Overview
Two credits change what you actually owe: a dealer trade-in reduces the taxable price directly, and Missouri's 180-day rule lets you deduct the sale price of a vehicle you sold within 180 days before or after this purchase - even if it wasn't a same-transaction trade. This calculator applies whichever one fits your situation.
01 - Official fees
Missouri car sales tax fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State rate | 4.225% | applies to every sale, dealer or private |
| Local rate | ≈3.9%–5.75% add-on | set by buyer's city/county, not the seller's |
| Dealer trade-in credit | Full allowance | price minus trade-in value, then taxed |
| 180-day sold-a-vehicle credit | Sale price of the old vehicle | capped at the tax otherwise due |
| General Affidavit gift | $0 tax | Form 768, no payment changes hands |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your local license office (a contracted agent, not a DOR branch) for titling and registration; your county collector for personal property tax - counties can add small local fees.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Missouri vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Missouri car sales tax FAQ
How much sales tax will I pay on a used car in Missouri?
State tax is a flat 4.225% no matter what, but the local add-on depends on your home address - anywhere from about 3.9% to 5.75% on top. A private sale in Kansas City lands around 9.975% combined; the same sale at a rural address could be closer to 8%.
What is Missouri's 180-day credit and how do I use it?
If you sell (or sold) a vehicle within 180 days before or after buying this one, you can deduct that vehicle's sale price from the taxable price of your new purchase - even though it wasn't a direct trade at the same dealer. Bring a bill of sale for the vehicle you sold; at least one name has to match between both titles.
Does a dealer trade-in work the same way as the 180-day credit?
They overlap in effect but aren't identical: a trade-in reduces the price in the same transaction at a dealership, while the 180-day credit covers a vehicle you sold separately, to anyone, within the window. You use whichever applies - you don't stack both on the same replacement vehicle.
Do I owe tax on a car I bought from a private seller?
Yes, at the same combined rate as a dealer sale, based on the price you report when you title it. Missouri's license office can question a suspiciously low declared price against comparable values.
Is a car gifted to me by my parents taxed in Missouri?
Not if it's a genuine, documented gift: both parties complete a General Affidavit (Form 768), the title is marked 'GIFT' rather than showing a token $1 sale price, and no money changes hands. Do that correctly and no state or local sales tax applies at all.
When exactly is the tax due?
Within 30 calendar days of the purchase date, paid at any Missouri license office when you apply for title. There's no separate 'sales tax office' - the same visit that gets you a title and plates also settles the tax.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.