How Much are Used Car Sales Taxes in Nevada?

If you're looking to buy a used car in Nevada, buying from a private party can be a great way to save some money. The state of Nevada doesn’t impose sales tax if you buy a vehicle from a private seller.

Nevada has a 4.6% used car sales tax rate, but this is only imposed on purchases from car dealers. When buying from a private party, you’re off the hook for sales tax, but don’t forget about vehicle registration fees, title transfer fees, and license plate fees.

We dove deep into Nevada's vehicle sales taxes and other fees, and here’s the lowdown.

When you purchase a car from a private seller in Nevada, the state doesn’t charge sales tax. Private party vehicle sales—whether between family members or total strangers—are exempt from paying sales tax.

Unlike other US states that impose sales tax on all motor vehicle purchases, Nevada differentiates between buying a vehicle from a private seller and from a dealer. Sales tax applies if the sale is considered a “retail sale.” If you go to a car dealer, you will pay 4.6% of the car’s purchase price in sales tax.

Like in other states, you still have to pay registration, license, and vehicle title fees after buying your new-to-you car in a private transaction.

Just because you don’t owe sales tax on private party purchases doesn’t mean you can skip on registration, title transfer, and license plate fees for your used car.

You must register the car at a Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles office within 30 days of the purchase. You can make an online appointment at the offices in Las Vegas, Carson City, Henderson, and Reno.

The registration fee in Nevada is $33. Before you apply for registration, it’s a good idea to get an estimate of your registration fees so you know what to expect.

To register a vehicle in Nevada, you must bring the following documentation:

1. Vehicle title
2. Proof of insurance
3. An odometer reading
4. If the car has never been registered or titled in Nevada before, you need to present a vehicle inspection certificate
5. Nevada Emissions Vehicle Inspection report (if needed)
Before registering your car, you must first title it.

Any car made in 2011 or later must have the Odometer Reading section of the title filled out at the time of sale. If you have a loan or lease on the car, you can’t get a title.

Here are the costs of a title transfer in Nevada and other title fees:

You need to fill out the Application for Duplicate Nevada Certificate of Title form.

Standard Nevada license plates cost $7 for a set of two large plates or $3.50 for a single small plate. Personalized and specialty plates cost extra.

Nevada law requires that sellers keep the license plates and either use them on another vehicle or turn them in to be canceled within 60 days (30 days for special plates) after the sale. If they wish to transfer the plates to the buyer, they need to fill out a License Plate Release form.

California residents often cross the border and shop for used vehicles in Nevada. Buying in Nevada is a bit cheaper compared to California, and there’s no sales tax when you buy from private sellers.

But you still need to pay California sales tax when you bring it back and register it in Cali. California imposes a 7.25% sales tax on all motor vehicle purchases, whether you buy from car dealers or private parties. And then there are the local sales taxes: many cities and counties levy their own sales taxes, which can, depending on where in the state you live, bring the total tax to 10% or even more.

Many people think buying from car dealers is a great way to avoid hassle and reduce fees. In fact, when you go to a Nevada dealer, you end up coughing up more cash.

Perhaps more significantly, nine times out of ten, you’ll Additionally, dealerships charge a "documentation fee" above and beyond all the other taxes and fees you have to pay. The state of Nevada does not limit the amount of documentation fee a dealer can charge. That’s why Nevada has some of the highest documentation fees in the country, going as high as $440.

Sure, dealers bring convenience that private sellers typically don’t, but that is where PrivateAuto comes in. Our platform offers the same dealer-like experience while allowing you to buy or sell from regular people without paying hefty fees. Get lower prices when you shop used cars from private sellers right here on PrivateAuto.

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 shop used vehicles for sale or are trying to sell your used car 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 Nevada 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.