What is car sales tax?
Is there a sales tax on leasing a vehicle in Pennsylvania?
Yes, leasing a vehicle in Pennsylvania is subject to sales tax. The tax is applied to the lease payments and any additional charges under the lease agreement.
Do I have to pay sales tax on a used car in Pennsylvania?
Yes, the same 6% sales tax rate applies to used cars. It's calculated based on the purchase price or the current market value of the vehicle.
I'm wondering about the logistics of paying sales tax when purchasing a used vehicle from a private seller in PA. I see that it's a certain percentage of fair market value and that you pay it at the DMV or transfer agent by check or money order at the same time you transfer the title. (Some DMVs accept card payments now, but I'm not counting on finding one that does.)
My issue is that I don't have any checks; I ordered some but they won't ship for three weeks. If I have to use a money order, how do I find out beforehand what the sales tax will be so I can buy a money order for the correct amount and bring it with me? It seems like the DMV must use some uniform source for the fair market value of a vehicle of a certain make/model/year, so it should be possible for me to calculate the sales tax, but how do I do that?
Or is this an exercise in futility and I should just wait until I have checks in hand? Any insight from anyone who has gone through the process would be a huge help.