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Get your real Minnesota total — a flat 6.5% sales tax, the lowest doc fee cap on our list, and the value-based tab fee registration.

Minnesota's Flat Tax and the Lowest Doc Fee Cap We Cover

Minnesota charges a flat 6.5% sales tax on vehicle purchases statewide, with no local city or county add-on. A $35,000 car owes exactly $2,275 in sales tax no matter where in Minnesota you buy it.

Minnesota also caps its doc fee, though the cap changed recently: as of July 1, 2025, dealers can charge no more than $350 for documentation fees (or 10% of the sale price on vehicles under $3,499, if that's lower). That's still below Maryland's $500 and well under Florida's $999, but it's a substantial increase from the $75 cap Minnesota used for years before — worth knowing if you've seen the old number quoted elsewhere.

Minnesota registration uses what residents call the tab fee — a value-based formula similar in spirit to Arizona's VLT, where newer, more expensive vehicles pay more and the fee decreases as the car ages.

Minnesota Fee Breakdown

Fee Type	Amount	Notes
Sales Tax	6.5% flat	No local or county add-on anywhere in the state
Title Fee	$8.25	One of the lowest title fees nationally
Registration (Tab Fee)	~$150 (est.)	Value-based, decreases each renewal year; plates included
EV Registration Surcharge	$75/year	Applies to battery electric vehicles
Dealer Doc Fee	Capped at $350	Or 10% of sale price under $3,499, whichever is less. Effective July 1, 2025.

Trade-In Tax Credit in Minnesota

Minnesota provides a full trade-in tax credit at licensed dealerships: your trade-in value reduces the taxable purchase price before the flat 6.5% sales tax applies. A $10,000 trade-in on a $35,000 purchase lowers your taxable base to $25,000, saving $650 in tax.

Because the rate never changes by location, the math stays simple — multiply your trade-in value by 6.5% to know your exact savings before you even visit the dealership.

Minnesota's $350 doc fee cap still leaves more room than states like California ($85), so it's worth asking your dealer for an itemized breakdown of what the fee covers — and confirming it doesn't exceed the legal maximum for your vehicle's price.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the car sales tax in Minnesota?

Minnesota charges a flat 6.5% sales tax on vehicle purchases statewide, with no local or county add-on. The rate is the same everywhere in the state.

What is the dealer doc fee cap in Minnesota?

Up to $350, or 10% of the sale price for vehicles under $3,499 — whichever is less. This cap took effect July 1, 2025 (it was $75 in prior years). If a dealer charges more than the legal maximum, that's worth challenging before you sign.

What is Minnesota's tab fee?

It's the common name for Minnesota's value-based vehicle registration fee, which is higher for newer and more expensive vehicles and decreases automatically each year as the car depreciates.

How much is the Minnesota title fee?

$8.25 — one of the lowest title fees in the country.

Does Minnesota tax trade-ins?

Yes. Your trade-in value is subtracted from the purchase price before the 6.5% sales tax is calculated, and because the rate is flat statewide, your savings are simple to estimate directly.

See Your Exact Minnesota OTD Price

Enter your vehicle price, trade-in, and doc fee above for your precise total.

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