How much is car sales tax in Florida?

Florida's sales tax on a vehicle purchase is 6 percent of the sale price, with no local add-ons in most counties (some counties like Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach have small discretionary surtaxes, typically 0.5 to 1 percent). So on a $15,000 car, you'd owe roughly $900 to $1,050 in sales tax depending on your exact location. This is calculated and collected by the dealer or broker at the time of sale—you don't pay it separately to the state. The sales tax is due when you register the vehicle with the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles, and the dealer typically handles this paperwork and collects the tax upfront as part of your total out-of-pocket cost. Some buyers forget to budget for this, so it's worth factoring in before you agree to a purchase price. If you're financing, the tax can be rolled into your loan, which means you'll pay interest on it over time. One thing to know: if you trade in a vehicle, Florida allows you to subtract the trade-in value from the sale price before calculating tax. So if you're buying a $20,000 car and trading in a $5,000 vehicle, you only pay tax on $15,000. This is a real savings and another reason to get your trade-in appraised accurately. When you're ready to buy, Elite Edge can walk you through the exact tax and tag costs for your situation and make sure everything is handled correctly. Use the free trade-in appraisal at tradein.eliteedgeautobroker.com to see what your current vehicle is worth, or text (954) 907-2386 to discuss your purchase.

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