Virginia Car Tax Calculator
Estimate your annual vehicle personal property tax for Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, Newport News, Portsmouth, or James City County. Enter your vehicle's assessed value - this calculator applies each jurisdiction's tax year 2025 confirmed rate and PPTRA relief percentage to the first $20,000 of assessed value per Virginia Code § 58.1-3524. (Fairfax uses its confirmed TY2026 rate; the calculator uses the latest confirmed rate available for each jurisdiction.)
Why these 6 jurisdictions? Virginia car tax requires verified PPTRA relief percentages and a confirmed vehicle rate for each jurisdiction. We publish a jurisdiction only after confirming the current rate and PPTRA percentage from official sources. Newport News, Portsmouth, and James City County were added after direct email confirmation from each jurisdiction's Commissioner of the Revenue in April 2026. For property and sales tax estimates across additional Virginia jurisdictions, see the Property Tax Calculator or Sales Tax Calculator.
Estimate Your Vehicle Tax
Use the J.D. Power (formerly NADA Guides) Clean Trade-In value as of January 1 of the tax year — not the purchase price. This value appears on your tax bill, or you can look it up on the J.D. Power website.
Estimated Result
estimated annual vehicle personal property tax
| Assessed value | |
| Tax rate | |
| Gross tax (before relief) | |
| PPTRA relief base | |
| PPTRA relief percentage | |
| PPTRA relief amount | |
| Estimated tax due |
| Assessed value | |
| Tax rate | |
| Gross tax (before relief) | |
| Total relief applied | 100% — full relief |
| Estimated tax due | $0.00 |
Prince William County grants full personal property tax relief for qualifying personal use vehicles with an assessed value at or below $1,000. No tax is due for this vehicle.
This estimate assumes your vehicle qualifies for PPTRA relief as a personal-use vehicle. Commercial vehicles, vehicles with antique or permanent plates, and certain other classifications do not qualify - for those, contact your county Commissioner of Revenue. Your actual bill may also differ due to proration or updated PPTRA rates. Verify with your county before making payment decisions.
How This Calculator Works
Virginia vehicle personal property tax (commonly called "car tax") is assessed annually by each county or independent city. This calculator applies the PPTRA formula confirmed by Virginia Code § 58.1-3524 and each county's official published rates and assessment methods.
What "Assessed Value" Means
Virginia counties assess vehicles at J.D. Power (formerly NADA Guides) Clean Trade-In value as of January 1 of the tax year. This is not the purchase price, the insurance value, or a negotiated trade-in amount. Your county determines the assessed value and it will appear on your tax bill. If you don't have a bill yet, you can look up the J.D. Power Clean Trade-In value for your vehicle's year, make, model, and mileage as of January 1, or contact your county's Commissioner of Revenue office.
The PPTRA Formula
Virginia Code § 58.1-3524 provides partial state-funded relief for qualifying personal use vehicles. Relief is applied to the first $20,000 of assessed value only. Vehicle value above $20,000 is taxed at the full county rate with no PPTRA offset.
The formula used in this calculator:
Net tax = (Assessed value × Rate) − (lesser of assessed value or $20,000) × Rate × PPTRA%
Example — $30,000 vehicle in Fairfax County (rate $4.57/$100, PPTRA 49.0%): gross tax = $1,371.00; PPTRA relief base = $20,000; PPTRA relief = $20,000 × 0.04570 × 0.490 = $447.86; estimated net tax = $923.14.
What This Calculator Does Not Cover
This calculator provides a full-year estimate for a single vehicle. It does not account for:
- Proration for mid-year purchases, registrations, or disposals (county bills are prorated by month in the year of change)
- Vehicles that do not qualify for PPTRA (commercial vehicles, antique license plates, certain other classifications)
- Senior citizen, disability, veteran, or other local exemption and relief programs
- Outstanding penalties, interest, or delinquent balances on prior tax years
- Multiple vehicles (run the calculator once per vehicle)
Contact your county Commissioner of Revenue or Treasurer for a precise calculation on your specific vehicle and situation.
County Rates and PPTRA Percentages
Rates and PPTRA percentages used in this calculator. All figures sourced from official county government sources. PPTRA percentages are recalculated annually by each county.
| County | Tax Rate | PPTRA Relief % | Assessment Basis | Payment Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | $4.57 per $100 | 49.0% (2026 tax year — confirmed) | NADA Clean Trade-In (J.D. Power) | October 5 |
| Loudoun County | $3.09 per $100 | 41% (current per loudoun.gov — verify annually) | MSRP-based (Tax Year 2026+) | May 5 and October 5 (two installments) |
| Prince William County | $3.50 per $100 | 37.0% (2025 tax year — verify current) | J.D. Power (NADA) Clean Trade-In | October 5 |
| Newport News | $4.50 per $100 | 36.5% TY2025; 38.0% TY2026 (both confirmed by COR, 2026-04-23) | Verify with Commissioner of the Revenue | Verify with Commissioner of the Revenue |
| Portsmouth | $5.00 per $100 | 50% TY2025; 50% TY2026 (both confirmed and adopted by COR, 2026-04-22) | Verify with Commissioner of the Revenue | Verify with Commissioner of the Revenue |
| James City County | $4.00 per $100 | 32.5% TY2025; 32.0% TY2026 (both confirmed by COR, 2026-04-22) | Verify with Commissioner of the Revenue | Verify with Commissioner of the Revenue |
What the calculator uses: the calculator below applies TY2025 PPTRA percentages for Loudoun, Prince William, Newport News, Portsmouth, and James City County, and Fairfax County's confirmed TY2026 rate (49.0%). TY2026 percentages for Newport News (38.0%), Portsmouth (50%), and James City County (32.0%) are shown in the table for reference but are not the values currently used in the calculation - the TY2025 percentages above are used instead. Loudoun and Prince William had not published 2026 rates as of 2026-03-29. Newport News, Portsmouth, and James City County rates and PPTRA percentages (including TY2026) were confirmed by direct email from each jurisdiction's Commissioner of the Revenue in April 2026. For these three jurisdictions, vehicle personal property tax due dates and assessment methods are not yet confirmed from official sources - contact the applicable Commissioner of the Revenue for due date and assessment details. Verify all rates at your jurisdiction's official website before relying on this estimate for payment planning.
Understanding Virginia PPTRA Relief
The Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA), Virginia Code § 58.1-3524, was enacted to offset the vehicle personal property tax burden on Virginia residents. The Virginia General Assembly allocates a fixed annual block grant of $950 million, distributed among localities based on their share of qualifying vehicle value.
How Each County's Annual Rate Is Calculated
Each year, every Virginia county and independent city calculates its PPTRA relief percentage by dividing its share of the state block grant by the total assessed value of qualifying vehicles in the locality (capped at $20,000 per vehicle). Because the total grant is fixed, each locality's annual percentage depends entirely on its own registered vehicle base. Counties with more or higher-value qualifying vehicles will generally see a lower percentage than those with fewer vehicles relative to their grant share.
Relief Is on the First $20,000 Only
Virginia Code § 58.1-3524 specifies that relief applies to the portion of assessed value not exceeding $20,000. Localities have no authority under the statute to set their own assessed-value eligibility caps. All qualifying personal use vehicles are eligible; only the portion of value above $20,000 is excluded from PPTRA relief and taxed at the full rate.
Which Vehicles Qualify
Qualifying vehicles are generally personal use passenger vehicles. Commercial vehicles, vehicles with antique or permanent plates, and certain other classifications do not qualify for PPTRA. Your county's Commissioner of Revenue determines eligibility. Contact them if you are unsure whether your vehicle qualifies.
County-Specific Notes
Loudoun County — Two Payment Installments
Loudoun County bills vehicle personal property tax in two equal installments. The first half is due May 5 and the second half is due October 5. For example, if your estimated annual tax is $600, you owe approximately $300 in May and $300 in October. This installment schedule applies every year. Verify current due dates and any holiday adjustments at loudoun.gov/1616.
Prince William County — Full Relief for Assessed Values at or Below $1,000
Prince William County provides full personal property tax relief for qualifying personal use vehicles with an assessed value at or below $1,000. The estimated net tax for such vehicles is $0. This is a Prince William County local policy — it is separate from the statewide PPTRA formula. Verify this eligibility with Prince William County Tax Administration if your vehicle may qualify.
Fairfax County — 2026 PPTRA Rate Confirmed
Fairfax County is the only county in this calculator with a confirmed published 2026 PPTRA relief rate. The confirmed 2026 rate is 49.0%. The 2025 rate was 51.0%; the 2024 rate was 52.0%. Fairfax County publishes a complete annual rate history at fairfaxcounty.gov/taxes/vehicles/vehicle-tax-subsidy. Loudoun and Prince William counties had not yet published their 2026 PPTRA rates as of the data verification date for this calculator (2026-03-29).
Official Sources
- Fairfax County — Vehicle Personal Property Tax fairfaxcounty.gov/taxes/vehicles
- Fairfax County — PPTRA Historical Rate Table (2026 rate: 49.0%) fairfaxcounty.gov/taxes/vehicles/vehicle-tax-subsidy
- Loudoun County — Calculating the Vehicle Tax (rate $3.09/$100; PPTRA 41%) loudoun.gov/1625/Calculating-the-Tax
- Prince William County — Calculating Personal Property Tax, PUB851-25 (PPTRA 37.0%) pwcva.gov — PUB851-25 (PDF)
- Newport News Commissioner of the Revenue — Email Confirmation 2026-04-23 (rate $4.50/$100, TY2025 PPTRA 36.5%, TY2026 PPTRA 38.0%) nnva.gov/539/Car-Tax-Relief
- Portsmouth Commissioner of the Revenue — Email Confirmation 2026-04-22 (rate $5.00/$100, TY2025 PPTRA 50%, TY2026 PPTRA 50% adopted) portsmouthva.gov/210/Personal-Property-Tax
- James City County Commissioner of the Revenue — Email Confirmation 2026-04-22 (rate $4.00/$100 applies to all motor vehicles, TY2025 PPTR 32.5%, TY2026 PPTR 32.0% set) jamescitycountyva.gov/385/Commissioner-of-the-Revenue
- Virginia Code § 58.1-3524 — Personal Property Tax Relief Act law.lis.virginia.gov — § 58.1-3524
All rates used in this calculator are sourced from official county and state government sources as of the verification dates recorded in the CountyTaxTools data layer. Tax rates and PPTRA relief percentages change annually. Verify all figures at the official sources above before making any payment decisions. This calculator provides estimates only and is not a substitute for your official county tax bill or advice from your county tax office.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find my vehicle's assessed value for Virginia car tax?
Virginia counties assess vehicles at J.D. Power (formerly NADA Guides) Clean Trade-In value as of January 1 of the tax year. Your assessed value appears on your tax bill or assessment notice. If you don't have a bill yet, you can look up the J.D. Power Clean Trade-In value for your vehicle's year, make, model, and approximate mileage as of January 1. You can also contact your county's Commissioner of Revenue office directly — they can provide your vehicle's assessed value.
The assessed value is not the purchase price, insurance replacement value, or a trade-in amount negotiated at a dealership. It is the standardized Clean Trade-In value from the J.D. Power (NADA) price guide.
What is the PPTRA relief percentage and how is it set?
The Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA), Virginia Code § 58.1-3524, distributes a fixed annual state block grant of $950 million among Virginia localities. Each county calculates its annual relief percentage by dividing its share of the $950 million grant by the total assessed value of qualifying vehicles in the county — capped at $20,000 per vehicle.
Because the grant is fixed statewide, each county's annual percentage fluctuates based on its vehicle base. Fairfax County publishes its confirmed rates annually at fairfaxcounty.gov/taxes/vehicles/vehicle-tax-subsidy. Loudoun County publishes its rates at loudoun.gov/1625. Prince William County publishes its rates at pwcva.gov.
Does PPTRA relief apply to my vehicle's entire assessed value?
No. PPTRA relief applies only to the first $20,000 of a qualifying vehicle's assessed value. Vehicle value above $20,000 is taxed at the full county rate with no state relief offset.
For example: a vehicle assessed at $35,000 in Fairfax County receives PPTRA relief on $20,000 only. The remaining $15,000 is taxed at the full $4.57 per $100 rate. Virginia Code § 58.1-3524 establishes this $20,000 threshold — localities have no authority to change it.
Why does Loudoun County have two payment due dates?
Loudoun County bills vehicle personal property tax in two equal installments: the first half is due May 5 and the second half is due October 5. This two-installment schedule is specific to Loudoun County.
Fairfax County and Prince William County bill their vehicle personal property tax as a single annual payment due October 5. Verify Loudoun's current payment schedule and any date adjustments at loudoun.gov/1616.
Does this calculator account for proration if I bought or sold a vehicle mid-year?
No. This calculator provides a full-year tax estimate only. Virginia counties prorate vehicle personal property tax by the month in the year a vehicle is purchased, newly registered, or disposed of. If your vehicle situation changed during the tax year, your actual bill will reflect prorated amounts based on how many months you owned the vehicle.
Contact your county Commissioner of Revenue for a precise prorated calculation specific to your situation.