Porter County, IN Vehicle Tax & Registration (2026)
In Porter County (Valparaiso), you pay Indiana's flat 7% sales tax and the statewide value-based excise tax — both the same everywhere. Porter County itself charges no wheel tax. Porter 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 Porter 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 Porter 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 Porter County charge a wheel tax?
Porter County itself charges no wheel tax. It's charged at registration on top of the statewide excise tax.
Does Porter County require an emissions test?
Porter 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 Porter 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.