Car sales tax in Madison, Wisconsin
Buying a car in Madison, Wisconsin (Dane County), the combined state and local sales tax rate is 5.5%. On a $35,000 car that's about $1,949.75 in tax; with a $10,000 trade-in, about $1,399.75.
These are the figures the Before the Lot planner and its AI connector use for Madison, with their sources. They describe the rates and the arithmetic; they are not tax advice, and the dealer's quote and the state's documents are what count.
How the rate is made up
Madison, Dane County: 5.5% combined state and local rate (Wisconsin's rate file, rates as of 2026-10-01).
Out-the-door examples in Madison
Worked with the planner's own out-the-door math for a new car, the same numbers the connector gives an AI assistant.
| Line | $35,000 car, $10,000 trade-in | $50,000 car, no trade-in |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle price | $35,000 | $50,000 |
| Doc fee (see below) | $450 | $450 |
| Sales tax at 5.5% | $1,949.75 | $2,774.75 |
| Title and registration (a placeholder) | $250 | $250 |
| Out the door, as dealers quote it | $37,649.75 | $53,474.75 |
| Tax saved by the trade-in credit | $550 | — |
| Out the door after the trade-in credit | $37,099.75 | — |
The trade-in's value itself comes off what's financed or paid, not shown here. Title and registration differ by vehicle; $250 is the planner's placeholder, not a Wisconsin figure.
Doc fee and trade-in in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin sets no cap on the dealer's doc fee; the examples use a typical $450.
- A trade-in lowers the taxed price in Wisconsin: tax is on the price less the trade-in.
- A maker's rebate doesn't lower the taxed price.
Every rule for the state, with sources: Wisconsin car-buying rules.
Other places in Wisconsin
- Milwaukee County: 5.9%
- Dane County: 5.5%
- Milwaukee: 7.9%
- Brown County: 5.5%
- Racine County: 5.5%
- Outagamie County: 5.5%
Work out your own deal
Open the planner with Madison filled in
Change the price, trade-in and fees to your own. Nothing is sent to a server; the numbers ride in the link. In Claude or ChatGPT, add the connector and ask about Madison by name.
Questions
What is the car sales tax rate in Madison, Wisconsin?
Buying a car in Madison, Wisconsin (Dane County), the combined state and local sales tax rate is 5.5%. On a $35,000 car that's about $1,949.75 in tax; with a $10,000 trade-in, about $1,399.75.
What's the out-the-door price of a $50,000 car in Madison?
About $53,474.75: the $50,000 price, a $450 doc fee, $2,774.75 in sales tax and a $250 placeholder for title and registration. A dealer's itemized quote is what counts.
Does a trade-in lower the sales tax in Madison?
Yes. Wisconsin taxes the price less the trade-in, so a $10,000 trade-in on a $35,000 car lowers the tax by about $550.
Is the Madison rate charged on the dealer's address or mine?
Wisconsin's local tax on a car goes by where the buyer lives (the address the car is registered to). Wisconsin's own lookup by address: https://www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/Apps/strb.aspx