Shelby County car sales tax: 9.25% to 9.75%

The rate in Shelby County

Vehicle sales tax in Shelby County is not a single number — it runs from 9.25% to 9.75% depending on which city you register in. Most of the county is at 9.75%.
That matches the rate most Tennessee counties charge, so buying here carries no local premium or discount.
58 other counties in Tennessee charge the same rate, out of 95.

Where the rate changes inside Shelby County

9.75% — Memphis, Millington, Cordova, Germantown, Collierville, Arlington, Bartlett, Eads and 1 more.
9.25% — Memphis (outside city limits), Cordova (outside city limits), Brunswick, Collierville (outside city limits), Eads (outside city limits), Millington (outside city limits).
This is why a county-wide figure is not enough here: two addresses in Shelby County can carry different tax on the same car, and in 10 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 Shelby County

Sales tax (7% state + 2.75% local on first $1,600 — Memphis, Shelby County) — $2,542.44
State single article tax (2.75% on $1,600 to $3,200) — $44.00
Doc fee (typical) — $692.00
Title fee — $14.00
Registration and plate — $26.50
County clerk fee — $2.50
County wheel tax (est.) — $75.00
Temporary tag (est.) — $8.50
Out the door — $38,404.94 on a $35,000 used car, before any down payment or financing.

ZIP codes in Shelby County

37501, 37544, 38002, 38014, 38016, 38017, 38018, 38027, 38028, 38029, 38053, 38054, 38055, 38083, 38088, 38101, 38103, 38104, 38105, 38106, 38107, 38108, 38109, 38111, 38112, 38113, 38114, 38115, 38116, 38117, 38118, 38119, 38120, 38122, 38124, 38125, 38126, 38127, 38128, 38130, 38131, 38132, 38133, 38134, 38135, 38136, 38137, 38138, 38139, 38141, 38145, 38148, 38150, 38151, 38152, 38157, 38159, 38161, 38163, 38166, and 17 more.
Any of these resolves to Shelby County in the calculator, at whichever of the county's rates applies to that ZIP.

Shelby County against nearby counties

Montgomery County is 9.5% — $87.50 LESS tax on a $35,000 car than Shelby County.
Roane County is 9.5% — $87.50 LESS tax on a $35,000 car than Shelby 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 Shelby 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 Shelby County it ranges from 9.25% to 9.75%.