Stamp duty, also called motor vehicle duty or vehicle licence duty, is a state tax charged when a car is first registered in your name. On a new car it is usually the largest single on-road cost after the price itself, and it varies sharply between states. A $50,000 car can attract about $1,500 in duty in one state and more than $3,000 in another.
This guide explains how each state and territory calculates duty on a new private passenger car, with worked examples. Rates were checked against state revenue office pages on 2 November 2026. Duty is one part of the drive-away price, so read it alongside our guides to on-road costs and drive-away versus list price and car rego cost by state.
Stamp duty on a new car by state, worked examples
The table estimates duty on a new four-cylinder petrol passenger car bought privately, based on a dutiable value equal to the price shown (including GST). Real bills can differ slightly because some states round up to the nearest $100 or $200, and dealers sometimes include delivery or options in the dutiable value.
| State or territory | $35,000 car | $50,000 car | $70,000 car |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | $1,050 | $1,600 | $2,600 |
| Victoria | $1,470 | $2,100 | $2,940 |
| Queensland | $1,050 | $1,500 | $2,100 |
| Western Australia | $1,487.50 | $3,250 | $4,550 |
| South Australia (indicative) | $1,340 | $1,940 | $2,740 |
| Tasmania | $1,050 | $2,000 | $2,800 |
| ACT (C-rated car, until 31 January 2027) | $1,109.50 | $1,707.50 | $2,831.50 |
| Northern Territory | $1,050 | $1,500 | $2,100 |
Western Australia's sliding scale makes it the most expensive state for cars above about $40,000, while Queensland and the NT are among the cheapest for mid-priced cars.
NSW stamp duty
NSW charges $3 for every $100 of the dutiable value up to $45,000. Above that, duty is $1,350 plus $5 for every $100 over $45,000. The dutiable value is the market value or the price paid, whichever is higher, including GST. Details are on the Revenue NSW motor vehicle duty page. NSW ended its EV stamp duty exemption on 31 December 2023.
Victorian stamp duty
Victoria charges duty per $200 of the market value. The rates below apply from 1 July 2026 and come from the State Revenue Office Victoria current rates page.
| Vehicle and value | Duty per $200 |
|---|---|
| Green car (120g/km CO2 or less), any value | $8.40 |
| Other new passenger car up to $80,809 | $8.40 |
| Other passenger car $80,809.01 to $100,000 | $10.40 |
| Other passenger car $100,000.01 to $150,000 | $14.00 |
| Other passenger car over $150,000 | $18.00 |
| New non-passenger vehicle such as a ute or van | $5.40 |
| Used non-passenger vehicle | $8.40 |
The lower rate for new utes and vans makes Victoria relatively cheap for work vehicles. See our guide to the best utes in Australia for current ute pricing.
Queensland stamp duty
Queensland bases duty on the engine type, with a lower rate for hybrids and electric cars and a higher rate on vehicles above $100,000. Rates apply per $100 of the dutiable value for light vehicles up to 4.5 tonnes, according to the Queensland Government duty rates page.
| Engine type | Up to $100,000 | Over $100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid or electric | $2 per $100 | $4 per $100 |
| 1 to 4 cylinders or 2 rotors | $3 per $100 | $5 per $100 |
| 5 to 6 cylinders or 3 rotors | $3.50 per $100 | $5.50 per $100 |
| 7 or more cylinders | $4 per $100 | $6 per $100 |
A $50,000 hybrid in Queensland attracts about $1,000 in duty, compared with $1,500 for a four-cylinder petrol car at the same price.
Western Australian stamp duty
WA's vehicle licence duty is 2.75 per cent for vehicles up to $25,000 and 6.5 per cent above $50,000. Between those values the rate rises on a sliding scale, worked out as 2.75 per cent plus the amount over $25,000 divided by 6,666.66. A $35,000 car therefore pays 4.25 per cent. The WA Government vehicle licence duty page has the full rules.
South Australian stamp duty
For non-commercial vehicles, South Australia's scale is reported as $60 plus $4 for every $100 above $3,000, with lower rates on very cheap vehicles. Unverified note. The RevenueSA and SA Government pages blocked our checks, so this scale has not been confirmed on a primary page. Commercial vehicle rates are lower but are not stated here for the same reason.
Tasmanian stamp duty
Tasmania charges $3 per $100 on passenger cars between $600 and $35,000, then $1,050 plus $11 per $100 between $35,000 and $40,000, and $4 per $100 on the whole value above $40,000. Light commercial vehicles pay $3 per $100. Rates are on the State Revenue Office Tasmania rates page.
ACT stamp duty
The ACT links duty to emissions. New cars are rated from AAA (lowest emissions) to D, and unrated vehicles pay the C rate. Rates for new vehicles from 1 September 2025 to 31 January 2027 are below. For values above $45,000 or $80,000, the fixed amount applies to the first part of the price and the rate applies to every $100 above the band start.
| Band | Under $45,000 | $45,000 to $80,000 | Over $80,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAA | $2.50 per $100 | $1,125 plus $4.00 per $100 | $2,525 plus $8 per $100 |
| AA | $2.67 per $100 | $1,201.50 plus $4.41 per $100 | $2,745 plus $8 per $100 |
| A | $2.84 per $100 | $1,278 plus $4.81 per $100 | $2,961.50 plus $8 per $100 |
| B | $3.00 per $100 | $1,350 plus $5.22 per $100 | $3,177 plus $8 per $100 |
| C or unrated | $3.17 per $100 | $1,426.50 plus $5.62 per $100 | $3,393.50 plus $8 per $100 |
| D | $4.53 per $100 | $2,038.50 plus $7.81 per $100 | $4,772 plus $8 per $100 |
From 1 February 2027 the B, C and D rates rise, with C-rated and unrated cars moving to $3.72 per $100 under $45,000. AAA, AA and A rates are unchanged. The dutiable value includes GST and any luxury car tax. See the ACT Revenue Office motor vehicle duty page.
Northern Territory stamp duty
The NT charges a flat 3 per cent of the purchase price. Eligible plug-in electric vehicles up to $50,000 receive a duty concession of up to $1,500 until 30 June 2027.
Stamp duty discounts for EVs and hybrids
Most state EV duty exemptions have ended, but Queensland's lower hybrid and EV rate, the ACT's emissions-based scale and the NT concession still reward low-emission cars. Our EV rebates and incentives by state guide lists what is still available, and the cheapest electric cars in Australia shows which models fall under the concession caps.
Luxury car tax is separate
Luxury car tax is a federal tax collected by the dealer, not a stamp duty. For 2026-27 it applies at 33 per cent to the value above $91,661 for fuel-efficient cars and $80,809 for other cars, according to the ATO luxury car tax page. Where it applies, it is also included in the dutiable value in some states.
How to cut the stamp duty on your next car
- Choose a hybrid or EV if you live in Queensland, the ACT or the NT.
- Watch the price thresholds, such as $45,000 in NSW and the ACT, and $40,000 in Tasmania.
- Ask the dealer for a drive-away quote that shows duty separately, so you can check it.
- Compare the average new car price by brand and our list of new cars under $25,000 drive-away if you are trying to keep the total down.
Buying used changes the maths too. Our guide on whether a new or used car is cheaper compares the full cost.
How we checked these figures
Rates come from state and territory revenue office pages checked on 2 November 2026. Worked examples are our own estimates for a private four-cylinder petrol passenger car and ignore rounding, concessions and dealer charges. Your dealer or the revenue office will confirm the exact amount.