Virginia Vehicle Tax Calculator – Instantly Estimate Car Taxes & Fees
Use our Virginia Vehicle Tax Calculator to quickly estimate your vehicle taxes. Easy, accurate, and hassle-free calculations for all Virginia residents.
Virginia Vehicle Tax Calculator: Look up the current rate for a specific address using the same geolocation technology that powers the Avalara AvaTax rate calculation engine.
Tax rates can vary within a county, a city, or even a ZIP code. Using a street address helps to ensure more accurate rates and calculations when compared to relying on broader geographic indicators.
Check Here: Virginia Vehicle Tax Calculator
Understanding Your Vehicle Taxes
Situs of a Vehicle
A vehicle is subject to annual property tax & a local registration fee if it is normally garaged or parked in the county, even if registered in another state. In addition, vehicles with an active Virginia registration are taxable in the municipality where the vehicle is registered--even if the car is garaged or parked in another state.
Tax on motor vehicles is prorated for the portion of the year it is located in the county unless the car is moved to a non-prorating Virginia locality.
Vehicle Property Tax
All vehicles are subject to a local annual property tax. For more information regarding vehicle assessments, please refer to our vehicle values page.
Filing Personal Property Tax Returns in Fairfax County
Effective January 1, 2023, Fairfax County will automatically file personal property tax returns for motor vehicles, trailers, and semi-trailers on behalf of Fairfax County residents who have registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 30 days as required by Virginia Code §§ 46.2-600 and -622. You may also register using our registration tool, by phone at 703-222-8234 [TTY 711], or in person at the Government Center.
A 10% penalty or $10, whichever is greater, will be added to the tax due if the registration is not received from the DMV within 60 calendar days after purchase or entry into the County as required.
Personal property tax returns for motor vehicles, trailers, and semi-trailers purchased or moved into the county before 2023 will not be auto-filed on behalf of Fairfax County residents. Personal property tax returns for motor vehicles, trailers, and semi-trailers must be filed within 60 days of the purchase or move-in date with the Department of Tax Administration as required or be subject to a 10% late filing penalty or $10, whichever is greater.
Change of Vehicle Address, Ownership, or Location
Taxpayers must report changes such as name, address, vehicle ownership, or vehicle location. This can be done using our updating tool, by email, by phone at 703-222-8234 [711 TTY], or in person at the Government Center.
Tax Rates
The current tax rate for most personal property in Fairfax County is $4.57 for each $100 of assessed value.
Assessment Methods
For the valuation of cars and sport utility vehicles, Fairfax County uses J.D. Power Valuation Services as its primary valuation guide. When a vehicle is not listed in the primary guide, the locality obtains values from other sources (Code of Virginia, Section 58.1-3503).
Local Vehicle Registration Fee
A vehicle registration fee is assessed on all motor vehicles, including but not limited to automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles, regularly garaged, stored, or parked in the county and the towns of Clifton, Herndon, and Vienna.
"Out-of-State Plate" Tax & Penalty
Vehicles not properly displaying Virginia license plates within 30 days of purchase or residency are subject to Fairfax County's "Out-of-State Plate" tax in addition to personal property taxes. Virginia license plates may be obtained when the vehicle is registered with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
Exemptions
The following types of owned vehicles may not be subject to car taxes:
Government
Diplomat
Military
Daily Rental
Appealing Tax Assessment
If you believe that your vehicle has been over-assessed, you can appeal the assessment. Body damage, rusting, and mileage are conditional factors for which adjustments in value are most frequently made.
Conclusion
In Virginia, vehicle taxes can be rather complicated, as they depend on the property tax location, the car’s estimated value, the area where the owner lives, and the vehicle’s registration status. Since the tax rates can be different for counties, cities, or even specific street addresses, the Virginia Vehicle Tax Calculator is probably one of the simplest ways to quickly and accurately estimate the car taxes and fees you will incur.
Understanding key factors such as where the vehicle is parked, taxes that are based on the time of use, and local fees, plus possible penalties, can help you not only avoid unexpected costs but also keep the tax authorities on your side.
Whether you are buying a new car, moving to a different county, or changing ownership, knowing what is going on and calculating your taxes in advance will let you not only come up with a better plan but also take care of your vehicle-related expenses with confidence.
