Surf City car tax
A car worth $25,000 in Surf City, NC pays about $317 a year in personal property tax ($1.2675 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.
Surf City car tax calculator
- Assessed value: $25,000 × 100% = $25,000
- Tax: $25,000 × 1.2675 per $100 = $316.88
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 Surf City by car value
| Car value | Yearly tax | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $127 | $11 |
| $15,000 | $190 | $16 |
| $20,000 | $254 | $21 |
| $25,000 | $317 | $26 |
| $30,000 | $380 | $32 |
| $40,000 | $507 | $42 |
| $50,000 | $634 | $53 |
| $75,000 | $951 | $79 |
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 Surf City
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 Pender County
- Atkinson$279/yr
- Burgaw$334/yr
- Pender County$184/yr
- Saint Helena$209/yr
- Topsail Beach$304/yr
- Wallace (Pender County part)$317/yr
- Watha$197/yr
Yearly tax on a $25,000 car.
Questions
What is the car tax rate in Surf City, NC?
$1.2675 per $100 for FY2026-27.
How is car tax calculated in Surf City?
Assessed value: $25,000 × 100% = $25,000 → Tax: $25,000 × 1.2675 per $100 = $316.88
How much is car tax on a $30,000 car in Surf City?
About $380 a year.
When is car tax due in Surf City?
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.