Oklahoma (OK) Vehicle Sales Tax & Fees [+ Calculator]
Michael Collado is a car buying expert and has been a professional automotive writer since 2009. He’s written about dealership sales, vehicle reviews and comparisons, and service and maintenance for over 100 national automotive dealerships. Previously, Collado was a copywriter at the ad agency TBWA/Chiat/Day where he worked on brand campaigns for Nissan, ABC Television, Sony PlayStation, and Energizer. His recognition in the ad industry includes awards from Communication Arts and The Clios.
Collado has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida, with a major in Psychology and a minor in Marketing.
Looking to purchase a vehicle in Oklahoma? Then you may have to pay an excise sales tax of 3.25% and a 1.25% sales tax, for a total of 4.5%.
Because of this potential expense, many people want to know if tax exemptions or if buying a car out of state can help.
Let our experienced editors guide you through the current sales tax rate and associated fees with Oklahoma car sales.
Key Takeaways
- Total tax on a vehicle in Oklahoma is 4.5%
- For used cars, the first $1,500 is taxed at $20, and the 4.5% rate applies to the remaining amount
- Rebates, incentives, and trade-ins are subtracted before sales tax is applied
- The only vehicles exempt from sales tax are vehicles received as a gift or in a divorce or will
Table of Contents
- Key Takeaways
- Understanding Car Sales Tax in Oklahoma Video
- How Much Is the Car Sales Tax in Oklahoma?
- How to Calculate Oklahoma Sales Tax on a New Car
- Do I Have to Pay Sales Tax on a Used Car?
- Oklahoma Sales Tax Calculator for New & Used Cars
- Which County Has the Highest Tax? Which Has the Lowest?
- Car Sales Tax for Trade-Ins in Oklahoma
- Car Sales Tax on Private Sales in Oklahoma
- Tax on Rebates & Dealer Incentives
- Oklahoma DMV & State Fees
- When Sales Tax Is Exempt in Oklahoma
- Oklahoma EV Rebates & Incentives
- Best Car Deals by Category
- Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding Car Sales Tax in Oklahoma Video
How Much Is the Car Sales Tax in Oklahoma?
The Motor Vehicle Excise Tax on a new vehicle sale is 3.25%, and the sales tax is 1.25%, which totals to 4.5%.
There are special tax rates and conditions for used vehicles, which we will cover later.
How to Calculate Oklahoma Sales Tax on a New Car
To calculate the sales tax on your vehicle, find the total sales tax fee for the city and/or county. In Oklahoma, this will always be 4.5%. Multiply the vehicle price (after trade-ins and incentives) by the sales tax fee.
For example, imagine you are purchasing a vehicle for $50,000 with the state sales tax of 4.5%. You trade-in a vehicle for $5,000 and get an incentive for $1,000. Oklahoma does not charge tax on trade-ins or incentives/rebates, so you would subtract $6,000 from the car cost, to get $44,000, which is the taxable amount.
In this example, multiply $44,000 by .045 to get $1,980. The total purchase price of the vehicle would be $45,980.
Calculate Sales Tax in Oklahoma Example (New Car)
- Initial Car Price: $50,000
- Sales Tax Rate: 4.5%
- Trade-In Amount: $5,000
- Rebate/Incentive Amount: $1,000
Sales Tax = ($50,000 - $5,000 - $1,000) * .045
Sales Tax = $1,980
Do I Have to Pay Sales Tax on a Used Car?
You will have to pay the same 4.5% sales tax on used vehicles, however, the first $1,500 is taxed for $20, and the remainder is taxed at the 4.5% rate.
Calculate Sales Tax in Oklahoma Example (Used Car)
- Initial Car Price: $20,000
- First $1,500 Tax: $20
- Remainder Amount to be Taxed at 4.5%: $18,500
- Tax for Remaining Amount: $832.50
- Total Tax: $832.50 + $20 = $852.50
Total Tax = $20 + [($20,000-$1,500) * .045]
Oklahoma Sales Tax Calculator for New & Used Cars
Which County Has the Highest Tax? Which Has the Lowest?
The county with the highest sales tax is Okfuskee County with an 11.5% tax rate. The county with the lowest sales tax is Washington County with an 8.9% tax rate.
However, Oklahoma charges a flat 4.5% Motor Vehicle Excise Tax and Sales Tax for car purchases.
Car Sales Tax for Trade-Ins in Oklahoma
You do not have to pay a sale tax on the trade-in on your vehicle in the state of Oklahoma.
In other words, when calculating sales tax, be sure to subtract the trade-in amount from the car price.
Let’s say that you're purchasing a new car for $40,000 and your trade-in is valued at $10,000. This would put your new vehicle purchase price at $30,000, which is the taxable amount.
Car Sales Tax on Private Sales in Oklahoma
You will have to pay the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax of 4.5% for private sales.
It's important to note, that for used cars, the first $1,500 has a flat $20 tax, and the remainder is then taxed at 4.5%.
Tax on Rebates & Dealer Incentives
The state of Oklahoma does not tax rebates and dealer incentives. In other words, be sure to subtract any rebates or incentives from the purchases price before calculating the sales tax amount.
As an example, let’s say you want to purchase a new truck for $50,000 and the dealer provides a $4,000 rebate. You do not have to pay a sales tax on the $4,000 rebate. Therefore, the taxable amount is $46,000.
Oklahoma DMV & State Fees
The vehicle registration fee will vary according to how long you own the vehicle.
- First Year - Fourth Year: $91.00 per year
- After Fourth Year: $81.00 per year
- Title Cost: $17.00
Oklahoma Dealership Fees
The average dealer fee in Oklahoma is $270, with no statewide limit. This is known as the document fee or the “doc fee".
This fee covers the cost of the paperwork processing that is required by the state. This fee is usually non-negotiable. However, other fees such as advertising or transport fees can be negotiated.
When Sales Tax Is Exempt in Oklahoma
The following situations allow for car sales tax exemptions:
- A vehicle is received as a gift
- A vehicle is received in a divorce
- A vehicle is received in a will
Oklahoma EV Rebates & Incentives
There are some EV rebates available in Oklahoma, related to charging.
Oklahoma residents can still claim the federal EV tax credit for qualifying vehicles.
Tax information and rates are subject to change, please be sure to verify with your local DMV.
