Lake County, IN Vehicle Tax & Registration (2026)
In Lake County (Gary/Hammond), you pay Indiana's flat 7% sales tax and the statewide value-based excise tax — both the same everywhere. Lake County itself charges no wheel tax. Lake County is one of only two (with the other NW Indiana county) that require an emissions test to renew.
Verified July 2026 from official sources. How we verify fees.
What you'll pay in Lake County
- Sales tax: 7% flat (statewide, no local add-on)
- Vehicle excise tax: value/age-based (statewide schedule)
- Local wheel tax: None at county level
- Emissions test: required · Base reg $21.35 · Title $15
What actually varies by county
Because Indiana's sales tax (7%) and excise tax are statewide, the only things that differ in Lake County are the local wheel tax / excise surtax and the emissions requirement. Indiana doesn't publish a single statewide table of wheel-tax amounts, so for the exact figure on your vehicle, use the BMV's Quick Quote. Estimate the rest on our Indiana registration page.
Frequently asked questions
Does Lake County charge a wheel tax?
Lake County itself charges no wheel tax. It's charged at registration on top of the statewide excise tax.
Does Lake County require an emissions test?
Lake County is one of only two (with the other NW Indiana county) that require an emissions test to renew. In Indiana, only Lake and Porter counties test.
How much is car sales tax in Lake County, IN?
A flat 7% — the same statewide, with no county add-on. Indiana's local vehicle cost comes from the wheel tax and excise tax, not sales tax.