Overview
The wrinkle that catches people out: the fee isn't always based on what you actually paid. If you show up without a bill of sale - a private sale with no paperwork, an out-of-state titled vehicle with no proof tax was paid elsewhere, or a gift outside the exempt family list - the DMV instead uses the vehicle's current average NADA trade-in value. Pick your scenario below and see the real number.
01 - Official fees
Delaware car sales tax fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rate | 5.25% | of purchase price, effective since Oct. 1, 2025 (was 4.25%) |
| Minimum fee, base under $400 | $8.00 | |
| Minimum fee, base $400–$500 | $13.75 | |
| No bill of sale / no documented price | 5.25% of NADA trade-in value | |
| Dealer trade-in (Delaware-titled only) | price − trade-in, then × 5.25% | |
| Immediate family gift | $0 | spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, step- or in-law |
| Non-qualifying gift (friend, cousin, etc.) | 5.25% of NADA trade-in value |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) - counties can add small local fees.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Delaware vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Delaware car sales tax FAQ
Why did the fee change from 4.25% to 5.25%?
House Bill 164 raised Delaware's document fee from 4.25% to 5.25% of purchase price, effective October 1, 2025, to fund the Delaware Transportation Trust Fund. Vehicles sold before that date but titled on or after November 1, 2025 were still required to pay the new rate - there was no grandfather clause.
Is the document fee based on what I actually paid?
Yes, if you have a bill of sale documenting the price. Without one - including many private-party sales - the DMV instead computes 5.25% of the vehicle's current average NADA trade-in value, not retail value, to stop underreported '$500 for a $20,000 car' transactions.
Does trading in my old car reduce the document fee?
At a dealership, yes - the fee is computed on price minus trade-in value. The catch: Delaware's regulation only allows the credit when the traded-in vehicle is currently titled in Delaware. A trade-in still titled in Maryland or Pennsylvania doesn't qualify for the reduction.
What's the minimum document fee on a cheap car?
$8.00 for anything priced under $400, and $13.75 for $400 to $500. Above $500, the fee runs $5.25 per $100 of price (or fraction of $100), rounded to the nearest dollar - which works out to the flat 5.25% rate.
Are any vehicle transfers completely exempt from the document fee?
Yes - gifts from immediate family (spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, including step-relations and in-laws), transfers between joint owners with no money changing hands, inherited vehicles, and active-duty military members registering a vehicle already titled in their home state or prior duty station.
Do I pay the fee again if I already paid sales tax buying the car in another state?
If you're a new Delaware resident and can document that you paid sales or use tax to another state on this vehicle within the last 90 days, that generally satisfies the requirement - otherwise the DMV falls back to the NADA trade-in value as the fee basis rather than your out-of-state receipt.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.