How Much are Used Car Sales Taxes in North Carolina?

Buying a used car in North Carolina can be a great way to save some money, but there’s one thing you can’t ignore: the sales tax. The statewide rate for used car sales tax in the state of North Carolina is 3% of the vehicle’s purchase price. Not terrible, compared to other states like California with its 7.25% sales tax, but not nearly as good as zero, like Oregon has.

We're about to spill the beans on North Carolina's used car sales taxes, and you don’t want to miss it.

Also, don’t forget to factor in registration fees and the costs of a title transfer in North Carolina.

When buying a car from a private seller in North Carolina, you have to pay sales tax based on the vehicle's purchase price. All vehicle purchases are subject to a 3% sales tax, also known as the Highway Use Tax (HUT). It pays for maintaining and fixing state roads, and a portion of the money goes to the state’s General Fund and the North Carolina Highway Trust Fund.

The good news is: no local taxes are levied on top of the statewide rate. This means the HUT levies a flat-rate on all vehicle purchases—new or used—across the state of North Carolina. Things could be much worse if you’re a Californian looking to buy a motor vehicle because on top of the monster sales tax (7.25%), local counties and cities levy additional taxes. The combined sales tax rate in California can go as high as 10.25%. (Ouch.)

Other fees are involved with purchasing a car, such as registration fees and vehicle title fees. Buying a car in North Carolina will cost you (beyond the purchase price and sales tax):

1. Certificate of title: $40
2. Registration: $38.75–$86.25
3. License plates: $10 (read our guide to North Carolina license plates cost)
4. Plate transfer: $15
5. Vehicle title transfer fee: $56
6. Wake, Durham, or Orange County Regional Transportation Authority Registration Tax: $5

To register an out-of-state vehicle in North Carolina, you'll need to submit the following to your closest North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV):

In North Carolina, sales tax on used cars is calculated based on the vehicle's purchase price, which is determined on the basis of the car’s fair market value. If you’re buying the car from a private party, you must declare the car's fair market value to the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles and pay the appropriate amount of sales tax based on that value.

If the DMV suspects that the purchase price of the vehicle was artificially decreased, they will calculate sales tax based on the car’s fair market value. The DMV establishes what the car is worth on the open market by referring to the Kelley Blue Book or other reliable sources of information about used car prices. The North Carolina Department of Revenue can also use its own valuation guides and data sources to determine the value of vehicles for tax purposes. If the DMV concludes that the car's fair market value is greater than the selling price, the sales tax can be assessed based on the fair market value.

Here's how to pay car sales tax in North Carolina after buying a used car from a private seller:

1. You and the seller must complete the necessary paperwork to transfer ownership of the vehicle, including the vehicle bill of sale (when you buy a car on PrivateAuto, we provide an official North Carolina bill of sale and prompt both of you to sign it in our app at the appropriate stage of the transaction process). To transfer vehicle ownership in North Carolina in a private transaction, you’ll need the following documents:
2. The original car title with an odometer reading and the seller’s signature
3. The buyer and the seller’s valid driver’s licenses or IDs
4. Calculate the amount of sales tax you owe. In North Carolina, the sales tax amount for a car is determined by multiplying the price of the car by the current state sales tax rate. For example, if you buy a $10,000 car, the sales tax would be $300 ($10,000 times 0.03).
5. Sign the title application (Form MVR-1). This form is used to ask for a certificate of title and registration in North Carolina.
6. Submit payment for all taxes and fees.
7. Register your vehicle. You will need to show proof of insurance, your driver's license or another form of identification, and a completed Application of a Registration Plate (Form MVR-330).
8. Get your new registration and title. Once you've paid the sales tax and turned in the necessary paperwork, you'll get your new registration and title for the car. The title and registration will show that you bought the car and that the sales tax has been paid. You will also get new license plates.

There’s no way around it: property taxes, income taxes, sales taxes, and other taxes are part of life. You are required by law to pay sales taxes on used cars in North Carolina unless you meet an exemption.

Certain individuals and organizations are exempt from paying used car sales taxes. These tax exemptions only apply to sales taxes and not to other fees related to buying a used car, such as registration or title costs.

Here are some sales tax exemptions for used vehicle purchases in North Carolina:

Many people think buying from car dealers is a great way to avoid hassle (and perhaps a fee here and there). In fact, when you go to a dealer, you end up paying more.

When you buy a car from a dealer, you pay all the same taxes and fees that you’d pay if you bought from a private seller. Dealers have a way of rolling it all up in the fine print, but the charges are still there.

Perhaps more significantly, nine times out of ten, you’ll pay more for a used vehicle when you buy it from a dealer, compared to buying the same vehicle from a private seller. That’s because dealers need to buy low and sell high to make a profit. Cut out the middleman and get the best price possible by transacting peer-to-peer on PrivateAuto.

Additionally, dealerships charge a "documentation fee" above and beyond all the other taxes and fees you have to pay. Since state law doesn’t place any limits on this fee, the documentation fee in the state of North Carolina can go as high as $550.

We do admit that dealers bring a certain amount of convenience that you don’t traditionally get when you buy from a private seller. In fact, that’s why PrivateAuto exists. We give you dealer-like convenience in the palm of your hand while allowing you to transact peer-to-peer with regular folks like yourself.

Avoid documentation fees and get lower prices when you shop used cars from private sellers right here on PrivateAuto.

If you don't pay your North Carolina car taxes on time, you might have to pay late fees. All tax assessments or additional taxes are subject to interest at the rate in effect from the date they were due until the date they were paid.

For taxes that are filed after the due date, you will be charged 5% of the net tax due for each month or part of a month that the tax is late, up to a maximum of 25% of the additional tax. If you file the sales tax with an extension, the late fee will be calculated from the date you file the tax, not from the date it was originally due.

In addition to late fees and interest, the NCDMV could charge you additional fees for driving your car with expired tags.

Avoid these problems and pay your car taxes on time. Read more about penalties and interest on the official North Carolina Department of Revenue (NCDOR) website.

If you’re in the market for a used car, you need to figure out how much sales tax you owe. While you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to calculate taxes, it can be a hassle to get to the bottom of your total sales tax amount.

With PrivateAuto’s used car sales tax calculator, figuring out sales tax has never been easier. This free online tool makes it hassle-free to calculate how much tax you have to pay on a used car purchase based on where you live and the purchase price of the car.

With our car sales tax calculator, anyone can be a tax expert.

Conduct private car transactions easily and safely with PrivateAuto. Our innovative platform connects buyers and sellers and gives them all the tools to complete the deal, from in-app financing to secure messaging to integrated payments.

PrivateAuto allows you to negotiate the price you want, schedule the test drive meetup, and pay for the car—all within our app without compromising your personal information.

Whether you want to buy a vehicle or are trying to sell your used vehicle for top dollar, PrivateAuto will help you get the deal done.

Get started with PrivateAuto today.

Here’s how you can sell your car in North Carolina with a few simple steps:

1. Gather necessary documentation

You’ll need your vehicle title and other documentation. Have all the paperwork you need to sell your car privately, so you’re not scrambling to find it at the moment of completing a sale.

2. Register on PrivateAuto and get verified

To make PrivateAuto a safe place for everyone, we require email, phone, and driver’s license verification, including facial recognition.

3. List your car

Easily create your PrivateAuto listing with our step-by-step guide. Bonus: we include a window brochure with a QR code scannable to your listing.

4. Set your terms

It’s your car, so you drive the deal! You can control where, when, and who you meet. Decide whether to accept only ID-verified buyers, or buyers with verified funds. Don’t waste your time with buyers who aren’t verified according to your preferences.

5. Vet incoming offers

Manage offers in one place with the ability to accept, reject, or counter offers within the app. Listing on multiple sites? Filter all communications through PrivateAuto by sharing your listing link on all platforms. Your personal info is protected: no more giving out your phone number or email address. All communication happens in our app.

6. Choose a buyer

When you find an offer you like, accept it and proceed to the next step with that buyer.

7. Schedule a meeting

The buyer will want to look at your car. No more back-and-forth texts. You never have to give out your phone number. Rather, use our handy scheduling feature to schedule test drives and coordinate a time and place for meetings. (Oh, and you’ll be able to finalize the transaction instantly at the first meeting, FYI.)

8. E-sign documents

After the buyer is satisfied with your car and the two of you have agreed on a purchase price, you can easily e-sign the bill of sale within our app, from your phone. With our shared documents feature, you can easily locate the paperwork needed after the sale.

9. Get paid, instantly

Before PrivateAuto, receiving funds was the most stressful part of the entire selling process, especially for any used car sale over $5,000. There just aren’t a lot of good ways to move large amounts of money quickly and conveniently. Those days are over! Verify and receive funds instantaneously with PrivateAuto Pay, our innovative banking integration. Guaranteed funds for transactions large and small.

10. Transfer title

When you sell your vehicle, fill out the necessary information on the back of the Certificate of Title and sign in order to transfer ownership of the vehicle to the new owner.