How Much Is Stamp Duty on a car in Australia?

Stamp duty is a tax that applies to both new and used cars, and it's easy to forget about until it lands on your bill. You've probably come across it when buying property, but the version that applies to motor vehicles is just as real, and it can add a fair chunk to what you actually hand over.

The tricky part is that stamp duty changes from state to state, so the figure you'd pay in Sydney isn't the one you'd pay in Perth. Here's how to work it out for your own car, wherever you're buying.

What Is Stamp Duty?

Stamp duty is a one-off tax you pay when a car changes hands. Buy from a showroom, a private seller or anywhere else, and the duty covers the cost of putting the vehicle in your name.

It applies to new and used cars alike, but the rate isn't the same everywhere. Some states charge a flat rate; others build in incentives to nudge buyers towards electric vehicles (EVs).

Depending on the state's rules, the duty is worked out on either the market value of the car or what you actually paid for it.

You'll also see it going by other names, such as motor vehicle duty or vehicle registration duty.

Who Pays Stamp Duty?

The buyer pays, and the money goes to the state revenue office at the point of purchase. One catch worth knowing: if you buy interstate, the duty is paid to the state where the car ends up registered.

Exemptions exist, but they differ from state to state. The state-by-state breakdown below covers the motor vehicle duty exemptions that apply where you live.

Stamp Duty in Australia by State

Here's what you'll pay, depending on where the car is registered.

Queensland

Queensland sets its rate off the car's engine type, and it also splits the calculation at the $100,000 mark.

For cars under $100,000, the prices are as follows:

Hybrid or EVs: $2 per $100
1-4 cylinders, 2 rotors, or steam vehicle: $3 per $100
5-6 cylinders or 3 rotors: $3.5 per $100
7+ cylinders: $4 per $100

For vehicles over $100,000, stamp duty is:

Hybrid or EVs: $4 per $100
1-4 cylinders, 2 rotors, or steam vehicle: $5 per $100
5-6 cylinders or 3 rotors: $5.5 per $100
7+ cylinders: $6 per $100

Seniors can get a discount on their duty. You may also be exempt altogether if the vehicle is:

Part of a divorce or property settlement
A gift from a relative
Registered in QLD
For business use (including if you're a car salesperson)
Part of the previous owner's estate and is passed on in the event of their death
For use by a charity or for primary production

There are a handful of other exemptions, which you can see here.

Victoria

Victoria's rules run deeper. The current rates came in during 2021 and hinge on the car's CO2 emissions and whether it's new or used.

Passenger cars emitting under 120g of CO2 per km count as "green passenger cars" and attract the lowest rates.

The fees are as follows:

Green passenger vehicle: $8.40 per $200
Primary producer passenger vehicle: $8.40 per $200
New utes, vans, motorcycles, and minibuses: $5.40 per $200
Used utes, vans, motorcycles, and minibuses: $8.40 per $200

Everything else, new or used, is charged on the vehicle's value, taking the market value or the price you paid, whichever is greater. The stamp duty calculator does the sums for you.

Where the money goes depends on how you buy: a licensed motor car trader collects it directly, while private sales settle it through VicRoads.

Exemptions cover vehicles that formed part of the previous owner's estate, those put to charitable use, and interstate transfers.

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory keeps it simple: motor vehicle duty is 3% of the dutiable value (the manufacturer's price for new vehicles, or a reasonable market value for used ones), plus a flat $18 to transfer ownership.

The exemptions largely mirror the other states, and the full list is here.

South Australia

South Australia charges passenger vehicles on the purchase price.

Up to $1000: $1 per $100, with a minimum of $5
$1001-2000: $10 plus $2 per $100
$2001-3000: $30 plus $3 per $100
$3001+: $60 plus $4 per $100

Commercial vehicles follow the same rates up to $2000, after which it's $30 plus $3 per $100 over $2000.

SA's exemptions run along similar lines to elsewhere, with council vehicles, repossessed vehicles and buses added to the mix.

New South Wales

NSW charges on the market value or purchase price, whichever is greater, and the maths is about as simple as it gets:

$44,999 or less: $3 for every $100
$45,000 or more: $1350 plus $5 per $100

You might be exempt depending on the vehicle type or any concessions you're entitled to. Common ones include:

DVA pensioners
Heavy vehicles (HGVs) weighing more than 4.5 tonnes
Caravans, trailers, or campers

The full list of exemptions lives on the NSW website.

Tasmania

Tasmania works off the vehicle's market value, and it's a quick one to calculate:

Up to $600: Flat rate of $20
$600-$34,999: $3 per $100
$35,000-$39,999: $1050 plus $11 per $100
$40,000+: $4 per $100

Western Australia

WA also charges on the dutiable value, but the middle band makes it a touch fiddlier than the rest.

Up to $25,000: 2.75% of the price
$25,001-$50,000: R% of the dutiable value where R = [2.75 + ((dutiable value – 25000)/6666.66)]
$50,000+: 6.5% of the price

To put that band into practice, a new car priced at $30,000 works out to a rate of 3.5%.

Exemptions apply where the vehicle is part of a divorce settlement, put to charitable use, or being weighed up as part of a corporate restructure. Caravans and trailers are also exempt when they change owners.

Australian Capital Territory

The ACT blends the purchase price with the car's standing in the Green Vehicle Guide. Class A vehicles skip motor vehicle duty entirely.

For the rest, the rates on dutiable value are:

Class B: $1 for every $100 on vehicles under $45k, or $450 plus $2 per $100 on vehicles over $45k
Class C: $3 for every $100 on vehicles under $45k, or $1350 plus $5 per $100 on vehicles over $45k
Class D: $4 for every $100 on vehicles under $45k, or $1800 plus $6 per $100 on vehicles over $45k

Passenger and commercial vehicles alike get hit with stamp duty, and it applies to new and used cars either way. In most cases you can run the numbers yourself and check your state government's website to see whether you qualify for an exemption, or lean on a stamp duty calculator to do the working.

And if you're buying used, run a history check on Carify first, so you know the car's actually worth what you're paying.

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