calculated · Editorial policy
Out-the-door price · California
$39,249
Due at purchase $4,249 · out the door $39,249
Then about $478 a year to renew.
| Sales/use tax (10.25%) | $3,596.21 |
| Reflectorized plate fee | $1.00 |
| Registration fee (includes $3 alternative fuel/technology fee) | $76.00 |
| California Highway Patrol fee | $34.00 |
| County and district fees (Los Angeles County) | $11.00 |
| Vehicle license fee (0.65% of $35,100)Based on the price you pay, even for a used car: the schedule restarts at each change of owner. | $228.00 |
| Transportation improvement fee | $198.00 |
| Smog abatement fee (no smog check for the first eight model years) | $20.00 |
| Dealer documentation fee (capped at $85) | $85.00 |
DMV and California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) schedules read on 2026-10-11. Some lines have no single official amount and are listed apart. How this is calculated.
The out-the-door price is the agreed price of the car plus the purchase tax, the title, the plates and registration, any county fees, inspection and EV charges collected at purchase, and the dealer's documentation fee, minus the trade-in. For a $35,000 car with no trade-in, it ranges from $35,265 in Alaska to $39,714 in Washington, so the same sticker can mean very different checks depending on where the car is registered. Asking for the out-the-door price in writing, before talking about monthly payments, is the simplest way to compare two dealers. This calculator builds it from the state's own fee schedule; 10 jurisdictions cap the documentation fee by law, and the calculator uses that cap unless you type the dealer's figure.
How the final price is built
Start from the price you agreed with the seller. Add the purchase tax computed on the state's base: in most states the price minus the trade-in, in some the full price. Add the one-time title fee and, if you get new plates, the plate or first-registration fee. Add the registration for the first period, which can cover one or two years, and the county or city fees collected with it. Add an inspection or emissions fee if the state collects it at registration, and the yearly EV or hybrid surcharge if it applies. Add the documentation fee. Subtract the trade-in allowance and any cash rebate applied at signing. The result is the out-the-door price.
Out the door versus "due at signing"
When the trade-in is worth more than the loan on it, the equity lowers the out-the-door price. When you owe more than the trade-in is worth, the negative equity is often added to the new loan: it does not change the taxes in most states but it raises the amount financed. The car payment calculator shows the effect on the monthly payment.
Fees that may come later
In a few states part of the government bill is not paid at signing. A used car can keep the seller's registration until its expiration date, and a yearly property tax can be billed by the town months after the purchase. The calculator lists those amounts as due within the first 12 months so that the out-the-door price stays what you really pay that day, and the ownership cost calculator spreads them over the years you keep the car.
Compare before you visit
Run the same car in two states if you live near a border: the tax follows your home address, not the dealer's, but registration and plates are paid where you register. The doc fee page lists which states cap the dealer's documentation charge.
The 51 jurisdictions side by side
| State | Taxes and fees at purchase | Out-the-door price |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,005 | $36,005 |
| Alaska | $265 | $35,265 |
| Arizona | $3,621 | $38,621 |
| Arkansas | $2,495 | $37,495 |
| California | $4,249 | $39,249 |
| Colorado | $3,911 | $38,911 |
| Connecticut | $2,477 | $37,477 |
| Delaware | $1,900 | $36,900 |
| District of Columbia | $215 + $875 to $3,500 tax | $35,215 + tax |
| Florida | $2,497 | $37,497 |
| Georgia | $2,488 | $37,488 |
| Hawaii | $2,063 | $37,063 |
| Idaho | $2,251 | $37,251 |
| Illinois | $2,941 | $37,941 |
| Indiana | $3,250 | $38,250 |
| Iowa | $2,343 | $37,343 |
| Kansas | $2,841 | $37,841 |
| Kentucky | $2,130 | $37,130 |
| Louisiana | $4,276 | $39,276 |
| Maine | $2,833 | $37,833 |
| Maryland | $3,568 | $38,568 |
| Massachusetts | $2,358 | $37,358 |
| Michigan | $2,628 | $37,628 |
| Minnesota | $3,403 | $38,403 |
| Mississippi | $1,788 | $36,788 |
| Missouri | $3,356 | $38,356 |
| Montana | $426 | $35,426 |
| Nebraska | $3,089 | $38,089 |
| Nevada | $3,605 | $38,605 |
| New Hampshire | $738 | $35,738 |
| New Jersey | $2,590 | $37,590 |
| New Mexico | $1,479 | $36,479 |
| New York | $3,328 | $38,328 |
| North Carolina | $1,180 | $36,180 |
| North Dakota | $1,848 | $36,848 |
| Ohio | $2,862 | $37,862 |
| Oklahoma | $1,684 | $36,684 |
| Oregon | $1,053 | $36,053 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,925 | $37,925 |
| Rhode Island | $2,555 | $37,555 |
| South Carolina | $780 | $35,780 |
| South Dakota | $1,502 | $36,502 |
| Tennessee | $2,568 | $37,568 |
| Texas | $2,594 | $37,594 |
| Utah | $2,849 | $37,849 |
| Vermont | $2,233 | $37,233 |
| Virginia | $1,500 | $36,500 |
| Washington | $4,714 | $39,714 |
| West Virginia | $2,167 | $37,167 |
| Wisconsin | $2,407 | $37,407 |
| Wyoming | $2,425 | $37,425 |