Car stamp duty calculator for QLD
If you are buying south — and a lot of Cairns buyers do, for the choice and the price — this is the page to read before you commit. Duty is paid where the vehicle is registered, not where it was bought, so a car bought in Brisbane still attracts Queensland duty when you register it here. Buying interstate does not avoid it either. Below is what QLD charges, worked out from the rates the state revenue office publishes, along with a calculator so you can check your own figure before you agree to anything — because duty is the on-road cost people most often forget to include in the amount they finance.
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Set the price you expect to pay. Duty is charged on the dutiable value, which is the higher of what you paid and what the vehicle is worth — so a generous discount does not always reduce it.
Stamp duty on a car in QLD
Queensland charges duty on the engine, not just the price — the same car at the same price costs different amounts depending on the cylinder count.
1–4 cylinders — $3.00 per $100 of dutiable value.
Estimate only, based on the rates published by the QLD revenue office and checked on 26 August 2026. Duty is charged on the dutiable value, which is the higher of what you paid and the market value. Concessions and exemptions are not modelled here, and registration, CTP and transfer fees are separate costs on top.
Finance the drive-away price in CairnsQueensland charges duty on the engine, not just the price
Most states work duty out from the value alone. Queensland uses the value and the engine together, with the rate per hundred dollars stepping up as the cylinder count rises — and a lower rate again for hybrids and electric vehicles.
The practical effect is that two cars at the same price attract different duty. A V8 pays $4.00 per $100 where a four-cylinder pays $3.00, which on a $55,000 dual cab is a $550 difference. It is the sort of thing nobody mentions until you are registering the vehicle.
What it looks like at each price
The figures below come from the same rules the calculator uses, checked against the QLD revenue office on 26 August 2026.
| Vehicle price | Duty |
|---|---|
| $15,000 | $525 |
| $25,000 | $875 |
| $35,000 | $1,225 |
| $45,000 | $1,575 |
| $55,000 | $1,925 |
| $70,000 | $2,450 |
Calculated from the rates published by the QLD revenue office and checked on 26 August 2026. Estimates only — concessions and exemptions are not modelled, and registration, CTP and transfer fees are separate costs on top.
Why it matters in Cairns
If you are buying south — and a lot of Cairns buyers do, for the choice and the price — this is the page to read before you commit. Duty is paid where the vehicle is registered, not where it was bought, so a car bought in Brisbane still attracts Queensland duty when you register it here. Buying interstate does not avoid it either.
The number to work out is the whole cost rather than the sticker difference: the price, plus transport north, plus an independent inspection in the seller's city, plus the duty. If the saving survives all four it is real, and it frequently does.
The cylinder rule is the part most people miss when comparing a southern purchase to a local one. A six-cylinder wagon and a four-cylinder dual cab at the same price do not attract the same duty, so two vehicles that look equivalent on a listing page are not equivalent on the registration bill.
Common questions
How much is stamp duty on a car in QLD?
On a $30,000 car it is around $1,050, and on a $50,000 car around $1,750. 5–6 cylinders — $3.50 per $100 of dutiable value. Duty is charged on the dutiable value, which is the higher of what you paid and the market value, so a discount does not always reduce it. These are estimates from the published rates rather than a quote.
Can I include stamp duty in my car loan?
Usually, yes, and it is common. It becomes part of the amount financed and attracts interest for the full term like anything else in the loan. Raise it before the loan amount is set rather than after — adding it late means reworking the contract.
Do I pay stamp duty on a private sale?
Yes. Duty is payable on the transfer of registration regardless of whether you bought from a dealer or a private seller, and it is calculated on the dutiable value in the same way. It is worth budgeting for at the same time as the PPSR check.
Does buying interstate avoid the duty?
No. Duty is paid where the vehicle is registered, not where it was bought. A cheaper car interstate still attracts QLD duty when you register it here, and you have added transport and an inspection you cannot attend. Sometimes it is still worth it — just build all three costs into the comparison.
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