Buffalo County car sales tax: 5.5% to 7%

The rate in Buffalo County

Vehicle sales tax in Buffalo County is not a single number — it runs from 5.5% to 7% depending on which city you register in. Most of the county is at 5.5%.
That matches the rate most Nebraska counties charge, so buying here carries no local premium or discount.
89 other counties in Nebraska charge the same rate, out of 93.

Where the rate changes inside Buffalo County

7% — Kearney, Elm Creek, Gibbon, Ravenna.
6.5% — Pleasanton.
5.5% — Kearney (outside city limits), Amherst, Elm Creek (outside city limits), Gibbon (outside city limits), Miller, Odessa, Pleasanton (outside city limits), Ravenna (outside city limits) and 2 more.
This is why a county-wide figure is not enough here: two addresses in Buffalo County can carry different tax on the same car, and in 6 of its ZIP codes the boundary runs through the middle so the ZIP alone cannot settle it. The calculator asks you which side you are on.

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

Sales tax (7% — Kearney, Buffalo County) — $2,470.93
Doc fee (typical) — $299.00
Title fee — $10.00
Registration fee — $15.00
Additional registration fees — $5.50
License plates (est.) — $8.20
Motor vehicle tax (est.) — $87.00
Motor vehicle fee (est.) — $7.00
Out the door — $37,902.63 on a $35,000 used car, before any down payment or financing.

ZIP codes in Buffalo County

68812, 68836, 68840, 68845, 68847, 68848, 68849, 68858, 68861, 68866, 68869, 68870, 68876.
Any of these resolves to Buffalo County in the calculator, at whichever of the county's rates applies to that ZIP.

Buffalo County against nearby counties

Dakota County is 6% — $175.00 MORE tax on a $35,000 car than Buffalo County.
Douglas County is 7% — $525.00 MORE tax on a $35,000 car than Buffalo County.

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 Buffalo 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 Buffalo County it ranges from 5.5% to 7%.