How much does it cost to transfer a used car in September 2026?

Transferring a used car in Argentina costs more than the headline registration fee, because buyers must also account for provincial taxes and other expenses tied to the transaction.

The registration charge currently equals 1% of the vehicle’s market value, regardless of whether the car was made in Argentina or imported. Authorities unified the rate in 2024 as part of a reform aimed at reducing registration costs. The valuation comes from the table maintained by the National Directorate of National Automotive Property Registries.

In Buenos Aires City, the stamp tax on used-car transfers is 3%. The same general rate applies in Buenos Aires province to private sales of used vehicles. As a result, a private transfer in either jurisdiction starts at roughly 4% of the car’s value when the registration fee and stamp tax are combined. For a vehicle valued at 20 million pesos, those two charges would total about 800,000 pesos.

Other expenses may apply depending on the case and the jurisdiction. These include a physical or police inspection when required. The registry requires that inspection before transfer for vehicles whose initial registration took place on or after Jan. 1, 2001.

The transfer of ownership legally registers the vehicle in the buyer’s name and removes the seller as its owner. The process can begin online and be completed at the relevant registry office. The information comes as Argentina’s used-car market continues to weaken: 155,246 vehicles changed hands in August, down from 167,525 a year earlier. From January through August, sales totaled 1,203,684 vehicles, a 4.9% decline from the same period last year.