California › Kern County
Kern County car sales tax: 7.25% to 9.25%
The rate in Kern County
- Vehicle sales tax in Kern County is not a single number — it runs from 7.25% to 9.25% depending on which city you register in. Most of the county is at 8.25%.
- That is above the 7.25% most California counties charge — about $350.00 more tax on a $35,000 car than the typical county in the state.
- 8 other counties in California charge the same rate, out of 58.
Where the rate changes inside Kern County
- 9.25% — Ridgecrest.
- 8.25% — Bakersfield, Boron, California City, Delano, Edwards, Mojave, Tehachapi, Arvin and 29 more.
- 7.25% — Shafter.
- This is why a county-wide figure is not enough here: two addresses in Kern County can carry different tax on the same car. The calculator resolves it from your ZIP.
What a $35,000 car actually costs in Kern County
- Sales tax (8.25% — Bakersfield, Kern County) — $2,894.51
- Doc fee (state cap) — $85.00
- Registration fee — $76.00
- CHP fee — $34.00
- DMV transfer fee — $15.00
- Vehicle License Fee (VLF) — $227.50
- Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF) — $198.00
- County/district fees (est.) — $25.00
- Dealer smog test fee — $50.00
- Smog certificate fee — $8.25
- Out the door — $38,613.26 on a $35,000 used car, before any down payment or financing.
ZIP codes in Kern County
- 93203, 93205, 93206, 93215, 93216, 93220, 93222, 93224, 93225, 93226, 93238, 93240, 93241, 93243, 93249, 93250, 93251, 93252, 93255, 93263, 93268, 93276, 93280, 93283, 93285, 93287, 93301, 93302, 93303, 93304, 93305, 93306, 93307, 93308, 93309, 93311, 93312, 93313, 93314, 93380, 93383, 93384, 93385, 93386, 93387, 93388, 93389, 93390, 93501, 93502, 93504, 93505, 93516, 93518, 93519, 93523, 93524, 93527, 93528, 93531, and 7 more.
- Any of these resolves to Kern County in the calculator, at whichever of the county's rates applies to that ZIP.
Kern County against nearby counties
- Mendocino County is 7.875% — $131.25 LESS tax on a $35,000 car than Kern County.
- Stanislaus County is 7.875% — $131.25 LESS tax on a $35,000 car than Kern County.
- Fresno County is 8.35% — $35.00 MORE tax on a $35,000 car than Kern County.
- City and County of San Francisco County is 8.625% — $131.25 MORE tax on a $35,000 car than Kern 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
Common questions
Why is the car sales tax different in parts of Kern 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 Kern County it ranges from 7.25% to 9.25%.
What is the car sales tax rate in Kern County?
It ranges from 7.25% to 9.25% depending on the city; most of the county is 8.25%.
How much is tax and fees on a $35,000 car in Kern County?
About $3,613.26 on top of the price, bringing it to roughly $38,613.26 out the door. The breakdown is above.
Elsewhere in California
Butte County
8.25% on a vehicle purchase
Calaveras County
8.25% on a vehicle purchase
Kings County
8.25% on a vehicle purchase
Marin County
8.25% on a vehicle purchase
San Benito County
8.25% on a vehicle purchase
Full California out-the-door guide
Rates, doc fees, registration and title for the whole state
How California sales tax works
What sits in the taxable amount, and how the rate is sourced