Overview
The base isn't your purchase price - it's the vehicle's NADA Eastern Region book value at the time you title it. That single fact reshapes how every other rule in DC works: no trade-in credit (nothing to subtract from a book-value tax), gifts between qualifying family are only excise-exempt if the car is already DC-titled, and a private-party '$1 sale' still gets taxed on full book value, not the token price.
01 - Official fees
Washington D.C. car sales tax fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ≤3,499 lbs, 20 mpg or less | 9.0% | |
| ≤3,499 lbs, 40+ mpg | 1.5% | |
| ≤3,499 lbs, electric | 1.0% | |
| 3,500–4,999 lbs, 20 mpg or less | 10.0% | |
| 3,500–4,999 lbs, electric | 2.0% | |
| 5,000+ lbs, 20 mpg or less | 11.0% | |
| 5,000+ lbs, electric | 3.0% | |
| EITC-certified alternative | 6% / 7% / 8% | flat by weight, whichever is lower |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with the DC DMV - counties can add small local fees.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Washington D.C. vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Washington D.C. car sales tax FAQ
What is D.C.'s actual car sales tax rate?
There isn't a flat rate - D.C. has no separate vehicle sales tax. Instead it charges excise tax from 1.0% to 11.0% of the vehicle's NADA book value, set by a grid crossing unladen weight against EPA city MPG. Two identically-priced cars can owe wildly different amounts.
Is a hybrid taxed the same as a full EV in D.C.?
No. Hybrids are taxed on the same MPG-band grid as gas vehicles - a 42-mpg hybrid at 3,400 lbs pays 1.5%, the grid's best gas-vehicle rate - while a 100% battery-electric vehicle of the same weight pays 1.0%. Plug-in hybrids follow their EPA city MPG rating, not the EV column.
Why did D.C. start taxing electric vehicles again?
The Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Amendment Act of 2024, effective February 17, 2025, replaced the old flat EV exemption with weight-based EV rates (1%–3%) as part of rebalancing the CleanEnergy DC fee structure. EVs remain the cheapest bracket on the grid, just not free.
I bought a car for well under its book value - do I still pay tax on the higher number?
Yes. DC calculates excise tax against the current NADA Eastern Region guide value at the time of titling, regardless of your actual purchase price. There's no appeal process comparable to a certified-appraisal exception in some other states - the book value stands.
Can I subtract my trade-in before calculating excise tax?
No. Because the tax is based on the new vehicle's own book value rather than 'price minus trade-in,' D.C. is one of the few jurisdictions where a trade-in has zero effect on the vehicle tax bill - even though it obviously reduces what you owe the dealer.
Does the DC EITC credit reduce excise tax for everyone?
Only for filers who obtain EITC certification from the DC Office of Tax and Revenue before titling. They can then choose the flat 6%/7%/8% weight-only schedule instead of the MPG grid - useful mainly for EITC filers buying a low-MPG vehicle, since the MPG grid would otherwise charge more.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.