Stamp duty is a fee imposed for official documents by state governments. It is typically paid when buying cars and other assets like land or shares. This one-time payment is made when you transfer ownership of a new or used vehicle from a dealer or private seller.
The cost of stamp duty is determined by the state where the car is registered and the vehicle’s price. Other factors that affect stamp duty price are vehicle type and engine.
Check out the tables below to see how much you’ll have to pay in your state.
New South Wales
How much does stamp duty on a car cost in Australia’s most populous state? In NSW, it’s calculated using either the car’s market value or the purchase price value, whichever is higher.
The car stamp duty calculation in NSW is fairly simple, as shown in the table below:
| Vehicle Value | Duty Payable |
|---|---|
| Up to $44,999 | $3 for every $100 |
| Passenger vehicles worth $45,000 or more | $1,350, plus $5 for every $100 |
Queensland
According to the Queensland Government, stamp duty is determined based on the car's engine and size. It also has a broad threshold, with differing stamp duty payments for vehicles depending on whether they cost more than $100,000 or less.
| Type of Vehicle | Duty Payable | |
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| Light Vehicles |
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| Heavy Vehicles |
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If the contract of purchase of a vehicle was entered before 01 July 2018, the rates for heavy vehicles should be applied.
South Australia
In addition to vehicle price, stamp duty in South Australia is calculated based on whether the vehicle is a commercial or non-commercial vehicle. Stamp duty on non-commercial vehicles is calculated as follows:
| 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 $1,000 |
| Exceeds $2,000 but not $3,000 | $30 plus $3 for every $100 or part of $100 over $2,000 |
| Exceeds $3,000 | $60 plus $4 for every $100 or part of $100 over $3,000 |
The same tariffs apply to business vehicles up to $2,000. If the vehicle's worth exceeds $2,000, the stamp duty charge is $30 plus $3 per $100 or fraction of $100 over $2000.
Tasmania
Tasmania's stamp duty rates are calculated depending on the vehicle's dutiable value. The rates for passenger vehicles, which are classified as constructed to carry up to 9 adult persons (including off-road vehicles but do not include motorcycles, utilities, and panel vans), are as follows:
| Dutiable Value | Duty Payable |
|---|---|
| $0 to $600 | $20 |
| $600 to $35,000 | $3 per $100, or part thereof, of dutiable value |
| $35,000 to $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 |
Heavy vehicles classified as those over 4.5 tonnes GVM (except campervans) have a duty payable of $1 per $100, or part thereof, of dutiable value, with a minimum of $20.
For electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, duty is exempt on the registration of both new and second-hand ones registered between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2023. Duty is also exempt for new electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles with a contract of sale entered before 25 May 2023.
Victoria
The car stamp duty rate in Victoria is calculated based on the car's market value or the purchase price (whichever is greater) and is divided by the type of vehicle.
Unlike some other states, stamp duty is collected by the dealer, although it is paid directly to VicRoads by the buyer when buying privately.
The motor vehicle duty rates starting 1 July 2024:
| Type of Vehicle | Value | Duty Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Green passenger car (includes pure electric vehicles and vehicles with a combined tailpipe carbon dioxide emission of 120 grams or less per kilometre) | All values | $8.40 per $200 or part thereof |
| Primary producer passenger car | All values | $8.40 per $200 or part thereof |
| New non-passenger motor vehicles (not previously registered in Vic or elsewhere) | All values | $5.40 per $200 or part thereof |
| Non-passenger motor vehicles (previously registered in Vic or elsewhere) | All values | $8.40 per $200 or part thereof |
| Used non-passenger motor vehicle (transfer of a used vehicle) | All values | $8.40 per $200 or part thereof |
| Other passenger car | $0 to $80,567 | $8.40 per $200 or part thereof |
| $80,567.01 to $100,000 | $10.40 per $200 or part thereof | |
| $100,000.01 to $150,000 | $14.00 per $200 or part thereof | |
| Over $150,000 | $18.00 per $200 or part thereof |
Western Australia
Stamp duty in WA is calculated based on the vehicle's 'dutiable value,' which is either the manufacturer's list price (for new vehicles) or a realistic market value (for used cars).
The car stamp duty rates in WA for non-heavy vehicles are:
| 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 |
For heavy vehicles (weighing over 4.5 tonnes), you will have to pay 3% of the dutiable value with a maximum cap of $12,000.
Australian Capital Territory
Stamp duty in the ACT is calculated using a combination of a car's price and the Federal government's Green Vehicle Guide rating. The rating takes into account the carbon dioxide emissions in grams per kilometre and classifies vehicles accordingly.
As of 1 July 2024, new car categories have been released. Vehicles are classified into these categories: AAA, AA, A, B, C, and D. The "greenest" models are classified as Class AAA, while the "worst" ones are classified as Class D. Class C cars are those with average environmental performance.
The duty amounts payable from 1 July 2024 are:
| Vehicle Performance Rating | Duty amounts payable for vehicles valued below $ 45,000.00 | Duty amounts payable for vehicles valued at $45,000 or more |
|---|---|---|
| New category AAA, AA, A, used eligible hybrid, used eligible PHEV | $ nil | $ nil |
| New category B, new motorcycle (other than a category AAA vehicle) | $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. |
| Non-rated vehicles (other than a used ZEV/Category AAA) | $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. |
| New category C | $3.17 for each $100, or part of $100, of the dutiable value. | $1,426.50 plus $5.62 for every $100, or part of $100, of the dutiable value. |
| New category D | $4.53 for each $100, or part of $100, of the dutiable value. | $2,038.50 plus $7.81 for every $100, or part of $100, of the dutiable value. |
Northern Territory
Stamp duty on vehicles in the Northern Territory is set at 3% of the vehicle's dutiable worth plus an $18 transfer of ownership charge.
Can you avoid paying stamp duty on a car purchase?
There are a few exemptions to paying stamp duty on new and second-hand vehicle acquisitions, but they are few and far between. You can avoid paying stamp duty if, for example:
- You're on a disability pension
- The car is largely being used to transport another disabled person.
- You are an eligible war veteran
- The vehicle was left to you in a will
- The car was acquired as part of a divorce settlement
- You paid stamp duty in another state and have subsequently relocated
- The vehicle is being used for charity (in some states)
- The vehicle is being used for charity (in some states)
- Seniors and pensioners with the necessary cards are not excluded from paying stamp duty, however, they may be exempt from other charges, such as the registration fee, when purchasing a car.
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