Free Tennessee Calculator

Tennessee Out-the-Door Car Price Calculator

Get your real Tennessee total — 7% state tax plus local rates that push combined totals to 9-10%, among the highest in the country.

Tennessee Has One of the Highest Car Sales Tax Rates in the Country

Tennessee's base state sales tax on vehicles is 7% — already on the high end nationally. Counties add their own local rate on top, typically 2 to 2.75 percentage points, pushing combined totals to roughly 9-10%. Unlike some high-tax states, Tennessee places no cap on the total, so the rate applies in full no matter how expensive the vehicle.

On a $35,000 car at a 9.5% combined rate, that's $3,325 in sales tax alone — among the largest tax bills of any state we cover. There's no TAVT-style workaround and no Highway Use Tax cap like neighboring Georgia or North Carolina; Tennessee taxes the full purchase price straight through.

On top of sales tax, most Tennessee counties charge a wheel tax at registration — a separate, flat annual fee that varies widely by county. Davidson County (Nashville) charges one of the highest wheel taxes in the state at roughly $74, while about a third of Tennessee's 95 counties charge no wheel tax at all.

Tennessee Fee Breakdown

Fee Type	Amount	Notes
Title Fee	$11	One-time fee to transfer ownership
Registration Fee	$26.50	State base fee, before county wheel tax
County Wheel Tax	$0–$95	Varies by county — Davidson County (Nashville) is among the highest at ~$74
EV Registration Surcharge	$200/year	Applies to battery electric vehicles; hybrids/PHEVs pay $100/year
Dealer Doc Fee	No statutory cap	Typical range $400–$599 — negotiate

Where Tennessee's Wheel Tax Hits Hardest

County Type	Typical Wheel Tax	Notes
No wheel tax counties	$0	Roughly a third of Tennessee's 95 counties charge none
Typical county	$25–$50	Most counties fall in this range
Davidson County (Nashville)	~$74	Among the highest in the state

Wheel tax is separate from sales tax and charged at registration, not purchase. Confirm your specific county's rate before budgeting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the car sales tax in Tennessee?

Tennessee's base state sales tax on vehicles is 7%. Counties add a local rate on top, typically 2 to 2.75 percentage points, for combined totals of roughly 9-10% — among the highest vehicle tax rates in the country, with no cap on the total.

What is Tennessee's county wheel tax?

It's a separate, flat annual fee charged at registration, on top of sales tax. It varies by county — Davidson County (Nashville) charges roughly $74, while about a third of Tennessee's 95 counties charge no wheel tax at all.

Does Tennessee tax trade-ins?

Yes. Your trade-in value is subtracted from the purchase price before Tennessee calculates sales tax, at both the state and county level, lowering your total tax bill proportionally.

How much is the Tennessee title fee?

$11, plus a $26.50 base state registration fee. Your county's wheel tax is added separately at registration and can range from $0 to about $95.

Is there a doc fee cap in Tennessee?

No. Tennessee does not cap dealer documentation fees by statute. Typical fees range from $400 to $599 — it's worth asking for a reduction before you sign.

See Your Exact Tennessee OTD Price

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

Open Full Calculator