How do I Calculate a Tax, Tag & Title in Florida?

When you buy a car in Florida, you must pay tax, tag and title fees to make the vehicle legal to drive. A number of factors can influence the final price you pay, but you can use some simple figures to calculate the amount you will likely pay.

Motor Vehicle Tax

Regardless of whether you purchase a vehicle new or used, you must pay sales tax on the full purchase price. The base tax rate for all motor vehicles, as of 2015, is 6 percent. In addition, according to the Florida Department of Revenue, some Florida counties have an additional discretionary sales surtax that applies to the first $5,000 of the purchase price.

Tag Fees

Tag fees in Florida are somewhat more complicated than in other states. The base rate for registering an automobile of up to 2,499 pounds is $14.50 as of 2015. You may also have to pay additional fees based on the weight and type of your vehicle and its intended use. For example, the base fee for a tag for a standard passenger car is only $14.50, but a tag for a truck weighing 2,000 to 3,000 pounds costs $22.50 and the tag for a wrecker costs $41. Other registration fees related to the tag include a variety of state statutory fees as well as registration fees, branch fees and service charges from your county tax collector.

Title Fees

If you buy a new car to register in Florida as a private individual and you do not finance the purchase, you can expect to pay $79.75 in title fees. If you finance the vehicle, or if there is a lien on the title for any reason, you will pay an additional $2 for each lien. Note that these rates apply to private individuals. you can expect to pay $79.75 in title fees apply to businesses, non-profits and for-hire drivers. If you elect to have your title delivered electronically -- known as a fast title -- the base rate for an original title issued to a private individual is $87.25.