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The Daily Insight

Does Virginia pay property tax on cars?

Author

Andrew Ramirez

Published Mar 22, 2026

All cities and counties in Virginia have a personal property tax which helps fund local government. For Arlington County residents, the tax is assessed on all motor vehicles that are garaged (regularly parked) overnight in Arlington County per Arlington County Code § 27-11.1 , including: Cars.

How does property taxes work in VA for cars?

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. Tax on motor vehicles is prorated for the portion of the year it is located in the county unless the vehicle is moved to a non-prorating Virginia locality.

What is the property tax in Virginia?

Homeowners in the state of Virginia pay property tax rates that are well below the national average of 1.07%. In fact, the state’s average effective property tax rate is just 0.80%, which falls in the bottom half of the nation.

Are taxes high in Virginia?

The state of Virginia has a progressive income tax, with rates ranging from 2% to a top rate of 5.75%. Of the states with a personal income tax, that top rate is slightly lower than average.

Can I claim personal property tax on my car in Virginia?

In Virginia: Personal property taxes are deductible because they are ad valorem taxes (based on value). Vehicle registration fees are not deductible because they are determined by the weight of the vehicle.

The state of Virginia has a progressive income tax, with rates ranging from 2% to a top rate of 5.75%. In fact, when taking into account both state and local rates, Virginia’s average of 5.65% is 10th-lowest in the country.

How much is property tax on a car in Virginia?

Virginia taxes your automobiles every year as a property tax. This will depend upon the value of the car at the first of the year. This will be a continuous tax to figure in your costs. Vehicle sales and use tax is 3% of the sale price. So if your car costs you $25,000, you multiply that by 3% to get your tax amount of $750.00

How much is the Virginia vehicle tax subsidy?

Vehicle Tax Subsidy Personal Property Relief Act 1998 (PPTRA) Under Virginia law, the Commonwealth of Virginia subsidizes a percentage of the tax on the first $20,000 of assessed value for vehicles coded as personal use.

What happens if you don’t pay property tax in Virginia?

This program allows the city to notify the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles electronically when a citizen fails to pay property taxes. The owner of the vehicle cannot renew tags, state decals or vehicle registration until the taxes have been paid.

Do you have to pay property tax on a car?

A. Connecticut is not the only state that requires residents to pay property taxes on vehicles, but it may come as a surprise to someone moving from a neighboring state—such as New York—that does not have such a levy. In Connecticut, the tax is collected by towns and cities, according to the State of Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles.