Dakota County car sales tax: 5.5% to 7%

The rate in Dakota County

Vehicle sales tax in Dakota 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 6%.
That is above the 5.5% most Nebraska counties charge — about $175.00 more tax on a $35,000 car than the typical county in the state.
No other county in Nebraska charges this rate — Dakota sits at number 3 of 93 by combined rate.

Where the rate changes inside Dakota County

7% — Emerson, Hubbard, Jackson, South Sioux City.
6.5% — Dakota City.
6% — Dakota City (outside city limits), Homer, Hubbard (outside city limits), Jackson (outside city limits), South Sioux City (outside city limits), Waterbury (Dakota County, outside city limits).
5.5% — Emerson (outside city limits).
This is why a county-wide figure is not enough here: two addresses in Dakota County can carry different tax on the same car, and in 5 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 Dakota County

Sales tax (6.5% — Dakota City, Dakota County) — $2,294.44
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 — $37,726.14 on a $35,000 used car, before any down payment or financing.

ZIP codes in Dakota County

68030, 68731, 68733, 68741, 68743, 68776, 68785.
Any of these resolves to Dakota County in the calculator, at whichever of the county's rates applies to that ZIP.

Dakota County against nearby counties

Adams County is 5.5% — $175.00 LESS tax on a $35,000 car than Dakota County.
Antelope County is 5.5% — $175.00 LESS tax on a $35,000 car than Dakota County.
Douglas County is 7% — $350.00 MORE tax on a $35,000 car than Dakota County.
Lancaster County is 7.25% — $437.50 MORE tax on a $35,000 car than Dakota 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 Dakota 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 Dakota County it ranges from 5.5% to 7%.