Boston buyers don’t want to lose a Saturday to the Norwood Automile on Route 1, and many good deals are in the suburbs, Worcester, or New Hampshire. We do the shopping and negotiating and keep the Massachusetts paperwork straight.
Car Concierge is a licensed auto broker and car buying concierge based in Minnesota, working for buyers in Boston and across the country. We don’t take money from dealers. You pay one flat fee, and our only job is getting you the right vehicle at the best price.
How it works for Boston buyers
- Tell us what you’re looking for, your budget, and your timeline, by phone or through our contact form.
- We search dealer inventory around Boston and nationwide, and bring you the best options with real pricing.
- We negotiate the price and check the buyer’s order for markups, add-ons, and fees before you sign.
- You sign and pick up locally, or we arrange delivery through our auto transport service.
Taxes and fees for Boston car buyers
Here’s what Boston buyers should expect on a dealer purchase. Rates were checked against official sources in October 2026 and can change, so confirm with your local office before you buy.
- Sales tax: You’ll pay the flat 6.25% Massachusetts sales tax, minus your trade-in on dealer sales. There’s no local add-on.
- How Massachusetts taxes vehicles: Massachusetts charges a 6.25% motor vehicle sales tax statewide, with no local add-on.
- Trade-in credit: Yes, when you buy from a registered dealer. (There’s no trade-in reduction in private sales.)
- Dealer doc fees: Massachusetts requires a dealer’s advertised price to include documentary preparation charges.
- Title and registration: The title fee is $75 and passenger registration is $60 for two years. The dealer completes the RMV application, and your insurance agent stamps it.
Registration and inspections in Suffolk County
Where to title: Boston (Haymarket) RMV Service Center, 136 Blackstone St..
Inspections: The statewide annual safety and emissions inspection applies, and a newly purchased vehicle must be inspected within 7 days of registration. Every vehicle needs a yearly safety and emissions inspection ($35), and a newly purchased vehicle must be inspected within 7 days of registration.
Good to know in Boston
- Boston resident parking permits are free, but the car must be registered and garaged in your name at your Boston address.
- The City of Boston bills the annual motor vehicle excise for cars garaged in Boston.
- Your city or town also bills an annual motor vehicle excise of $25 per $1,000 of value, which declines as the car ages.
Buying from another state
The 6.25% use tax is due when you register in Massachusetts. It’s reduced only if the purchase state has a reciprocal agreement and you paid at least 6.25% there. We handle the logistics and make sure the dealer’s paperwork matches your home state’s rules.
What it costs
Our service is a flat fee: $900 for Standard Concierge, $1,000 with trade-in help, and $1,200 for luxury vehicles over $120,000. You’ll know the total up front. See pricing for details.
Boston car buying FAQs
You’ll pay the flat 6.25% Massachusetts sales tax, minus your trade-in on dealer sales. There’s no local add-on.
Yes, when you buy from a registered dealer. (There’s no trade-in reduction in private sales.)
Massachusetts requires a dealer’s advertised price to include documentary preparation charges.
The statewide annual safety and emissions inspection applies, and a newly purchased vehicle must be inspected within 7 days of registration.
Yes. We search dealers nationwide and can arrange delivery through our auto transport service. The 6.25% use tax is due when you register in Massachusetts. It’s reduced only if the purchase state has a reciprocal agreement and you paid at least 6.25% there.
We charge a flat fee: $900 for Standard Concierge, $1,000 with trade-in help, and $1,200 for luxury vehicles over $120,000. We don’t accept dealer compensation.
Get started
Ready to buy your next vehicle in Boston without the dealership hassle? Schedule a consultation or call 612.662.7788. Want to see the other markets we serve? Browse all service areas.
Sources: City of Boston: Resident parking permit; Mass.gov: Haymarket RMV; Mass.gov: Motor vehicle sales and use tax; Mass.gov: Vehicle inspections; Mass.gov: Motor vehicle excise.