Motor Vehicle and Trailer Sales and Use Tax

The amount taxed on casual sales (non-dealer sales) is based on the higher of:

• The actual sales price of the motor vehicle, or
• The clean trade-in value of the motor vehicle adjusted by either the high mileage adjustment (decreases value) or the low mileage adjustment (increases value).

The RMV properly adjusts for mileage at the time of registration. Value adjustments based on the mechanical or structural condition of the motor vehicle are not considered under current sales and use tax law. For example, if the car engine or doors need replacing, the vehicle's book value will not be adjusted.

If you believe that you have paid sales or use tax on an incorrect book value, visit Request a motor vehicle sales or use tax abatement.

Salvage vehicles

An exception to the book value rule is a salvage vehicle. A salvage vehicle is any motor vehicle that an insurance company:

• Has deemed to be a total loss due to fire, theft, collision, flood, or similar event, and
• Has been issued a title stamped or labeled "salvage" by the RMV.

If the RMV has issued a motor vehicle title to the seller as a "salvage vehicle," the sales or use tax is based on on the actual sales price.

• Transfer by contest, drawing or raffle (Form MVU-21)

• Transfer of a fire engine or ambulance (Form MVU-22)

• Motor vehicle, trailer or other vehicle transferred to an insurer (Form MVU-23)

• Gifts (Form MVU-24) – As long as the donor paid any Massachusetts sales or use tax before, transferring the complete ownership of a motor vehicle, trailer, or other vehicle by a donor to a recipient (and intended on the donor's part as a gift) is tax-exempt.

  For this exemption to apply, all of the following must be true:

  • Neither party made or received payment (related to the transfer) in any form
  • Neither party promised payment for the vehicle, and neither party expects payment in the future
  • Neither party assumed any debt related to the transfer, and
  • At the time of the transfer, the donor intended to make a gift of the vehicle to the recipient.
     

• Transfer to or from a business entity (Form MVU-25) – Selling or transferring a motor vehicle, trailer, or other vehicle to or from a business entity is usually taxable. However, the sale or transfer is tax-exempt as long as the transferor paid Massachusetts sales or use tax before, and the sale or transfer is:
  • A transaction that qualifies as a "reorganization" (within the meaning of I.R.C. s. 368(a)(1))
  • For forming a partnership or corporate trust, or for organizing a corporation, solely in exchange for ownership interest in the enterprise, or
  • To an owner of a business entity solely in exchange for the owner's interest on completely closing a partnership or corporate trust, or on the complete liquidation of a corporation
    
    Additionally, the transfer must be completed within 90 days, and the recipient must claim the exemption.
     
• Family transfer (Form MVU-26) – As long as the transferor paid any Massachusetts sales or use tax before,  casually selling or transferring a motor vehicle or trailer to a:
  • Parent
  • Spouse
  • Child, or
  • Sibling
    
    Is exempt from the tax. A vehicle owned jointly by a married couple may be treated as owned by either.
     

• Transfer by intestacy, will, or otherwise (Form MVU-27)

• Out-of-state buyers (Form MVU-29) – Generally, buying a motor vehicle or trailer outside Massachusetts that is later brought to or used in Massachusetts is tax-exempt if all of the following requirements are met:

1. The vehicle's buyer paid a sales tax to the state or territory they bought it in
2. This tax was legally due to that state or territory
3. The vehicle's buyer has not received and has no right to receive a tax refund from the state or territory they bought it in, and
4. The state the tax was paid to allows a corresponding exemption for motor vehicle sales tax paid to Massachusetts

• However, if the motor vehicle or trailer was bought outside Massachusetts and brought into Massachusetts within 6 months of the purchase date, 1 of the following scenarios applies:

1. The buyer doesn't have to pay Massachusetts use tax:
   • If the state or territory it was bought in has a reciprocal agreement with Massachusetts (allows a corresponding exemption/credit for sales/use taxes paid to Massachusetts), and
   • The rate of tax paid to that state or territory is greater than or equal to the Massachusetts use tax rate.
2. The buyer must pay part of the Massachusetts use tax:
   • If the state or territory it was bought in allows a corresponding exemption/credit for sales/use taxes paid to Massachusetts and the rate of tax paid to that state or territory is less than the Massachusetts use tax rate.
   • The use tax is calculated by taking the difference between the Massachusetts use tax rate (6.25%) and the other state's tax rate, and multiplying that difference by the sales price.
3. The buyer must pay the full Massachusetts use tax:
   • If the state or territory it was bought in does not allow a corresponding exemption/credit for sales/use taxes paid to Massachusetts.
     
     To learn more visit, TIR 03-1 Sales/Use: Exemption from Massachusetts Use Tax for Tax Paid Under Laws of Another State.
      

• Transfer by repossession (Form MVU-30)
   
• Transfer to a disabled person (Form MVU-33) – Selling or transferring a motor vehicle to and for the use of anyone who has suffered the loss or permanent loss of use of:
  • Both legs
  • Both arms, or
  • 1 leg and 1 arm
    
    Is exempt from the sales and use tax. For this exemption's purposes, loss of use means losing at least 80% of function.
    
    A vehicle that is jointly owned by a couple may be treated as owned by either one. This exemption applies to a single registered motor vehicle purchased for personal (non-commercial) use.
     
• Sales to an exempt organization – Selling or transferring a motor vehicle, trailer, or other vehicle to any 501(c)(3) organization (under I.R.C. § 501(c)(3)) is exempt from the sales and use tax, but only if:
  • The vehicle is bought by or transferred to the organization
  • The vehicle is registered in the organization's name, and
  • The vehicle is used directly and exclusively for the organization's purposes
  • The Organization holds a valid certificate of exemption (Form ST-2)
     

Exemption forms and abatement

If you qualify for an exemption, visit Motor Vehicle Sales and Use (MVU) Tax Forms.

If in error you paid a sales or use tax when you qualified for an exemption visit Request a motor vehicle sales or use tax abatement.

If a nonresident of Massachusetts buys a motor vehicle or trailer in Massachusetts and takes title to and/or possession of the vehicle in Massachusetts, the sale is subject to Massachusetts sales or use tax, regardless of whether the nonresident intends to use the motor vehicle or trailer in or outside of Massachusetts.

If a dealer sells a vehicle to a customer who applies a manufacturer's rebate to reduce the sales price at the time of the sale, the rebate is treated as a cash discount and excluded from the sales price subject to tax.

However, if a dealer sells a vehicle to a customer who will receive a rebate after the sale, the sales tax is based on the full purchase price. Upon receiving the rebate, the customer is not entitled to tax refunds originally paid on the rebate amount.

To learn more visit 830 CMR 64H.1.4: Discounts, Coupons and Rebates.

A rescission of sale is a cancelled sale. You're entitled to a refund of the sales or use tax you paid if you're a buyer who:

• Returns a motor vehicle to the seller within 180 days from the date of sale
• Returns a trailer to the seller within 90 days from the date of sale
• Receives the full consideration paid, minus the seller's pre-established handling fees.

To claim this refund, file and submit to the DOR, all together:

• An abatement
• A completed Form MV-AB2, Affidavit - Rescission of Sale of a Motor Vehicle
• A copy of the registration certificate showing the amount of tax you paid to the RMV.

A buyer of a motor vehicle, trailer, or other vehicle who wants to dispute the amount of tax or interest and penalties assessed must file an abatement of tax.

A "lemon law" refund from a vehicle manufacturer does not count as a cancelled sale ("rescission" of sale) between a vendor and a retail customer. An abatement of tax is not allowed on these transactions. When the retail customer is given a "lemon law" refund by the manufacturer, the manufacturer must also reimburse the retail consumer for "incidental costs including sales tax, registration fee, finance charges and any cost of options added by an authorized dealer."

If a motor vehicle or trailer is traded-in or exchanged for another motor vehicle or trailer, the tax is computed as follows:

Sales by registered dealers/lessors

If the sale is done as part of doing business, and the buyer either:

• Paid a tax on the vehicle traded-in, or
• Is exempt from tax on the vehicle traded-in

The sales tax is based on the sales price minus the trade-in amount.

Casual and isolated sales

No reduction in taxable sales price is allowed as a result of a trade-in.

To file for an abatement of sales or use tax, you will need the following information about the vehicle:

• Year 
• Make 
• Model
• Identification number
• Title number
• Date of sale

You will also need:

• Copy of Bill of Sale
• Copy of registration certificate showing the amount of tax you paid to the RMV
• If applicable:
  • Date of Return
  • Tax exemptions - Related affidavit or exemption certificate form
  • Challenges to the book value used by the RMV - Odometer reading at time of purchase
  • Penalty assessment - An explanation detailing the reasonable cause for the late filing and tax payment. The assessment of interest is not discretionary and the Department of Revenue does not have the authority to abate interest accrued on unpaid or late paid tax.
  • Cancelled sales ("rescissions of sale") - A completed and signed Form MV-AB2, Rescission of Sale of a Motor Vehicle Affidavit

To get started visit, Request a motor vehicle sales or use tax abatement. 

If a Massachusetts resident or a nonresident needs to register a boat, snow mobile or other recreational off-highway vehicle, they are required to show proof of payment of the Massachusetts sales or use tax as part of the application process.

Visit Sales and use tax on boats, recreational off-highway vehicles, and snowmobiles to learn more.

If you own a registered motor vehicle or trailer, you have to pay a tax, called a motor vehicle and trailer excise, each year. When you get your motor vehicle excise bill, you will also get instructions on how to pay it. Visit a Guide to Motor Vehicle Excise to learn more.

Also visit:

• Your city or town hall
• Motor Vehicle Excise Information from the Secretary of the Commonwealth 

Tax Department: Contact Center hours are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

• (617) 887-6367 or 
• (800) 392-6089 (toll-free in Massachusetts).

For more ways to connect, visit Contact DOR.

Do you have a question about your tax account?

Log in to MassTaxConnect and send DOR a message. 

You can send a secure e-message if you are registered with MassTaxConnect.

Do you need to register with MassTaxConnect?

On the upper right-hand side of MassTaxConnect's home screen:

• Select Sign Up

You may also register by clicking on Register a new taxpayer under Quick Links.

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