BC Vehicle PST Calculator
No sign-up Dealer and private sale rates Runs in your browser
Work out the PST and GST on a passenger vehicle in British Columbia, using the official price tiers.
This calculator covers standard passenger vehicles. Electric vehicles, leases, imports, and gifted vehicles can follow different thresholds, and ICBC may use a different value in some private sales. Confirm your exact figure with ICBC’s PST on vehicles guide before you register.
Why I built a BC vehicle PST calculator
A friend in Surrey once bought a used SUV from a private seller. She expected to pay 7% PST, since that is the number most people quote. At the ICBC counter, her PST came to 12%. The price tag she had budgeted for was suddenly a few thousand dollars short.
Her mistake is common. In British Columbia, the PST on a vehicle depends on two things: the price and who sells it to you. This BC vehicle PST calculator handles both, so you can see the real number before you commit.
How the BC vehicle PST calculator works
The calculator uses the official rate tiers for passenger vehicles. It picks the rate from the purchase price. Then it applies that rate to the full price, not just the part above a threshold.
| Purchase price | From a dealer | Private sale |
|---|---|---|
| Under $55,000 | 7% | 12% |
| $55,000 to $55,999 | 8% | 12% |
| $56,000 to $56,999 | 9% | 12% |
| $57,000 to $124,999 | 10% | 12% |
| $125,000 to $149,999 | 15% | 15% |
| $150,000 and over | 20% | 20% |
A dealer that is a GST registrant also charges 5% GST. A private seller does not, so a private sale carries PST only.
How to use the BC vehicle PST calculator
- Enter the vehicle’s purchase price.
- Choose “Dealer” or “Private sale.”
- Read the PST rate, the PST amount, the GST amount, and your total cost.
Real example: On a $30,000 vehicle, a dealer charges 7% PST ($2,100) plus 5% GST ($1,500), so the tax is $3,600. A private sale charges 12% PST ($3,600) and no GST. The tax is the same. On a $60,000 vehicle, the dealer rate is 10% PST plus 5% GST, or $9,000 in total. A private sale at 12% costs $7,200.
Watch the rate cliffs
The rate applies to the whole price, so crossing a threshold raises the tax on everything. A dealer vehicle at $54,999 pays 7%, which is $3,849.93. At $55,000, the rate becomes 8%, which is $4,400. That is about $550 more for a $1 difference in price.
What this calculator does not cover
Electric vehicles, leased vehicles, imported vehicles, and gifted vehicles can use different thresholds. Always check the official source for your situation. The BC government’s PST on vehicles bulletin lists each case.
A mistake to avoid
Do not budget with the 7% figure alone. Many buyers forget the GST at a dealer, or the higher private-sale PST rate. Run both options in the calculator before you decide where to buy.
For general BC rates on other purchases, use the Canada GST/HST Calculator, which includes British Columbia. To see how BC compares with other provinces, read GST vs HST in Canada and Ontario HST vs Alberta GST. You can also try the Ontario HST calculator or the Quebec sales tax calculator. To understand the systems behind these taxes, read VAT vs sales tax vs GST, or see why dividing works in reverse tax calculation. Our guides page lists everything else.
Buying a car in BC? Try our BC vehicle PST calculator.