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If you’re buying a new car, it’s important to understand how much stamp duty you’ll need to pay. This, plus other fees, dealers costs, loan expenses and more all need to be factored in on top of your vehicle’s purchase price, so it’s important to understand what it is and how it works in your state. You can do just that with Savvy. In our guide below, you can find the up-to-date costs of car stamp duty in each state and territory.
What is stamp duty on a car?
Car stamp duty, also known as motor vehicle duty or registration duty, is a tax levied by state and territory governments in Australia on the purchase or transfer of ownership of a vehicle. It's a one-off fee you pay when registering a new car or transferring ownership of a used car into your name.
The responsibility to pay car stamp duty typically falls on the person registering the vehicle. This can be the buyer when purchasing a new car or the person taking ownership of a used car. If you’re taking out a car loan, stamp duty can be included in your loan amount.
How much will stamp duty cost for my car purchase?
The stamp duty you’ll pay may vary based on several factors, including the type of vehicle, its cost and its environmental impact. Each state and territory has its own criteria to determine the value of stamp duty on different vehicle purchases, which are outlined below (all information correct as of 22 April 2024):
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
The ACT’s motor vehicle duty is based largely on how they’re categorised as part of the Vehicle Emission Reduction Scheme. The following table outlines these categories:
| Performance rating | Description | CO2 emissions per km (g/km) |
|---|---|---|
|
A |
Environmental leading-edge models |
0-130
|
|
B |
Models with environmental performance that is significantly above average |
131-175
|
|
C |
Models with average environmental performance |
176-220
|
|
D |
Models with below average environmental performance |
221 and above |
Source: Motor vehicle duty – ACT Revenue Office
The duty amounts payable on or after 1 July 2023 are as follows:
| Vehicle | Vehicles valued below $45,000 | Vehicles valued at $45,000 or more |
|---|---|---|
|
A New and used zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs), eligible used hybrids and PHEVs |
$0 |
$0
|
|
B New non-ZEV motorcycles |
$1 for every $100, or part of $100, of the dutiable value |
$450, plus $2 for every $100, or part of $100, of the dutiable value in excess of $45,000 |
|
Non-rated vehicles (other than used ZEV, used eligible hybrid or used eligible PHEV) |
$3 for each $100, or part of $100, of the dutiable value |
$1,350, plus $5 for every $100, or part of $100, of the dutiable value in excess of $45,000 |
|
C |
$3.05 for each $100, or part of $100, of the dutiable value |
$1,370.50, plus $5.11 for every $100, or part of $100, of the dutiable value in excess of $45,000 |
|
D |
$4.25 for each $100, or part of $100, of the dutiable value |
$1,910.60, plus $6.82 for every $100, or part of $100, of the dutiable value in excess of $45,000 |
Source: Motor vehicle duty – ACT Revenue Office
New South Wales (NSW)
In NSW, stamp duty is based on whichever the higher value is of the vehicle’s purchase price or market value. This is broken down as follows:
| Motor vehicle value | Duty payable |
|---|---|
|
$45,000 or less |
$3 per $100, or part thereof, of the vehicle's value |
|
Over $45,000 (seating up to nine) |
$1,350, plus $5 per $100, or part thereof, of the vehicle's value over $45,000 |
Source: Check motor vehicle stamp duty – Service NSW
Northern Territory (NT)
The calculation for stamp duty in the NT is simple: it’s set at $3 per $100 or part thereof of the vehicle’s dutiable value.
Source: Motor vehicle registration stamp duty calculator – Northern Territory Government
Queensland
In Queensland, vehicle registration duty is based on the type of car you have. It’s split into two main categories: light vehicles (up to 4.5 tonnes) and heavy vehicles (over 4.5 tonnes).
Light vehicles
| Type of vehicle | Rate |
|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Source: Vehicle registration duty rates – Queensland Government
Heavy vehicles
| Type of vehicle | Rate |
|---|---|
|
$2 for each $100, or part of $100 |
|
$3 for each $100, or part of $100 |
|
$3.50 for each $100, or part of $100 |
|
$4 for each $100, or part of $100 |
|
$25 |
Source: Vehicle registration duty rates – Queensland Government
South Australia (SA)
The stamp duty rates in SA are split for non-commercial and commercial vehicles. The breakdowns for these are as follows:
Non-commercial vehicles
| Value | Amount of stamp duty |
|---|---|
|
Does not exceed $1,000 |
$1 for every $100 or part of $100 with a minimum of $5 payable in all cases
|
|
Exceeds $1,000 but not $2,000 |
$10 plus $2 for every $100 or part of $100 over $1000 |
|
Exceeds $2,000 but not $3,000 |
$30 plus $3 for every $100 or part of $100 over $2000 |
|
Exceeds $3,000 |
$60 plus $4 for every $100 or part of $100 over $3000 |
Source: Stamp Duty Rates – RevenueSA
Commercial vehicles
| Value | Amount of stamp duty |
|---|---|
|
Does not exceed $1,000 |
$1 for every $100 or part of $100 with a minimum of $5 payable in all cases
|
|
Exceeds $1,000 but not $2,000 |
$10 plus $2 for every $100 or part of $100 over $1000 |
|
Exceeds $2,000 |
$30 plus $3 for every $100 or part of $100 over $2000 |
Source: Stamp Duty Rates – RevenueSA
Tasmania
The motor vehicle duty payable on passenger vehicles in Tasmania (defined as “motor vehicles constructed principally for the carriage of up to 9 adult persons” by the State Revenue Office) is dependent largely on price.
| Dutiable Value | Duty Payable |
|---|---|
|
$0 - $600 |
$20
|
|
$600 - $35,000 |
$3 per $100, or part thereof, of dutiable value
|
|
$35,000 - $40,000 |
$1,050 plus $11 per $100, or part thereof, that the dutiable value exceeds $35,000
|
|
Over $40,000 |
$4 per $100, or part thereof, of dutiable value
|
Source: Rates of duty – State Revenue Office of Tasmania
For heavy vehicles, which are defined as being over 4.5 tonnes GVM (excluding campervans), the duty will be $1 per $100, or part thereof, of dutiable value with a minimum of $20.
Victoria
Victoria bases its motor vehicle duty on the type of car you’re buying and its price, which are as follows:
| Vehicle type | Category | Market value | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Low emission (120gm/km) passenger vehicle |
New, used registration or transfer of registration |
Any value |
$8.40 per $200 of the market value or part thereof |
|
Primary producer passenger vehicles |
New, used registration or transfer of registration |
Any value |
$8.40 per $200 of the market value or part thereof |
|
Passenger vehicles |
New, used registration or transfer of registration |
Up to $76,951 |
$8.40 per $200 of the market value or part thereof |
|
Luxury passenger vehicles |
New, used registration or transfer of registration |
Over $76,951 up to $100,000 |
$10.40 per $200 of the market value or part thereof |
|
Upper luxury passenger vehicles |
New, used registration or transfer of registration |
Over $100,001 up to $150,000 |
$14.00 per $200 of the market value or part thereof |
|
Super luxury passenger vehicles |
New, used registration or transfer of registration |
More than $150,001 |
$18.00 per $200 of the market value or part thereof |
|
Non-passenger vehicles and motorcycles |
New registration |
Any value |
$5.40 per $200 of the market value or part thereof |
|
Non-passenger vehicles and motorcycles
(includes heavy trailers)
|
Used or transfer of registration |
Any value |
$8.40 per $200 of the market value or part thereof |
|
Demonstrator passenger vehicles |
Second hand registration or transfer of registration |
Any market value |
Applicable new car rate |
Source: Transfer and motor vehicle duty fees – VicRoads
Western Australia (WA)
Like Queensland, WA’s vehicle licence duty is split based on non-heavy vehicles (up to 4.5 tonnes) and heavy vehicles (over 4.5 tonnes). The duty rates are as follows:
Non-heavy vehicles
| Dutiable value | Value rate |
|---|---|
|
Up to $25,000 |
2.75% of dutiable value |
|
$25,000-$50,000 |
R% of the dutiable value, where R = [2.75 + ((dutiable value - 25,000)/ 6,666.66)] rounded to 2 decimal places
|
|
Over $50,000 |
6.5% of dutiable value
|
Heavy vehicles
3% of dutiable value (capped to a maximum of $12,000)
Source: Vehicle licence duty – WA Government
Car stamp duty exemptions
Each state and territory has exemptions for stamp duty, which vary depending on where you live. These are:
ACT
NSW
NT
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA
ACT
- Eligible new or used electric vehicles and HEVs and PHEVs with less than 130g/km of CO2 in tailpipe emissions
- Eligible veteran, vintage or historic vehicle models
- Vehicles acquired and used by eligible disabled individuals
- Vehicles acquired and used by hospitals and schools
- Vehicles to be used for stock by licensed dealerships
- Vehicles transferred under certain court orders
- Vehicles transferred under Domestic Relationships Act 1994, s 33 (1) (d)
- Vehicles transferred under Family Law Act 1975 (Cwlth), pt VIIIAB financial agreements
- Vehicles transferred under Family Law Act 1975 (Cwlth), s 90B, s 90C or s 90D financial agreements
- Vehicles transferred via a deceased estate
- Vehicles that have been repossessed
NSW
- Caravans
- Eligible new and used electric vehicles with a gross vehicle mass under 4.5 tonnes, a dutiable value of up to $78,000, and first registered on or after 1 September 2021
- Vehicles being transferred to NSW registration from the Federal Interstate Registration Scheme (FIRS)
- Vehicles bought by eligible veterans
- Vehicles granted through divorce settlement or separation of a de facto or domestic partnership (for which a transfer fee exemption also applies)
- Vehicles inherited through a will
- Vehicles specifically used for transporting sick, injured or disabled individuals (unladen weight of 250kg or less) or mine rescue work
- Vehicles with duty already paid for by you and/or registered under your name in another state or territory
NT
- Experimental or research vehicles lacking a clear market value
- Plug-in electric vehicles up to $50,000
- Trailers and caravans weighing 4.5 tonnes or less
- Vehicles acquired as part of a deceased estate
- Vehicles acquired by a charity or not-for-profit organisation and used primarily for charitable purposes
- Vehicles acquired by individuals receiving a Veteran's pension
- Vehicles designed for agricultural use
- Vehicles for use by an educational institution, public hospital or organisation operating primarily to promote the interests of a school (aside from a school which provides profit for an individual
- Vehicles gifted between family members
- Vehicles previously registered in another state or territory in the same name
- Vehicles registered as an enthusiast vehicle
- Vehicles transferred as part of a relationship breakdown
- Vehicles used by a religious institution
QLD
- Individuals who have lost the use of either leg
- Vehicles inherited from a deceased estate
- Vehicles involved in a matrimonial issue
- Vehicles purchased by a licensed vehicle dealer
- Vehicles purchased by businesses engaged in a minor restructure
- Vehicles purchased by ex-service members
- Vehicles registered in Queensland or another state
- Vehicles registered under a business name
- Vehicles used for charity purposes
- Vehicles used for primary production
- Vehicles gifted to a family member
SA
- Buses and trailers (as per the Motor Vehicles Act 1959)
- Conditionally registered motor or farming vehicles
- Ex-service personnel who are incapacitated
- Individuals who are incapacitated
- Licensed motor vehicle dealers, with the condition that the vehicle is part of their trading stock
- Local council motor vehicles
- Transfers between current or former spouses or domestic partners
- Vehicles distributed in a deceased person's estate via a will or intestacy
- Vehicles eligible for fee-free registration as approved by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles
- Vehicles held on behalf of the Crown
- Vehicles repossessed through a hire-purchase agreement
- Vehicles with stamp duty paid for in another state or territory by the same registered entity or as part of another instrument (such as the sale of a business)
TAS
- Eligible new or used electric vehicles registered between 1 July 2021 and 20 June 2023
- Vehicles purchased by individuals holding an eligible DVA Veteran Card
- Vehicles purchased by individuals who are members of the Transport Access Scheme
- Vehicles transferred between individuals involved in the breakdown of a de facto or personal relationship or a dissolved or annulled marriage
- Vehicles transferred to a beneficiary as part of a deceased estate
- Vehicles transferred to a shareholder of a company upon its cessation or deregistration (in some cases)
VIC
- For vehicles purchased on behalf of a minor and registered in the name of a trustee or nominee, an exemption on their transfer into the name of the former minor once they become an adult
- Green cars, as defined by the Australian Government’s Green Vehicle Guide
- Vehicles acquired due to a change in business structure, amalgamation or repossession
- Vehicles designed for the transport of disabled, handicapped, incapacitated or injured individuals and/or wheelchairs
- Vehicles for primary production, firefighting, emergency response, mobile plant and special purposes
- Vehicles previously registered in the same name in another state
- Vehicles purchased by licensed motor vehicle dealers
- Vehicles purchased for consular usage and purposes
- Vehicles received as a beneficiary following the passing of the previous owner
- Vehicles received due to marital status changes or relationship breakdowns
- Vehicles transferred to trustees due to retirement, appointment of another trustee or another change
WA
- Vehicles transferred between de facto partners or spouses
- Vehicles transferred due to a corporate restructure
- Vehicles loaned for philanthropic purposes, school driver training or charitable purposes to a charity organisation
- Select caravans
- Vehicles returned to be replaced or to receive a refund
- Vehicles previously registered in the same name interstate and/or duty has been paid without a change of ownership
- Vehicles purchased for business purposes by a licensed dealer
Source: How to Avoid Paying Stamp Duty on a Car – Savvy. All exemptions are subject to state or territory government approval and the relevant laws in place in each state or territory. Terms and conditions apply to each of these exemptions.
Information is correct as of 9 April 2024. Check your state or territory government’s website to find out more about stamp duty concessions and exemptions.
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