Car sales tax in Dane County, Wisconsin: 5.5%

The rate in Dane County

Vehicle sales tax in Dane County is 5.5%, covering all 57 ZIP codes in the county.
That matches the rate most Wisconsin counties charge, so buying here carries no local premium or discount.
68 other counties in Wisconsin charge the same rate, out of 72.

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

Sales tax (5.5% — Madison, Dane County) — $1,940.35
Doc fee (typical) — $279.00
Title fee — $214.50
Registration (annual) — $85.00
New plate fee — $12.00
County wheel tax ($40/yr) — $40.00
City or village wheel tax ($40/yr) (est.) — $40.00
Out the door — $37,610.85 on a $35,000 used car, before any down payment or financing.

Charges that apply only in Dane County

County wheel tax ($40/yr) — $40.00. Annual local registration fee ("wheel tax") where the car is kept. Not charged again if you transfer plates from a car you are replacing. (Wis. Stat. 341.35; WisDOT wheel tax list)
These apply in Dane County specifically and not across the rest of Wisconsin, so a statewide estimate will miss them.

Cities and towns in Dane County

Madison, Sun Prairie, Belleville, Black Earth, Blue Mounds, Cambridge, Cottage Grove, Cross Plains, Dane, Deerfield, Deforest, Marshall, Mazomanie, Mc Farland, Middleton, Morrisonville, Mount Horeb, Oregon, Stoughton, Verona, Waunakee, Windsor — all at 5.5%.

ZIP codes in Dane County

53508, 53515, 53517, 53523, 53527, 53528, 53529, 53531, 53532, 53558, 53559, 53560, 53562, 53571, 53572, 53575, 53589, 53590, 53593, 53596, 53597, 53598, 53701, 53702, 53703, 53704, 53705, 53706, 53707, 53708, 53711, 53713, 53714, 53715, 53716, 53717, 53718, 53719, 53725, 53726, 53744, 53774, 53777, 53778, 53779, 53782, 53783, 53784, 53785, 53786, 53788, 53789, 53790, 53791, 53792, 53793, 53794.
Any of these resolves to Dane County in the calculator at 5.5%.

Dane County against nearby counties

Waukesha County is 5% — $175.00 LESS tax on a $35,000 car than Dane County.
Winnebago County is 5% — $175.00 LESS tax on a $35,000 car than Dane County.
Milwaukee County is 7.9% — $840.00 MORE tax on a $35,000 car than Dane 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) selling price, before fees and tax.

Your ZIP code

Tax and registration follow where YOU register — not the dealership.

Condition

New Used CPO

Fuel

EV/PHEV surcharges apply in many states.

More options — trade-in, rebates, doc fee, add-ons

Trade-in value

$

Reduces your taxable amount only in states that allow it.

Trade-in loan payoff

$

Display-only in the equity math — doesn't affect tax.

Manufacturer rebate

$

Taxed in some states, a tax-free discount in others.

Dealer discount

$

Off-invoice discount from the dealer — different from a rebate for tax.

Dealer doc fee (if quoted)

$

Leave blank to use your state's cap or the typical amount.

Dealer add-ons total

$

Nitrogen, VIN etch, protection packages… labeled negotiable in the output.

F&I products total (VSC, GAP…)

$

Excluded from tax in some states when itemized separately.

Model year

MSRP / vehicle value

$

Needed in states with value-based registration (AZ VLT, NV GST).

Financing the purchase I have a plate to transfer (matters in Florida — skips the $225 initial registration)

Truck / commercial (California weight fees)

Vehicle type

Pickups always use the unladen-weight schedule (VC §9400) — never CVRA.

Curb (unladen) weight, lbs

On the door-jamb sticker. Blank = typical half-ton bracket ($80).

Axles

Declared GVW/CGW, lbs

As declared on the REG 4008. CVRA vehicles skip the TIF.

Used vehicle details (California)

Plate expiration (month)

Expired or expiring within 120 days of purchase → renewal fees ride along with the deal. Blank = assume they're due (safe estimate).

No current California plates (out-of-state car — full first registration + smog test due)

My price already includes…

Some dealers now fold fees into the advertised price (FTC pressure; California's total-price law). Check what yours covers so nothing gets counted twice.

Doc fee Emissions / smog testing charge (used vehicles)

Common questions

Are there extra car fees in Dane County?

Yes — 1 charge applies here that does not apply statewide. The amounts and the statute behind each are listed above.

What is the car sales tax rate in Dane County?

5.5% on a vehicle purchase, combining the Wisconsin state rate with the local rate.

How much is tax and fees on a $35,000 car in Dane County?

About $2,610.85 on top of the price, bringing it to roughly $37,610.85 out the door. The breakdown is above.

Car sales tax in Dane County, Wisconsin: 5.5%

The rate in Dane County

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

Charges that apply only in Dane County

Cities and towns in Dane County

ZIP codes in Dane County

Dane County against nearby counties

Run your own numbers

Common questions

Are there extra car fees in Dane County?

What is the car sales tax rate in Dane County?

How much is tax and fees on a $35,000 car in Dane County?

Elsewhere in Wisconsin

Crawford County

Dunn County

Eau Claire County

Green County

Iowa County

Full Wisconsin out-the-door guide

How Wisconsin sales tax works