Dixie Auto Land / Buying tools

Michigan Out-the-Door
Car Price Calculator

Estimate the purchase price of a used car after Michigan sales tax and fees. Add a trade-in to see how it changes your total.

For used vehicles purchased from a Michigan dealer and registered in Michigan.

Purchase estimate inputs
01

Your purchase

USD

Choose a Dixie vehicle to prefill its advertised price. Availability requires confirmation.

After dealer discounts, before separate taxes and fees. Use the full price, not a monthly payment or down payment.

02

Taxes & fees

6% MI tax

Enter the combined government amount; exclude the title fee. Plate choice alone does not set the cost. Michigan registration calculator ↗ (look for Registration Fee Calculator).

Standard Michigan title $15.00

Trade-in & cash contributionoptional

Optional. Reduces the balance to finance, not the purchase total.

Buying in a different situation?

Private sales, leases, out-of-state registration, tax exemptions, commercial registration, and other trade-in types need individual review.

Ask us about your situation →

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One worked example

Purchase price.
Then, how you pay.

A $12,000.00 car with a $3,000.00 qualifying trade-in. These fees are illustrative, not Dixie’s fee schedule.

Vehicle + taxable dealer fee
$12,000.00 + $200.00
Taxable amount after trade-in deduction
$9,200.00
Michigan sales tax · 6%
$552.00
Title + entered registration / plates
$15.00 + $180.00
Purchase total
$12,947.00
Less trade-in + loan payoff
−$3,000.00 + $1,000.00
Balance after trade-in
$10,947.00
Less cash contribution
−$2,000.00
Amount to finance
$8,947.00

A little clarity

Know what’s in the total.

What does an out-the-door price include?

The vehicle selling price, applicable sales tax, dealer charges, title, and registration or plate charges. It is the purchase total before applying your trade-in as payment or your cash contribution.

How does a trade-in affect Michigan sales tax?

For a qualifying 2026 dealer transaction, the agreed value of one eligible motor-vehicle trade-in reduces the taxable amount by up to $12,000.00. This is a tax deduction, not a cash discount. The loan payoff affects your equity, not this deduction.

Why does registration sometimes remain an estimate?

Michigan registration depends on the original vehicle base price, age, plate choice, and other applicable charges. A used selling price alone is not enough. Enter the combined amount from the Secretary of State calculator or your dealer quote.

Does a down payment reduce the purchase price?

No. A cash contribution reduces the amount left to finance. It does not change the selling price, sales tax, or out-the-door purchase total.

Rules, assumptions & sources

2026 rules · Last reviewed 2026-09-17 · Version MI-2026.09.17-v1. No later-year trade-in cap is assumed.

Tax is rounded to the nearest cent. Standard title only; exceptional charges require a quote. No optional products are selected or included.

The documentary-fee ceiling for transactions covered by the Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Act is the lower of 5% of the cash price or $280.00. It is not an automatic dealer charge.