Car flip profit calculator

Enter your numbers to see your real profit after tax, repairs and fees, and the most you can pay and still hit your target.

An estimate for planning, not tax advice. Texas may tax a car on a value above what you paid; see below.

What people forget to count

The asking price and the sale price are only part of a flip. Tax is the one that surprises people. On a $6,000 car in Texas, 6.25% is $375 before you've touched it. Add repairs, title fees, a detail, gas and your own time. A $1,500 spread can drop below $600 once everything is in.

Want the sale price worked out for you?

CarHag estimates what each car is worth from similar cars listed around Houston, so you start with a real number. Its profit figure covers resale at 95% of the estimate minus the asking price, before your own costs, so run the deal through this calculator too.

Common questions

How much profit should a car flip make?

That's your call, but CarHag's deal bar starts at about $1,500 in estimated profit, because one surprise repair can erase a smaller margin. Set your own target in the calculator.

Do I pay sales tax when I flip a car in Texas?

Yes, if you title the car in your name, which Texas requires. The rate is 6.25%, on the greater of the sales price or 80% of the standard presumptive value, per the Form 130-U instructions. Confirm your amount with your county tax office.