Hickory car tax
A car worth $25,000 in Hickory, NC pays about $215 a year in personal property tax ($0.8585 per $100).
The city part uses last year's (2025–26) rate until North Carolina publishes the 2026–27 city rates; the county part is current.
Hickory car tax calculator
- Assessed value: $25,000 × 100% = $25,000
- Tax: $25,000 × 0.8585 per $100 = $214.63
Towns value cars from pricing guides (average retail or trade-in), not what you paid. Your bill may be prorated for months you owned the car.
Car tax in Hickory by car value
| Car value | Yearly tax | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $86 | $7 |
| $15,000 | $129 | $11 |
| $20,000 | $172 | $14 |
| $25,000 | $215 | $18 |
| $30,000 | $258 | $21 |
| $40,000 | $343 | $29 |
| $50,000 | $429 | $36 |
| $75,000 | $644 | $54 |
Buying a car in North Carolina: one-time tax
North Carolina Highway Use Tax (HUT) — 3%. Your trade-in is subtracted before tax.
Dealer sales are taxed on price plus doc fee minus trade-in. Private sales use the computed value. A car brought in by a new resident pays at most $250.
Cut what your car costs in Hickory
Car tax is set by your town, but your loan and insurance aren't. Refinancing a car loan at a lower rate often saves more each year than the tax itself.
Elsewhere in Catawba County
- Brookford$200/yr
- Catawba$225/yr
- Catawba County$100/yr
- Claremont$204/yr
- Conover$198/yr
- Long View$220/yr
- Maiden$195/yr
- Newton$212/yr
Yearly tax on a $25,000 car.
Questions
What is the car tax rate in Hickory, NC?
$0.8585 per $100 for FY2026-27.
How is car tax calculated in Hickory?
Assessed value: $25,000 × 100% = $25,000 → Tax: $25,000 × 0.8585 per $100 = $214.63
How much is car tax on a $30,000 car in Hickory?
About $258 a year.
When is car tax due in Hickory?
Paid with the yearly registration renewal (the notice arrives about 60 days before the plate expires). For a newly purchased car, the first property tax is deferred and billed with the first renewal.
How is NC vehicle property tax calculated?
Value ÷ 100 × (county rate + city rate). Example: a $20,000 car at a combined $1.00 per $100 owes $200.
What is Tag & Tax Together?
NCDMV collects your county and city vehicle property tax with the yearly registration renewal, in one payment.
Sources
- NCDOR – 2025-2026 County and Municipal Tax Rates and Effective Tax Rates (xlsx)
- NCDOR – 2026-2027 Property Tax Rates for North Carolina Counties (xlsx)
- NCDOR – 2025-2026 County and Municipal Tax Rates page
- NCDOT – Vehicle property tax
- NCDMV – Fee schedule (MVR-106)
Last checked October 14, 2026. Rates are for passenger cars owned by individuals; leased, business and specialty vehicles can differ. Confirm with your tax collector or commissioner of the revenue.