When you buy a car in the ACT and put it in your name, you pay a one-off tax called motor vehicle duty. Buyers routinely forget it, then get a surprise at transfer time — so build it into your budget before you agree on a price.
How the ACT works it out
The ACT is a bit different from other states: duty is based on the car's value and its environmental performance rating. Lower-emission vehicles sit in a better-rated category and pay less duty, while thirstier cars pay more. In other words, the greener the car, the lighter the duty tends to be.
It applies to new and used
Duty isn't just a new-car thing — a used private purchase is dutiable too, calculated on the price you paid or the market value, whichever the rules point to. It's paid at transfer, through Access Canberra.
Electric and low-emission vehicles
The ACT has actively encouraged zero- and low-emission vehicles, and some may attract reduced or no duty. Because these settings change, check what applies to the specific car — our EV incentives guide has more on the moving parts.
Don't rely on old figures
Rates, category thresholds and exemptions are reviewed over time, so don't budget off a number a mate quoted you two years ago. Use the current duty calculator and rules on Access Canberra for the car you're actually buying.