Overview
None of that applies if you're buying from a private individual instead of a dealer. Arizona classifies a person-to-person vehicle sale as a casual sale, and casual sales sit outside the TPT entirely - no state cut, no county cut, no city cut. It's arguably the single biggest lever on what a used car actually costs you here, and it's why private-party listings in Arizona often out-price a dealer's identical trade-in once tax is added back.
This calculator handles the three scenarios that actually come up: a dealer purchase (with trade-in credit), a private-party purchase (zero tax), and bringing a car in from an out-of-state dealer (Arizona use tax applies, minus what you already paid elsewhere).
01 - Official fees
Arizona car sales tax fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State TPT | 5.6% | dealer sales |
| Maricopa County excise (Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale) | 0.7% | |
| Pima County excise (Tucson) | 0.5% | |
| City rate | 1.7%–2.6% | Scottsdale 1.7%, Mesa 2.0%, Phoenix 2.3%, Tucson 2.6% |
| Private-party (casual) sale | $0 | not subject to TPT |
| Out-of-state dealer purchase (use tax) | state + city, no county | credit given for tax already paid |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with Arizona MVD (ADOT) - counties can add small local fees.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Arizona vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Arizona car sales tax FAQ
Do private car sales get taxed at all in Arizona?
No. A sale between two individuals is a casual sale under Arizona's transaction privilege tax rules, and casual sales of tangible personal property aren't taxable. You'll still owe MVD's VLT, registration and title fees - just not sales tax on the purchase price.
How much sales tax will I pay buying from a Phoenix dealer?
8.6% combined - 5.6% state, 0.7% Maricopa County, 2.3% Phoenix city - applied to the price after your trade-in is subtracted. On a $25,000 purchase with no trade-in, that's $2,150.
Does trading in my old car lower the tax?
Yes, at a licensed dealer - TPT applies to price minus trade-in allowance. Trade in a $10,000 vehicle against a $30,000 purchase in Mesa (8.3% combined) and you're taxed on $20,000 instead of $30,000, saving $830.
I'm buying from a dealer in another state and bringing the car to Arizona - what do I owe?
Arizona use tax at your city's rate plus the 5.6% state rate - but no county portion, since county tax only applies to sales physically happening inside that county. You get a credit for sales tax you legitimately paid to the other state, so you're not double-taxed on the full amount.
Why is Tucson's rate higher than Phoenix's even though its county tax is lower?
Tucson's city tax (2.6%) is the highest of the four metros, more than offsetting Pima County's lower 0.5% excise rate versus Maricopa's 0.7%. Net-net Tucson (8.7%) comes in slightly above Phoenix (8.6%).
Can I avoid tax by calling a sale a 'gift' when money changed hands?
Arizona doesn't need that workaround - a genuine private-party sale is already untaxed, gift or not. Misrepresenting a paid sale as a gift to a non-family friend doesn't save anything extra here, unlike states that specifically tax gifts differently from sales.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.