Tuscaloosa County car sales tax: 3% to 4.25%

The rate in Tuscaloosa County

Vehicle sales tax in Tuscaloosa County is not a single number — it runs from 3% to 4.25% depending on which city you register in. Most of the county is at 3.875%.
That is above the 3% most Alabama counties charge — about $306.25 more tax on a $35,000 car than the typical county in the state.
No other county in Alabama charges this rate — Tuscaloosa sits at number 17 of 67 by combined rate.

Where the rate changes inside Tuscaloosa County

4.25% — Brookwood, Vance.
3.875% — Tuscaloosa, Northport, Abernant, Buhl, Cottondale, Duncanville, Echola, Elrod and 5 more.
3.75% — Coaling.
3% — Coker.
This is why a county-wide figure is not enough here: two addresses in Tuscaloosa County can carry different tax on the same car. The calculator resolves it from your ZIP.

What a $35,000 car actually costs in Tuscaloosa County

Sales tax (3.875% — Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County) — $1,384.23
Doc fee (typical) — $722.00
Title fee — $15.00
Title agent's commission — $1.50
License tax and registration fee (est.) — $23.00
County issuance fee — $1.25
Temporary tag — $2.25
Out the door — $37,149.23 on a $35,000 used car, before any down payment or financing.

ZIP codes in Tuscaloosa County

35401, 35402, 35403, 35404, 35405, 35406, 35407, 35440, 35444, 35446, 35449, 35452, 35453, 35456, 35457, 35458, 35463, 35468, 35473, 35475, 35476, 35478, 35480, 35482, 35486, 35487, 35490.
Any of these resolves to Tuscaloosa County in the calculator, at whichever of the county's rates applies to that ZIP.

Tuscaloosa County against nearby counties

Barbour County is 3.75% — $43.75 LESS tax on a $35,000 car than Tuscaloosa County.
Bullock County is 3.75% — $43.75 LESS tax on a $35,000 car than Tuscaloosa County.
Coosa County is 4% — $43.75 MORE tax on a $35,000 car than Tuscaloosa County.
Escambia County is 4% — $43.75 MORE tax on a $35,000 car than Tuscaloosa County.
This follows where you REGISTER, not where the dealer is, so a lower rate nearby only helps if you actually live there. It is not something you can choose at the dealership.

Run your own numbers

Vehicle price

$

The negotiated or advertised price, before tax and registration.

Your ZIP code

Tax and registration follow where YOU register — not the dealership.

Dealer's ZIP code (optional)

A few states tax at the dealer's location instead of yours. If you know the dealer's ZIP, enter it for an exact tax.

Condition

New Used CPO

Fuel

EV/PHEV surcharges apply in many states.

More options — trade-in, rebates, doc fee, add-ons

Common questions

Why is the car sales tax different in parts of Tuscaloosa County?

Cities inside the county can levy their own rate on top of the county and state rate, so the combined figure changes at the city line. In Tuscaloosa County it ranges from 3% to 4.25%.