California › San Mateo County
San Mateo County car sales tax: 8.625% to 9.875%
The rate in San Mateo County
- Vehicle sales tax in San Mateo County is not a single number — it runs from 8.625% to 9.875% depending on which city you register in. Most of the county is at 9.875%.
- That is above the 7.25% most California counties charge — about $918.75 more tax on a $35,000 car than the typical county in the state.
- No other county in California charges this rate — San Mateo sits at number 4 of 58 by combined rate.
Where the rate changes inside San Mateo County
- 9.875% — Redwood City, Daly City, South San Francisco, Belmont, Brisbane, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, San Bruno.
- 9.75% — Palo Alto.
- 9.625% — San Mateo, Burlingame.
- 9.375% — Menlo Park, Atherton, El Granada, La Honda, Loma Mar, Millbrae, Montara, Moss Beach and 4 more.
- 8.625% — San Francisco.
- This is why a county-wide figure is not enough here: two addresses in San Mateo County can carry different tax on the same car. The calculator resolves it from your ZIP.
What a $35,000 car actually costs in San Mateo County
- Sales tax (9.875% — Redwood City, San Mateo County) — $3,464.64
- 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 — $39,183.39 on a $35,000 used car, before any down payment or financing.
ZIP codes in San Mateo County
- 94002, 94005, 94010, 94011, 94014, 94015, 94016, 94017, 94018, 94019, 94020, 94021, 94025, 94026, 94027, 94028, 94030, 94037, 94038, 94044, 94060, 94061, 94062, 94063, 94064, 94065, 94066, 94070, 94074, 94080, 94083, 94128, 94303, 94401, 94402, 94403, 94404, 94497.
- Any of these resolves to San Mateo County in the calculator, at whichever of the county's rates applies to that ZIP.
San Mateo County against nearby counties
- Santa Cruz County is 9.5% — $131.25 LESS tax on a $35,000 car than San Mateo County.
- Contra Costa County is 9.75% — $43.75 LESS tax on a $35,000 car than San Mateo County.
- Santa Clara County is 10% — $43.75 MORE tax on a $35,000 car than San Mateo County.
- Los Angeles County is 10.25% — $131.25 MORE tax on a $35,000 car than San Mateo 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 San Mateo 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 San Mateo County it ranges from 8.625% to 9.875%.
What is the car sales tax rate in San Mateo County?
It ranges from 8.625% to 9.875% depending on the city; most of the county is 9.875%.
How much is tax and fees on a $35,000 car in San Mateo County?
About $4,183.39 on top of the price, bringing it to roughly $39,183.39 out the door. The breakdown is above.
Elsewhere in California
Contra Costa County
9.75% on a vehicle purchase
Santa Clara County
10% on a vehicle purchase
Los Angeles County
10.25% on a vehicle purchase
Santa Cruz County
9.5% on a vehicle purchase
Santa Barbara County
9.25% 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