What is the NJ trade-in tax credit and how does it save me money?

In New Jersey, when you trade in a vehicle at a dealership during the purchase of a new or used vehicle, you only pay sales tax on the difference between the new car price and the trade-in value, not on the full purchase price. NJ's sales tax rate is 6.625%. So if you are buying a $40,000 car and trading in a vehicle worth $15,000, you pay tax on $25,000 rather than $40,000, saving approximately $994 in taxes. This credit does not apply if you sell privately and then purchase separately. On high-value vehicles, this tax advantage can narrow the gap between a dealer trade-in offer and a private sale significantly.