Virginia Car Tax Calculator

Estimate your annual vehicle personal property tax in the 39 Virginia jurisdictions with a verified PPTRA relief percentage: Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and Arlington counties, plus Albemarle, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Essex, Frederick, Gloucester, Henrico, James City, King George, Montgomery, Northampton, Pittsylvania, Richmond, Roanoke, Rockingham, Spotsylvania, Warren, and York counties and the cities of Alexandria, Charlottesville, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Roanoke, Salem, Staunton, Suffolk, Waynesboro, Williamsburg, and Winchester. Enter your vehicle's assessed value - this calculator applies each jurisdiction's official rate and PPTRA relief percentage to the first $20,000 of assessed value per Virginia Code § 58.1-3524. It uses the tax year 2026 relief percentage where the jurisdiction has confirmed one (29 of the 39), and otherwise the most recent percentage it published (10 of the 39; the tax year is shown with every result).

Why these 39 jurisdictions? Virginia car tax requires a verified PPTRA relief percentage and a confirmed vehicle rate for each jurisdiction. We add a jurisdiction only after finding both on an official source, and we never borrow a neighboring locality's percentage. Newport News, Portsmouth, and James City County were confirmed by direct email from each Commissioner of the Revenue in April 2026; the October 2026 additions were checked against each locality's own official page. 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.

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.

Four jurisdictions adjust this formula, and the calculator follows each one's official method: Arlington County (tax year 2026) gives 100% relief on the first $4,000 of value and 13% relief on value from $4,001 to $20,000, Alexandria (tax year 2026) sets the relief percentage by the vehicle's total assessed value, Dinwiddie County taxes 90% of a vehicle's pricing-guide value before applying its rate and relief, and Pittsylvania County assesses vehicles at 30% of trade-in value, so its bills show an assessed value and relief stops at the first $6,000 of that assessed value (the first $20,000 of trade-in value). For Pittsylvania, enter the assessed value from your bill.

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.

Virginia Vehicle Personal Property Tax Rates and PPTRA Relief - 39 Jurisdictions in This Calculator
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
Arlington County $5.00 per $100 100% on first $4,000 + 13% on $4,001-$20,000 (2026 tax year - confirmed) J.D. Power (NADA) Clean Loan Value October 5
City of Alexandria $5.33 per $100 Tiered by assessed value (2026 tax year - confirmed): 100% at $5,000 or less; 50% at $5,001-$20,000; 25% at $20,001-$25,000; 12% above $25,000 (on the first $20,000) NADA Clean Trade-In (January 1) October 5, 2026
Albemarle County $4.28 per $100 (calendar year 2026) 39% (2026 tax year - confirmed) J.D. Power Clean Trade-In June 25 and December 5 (two halves)
City of Charlottesville $4.40 per $100 (tax year 2026, Ordinance O-26-043) 31% (2026 tax year - Resolution R-26-042); 100% relief at $1,500 or less NADA Clean Trade-In June 5 and December 5 (two installments)
Chesterfield County $3.25 per $100 40% (2026 tax year - confirmed); no tax on assessments of $1,500 or less J.D. Power value June 5
Dinwiddie County $4.60 per $100 34% (current per county; tax year not labeled) 90% of pricing-guide value Verify with County Treasurer
Essex County $3.50 per $100 33.25% (2024 tax year - most recently published) NADA Clean Trade-In Verify with County Treasurer
City of Falls Church $4.80 per $100 (posted city vehicle rate) 31% (2026 tax year - confirmed); 100% relief at $3,000 or less NADA Clean Trade-In (January, Eastern Region) October 5, 2026 (prorated by months in the city)
Frederick County $4.35 per $100 (2026 adopted) 28% (2026 tax year - confirmed); 100% relief at $1,000 or less Verify with Commissioner of the Revenue June 5 and December 5 (December 7 in 2026)
City of Fredericksburg $3.40 per $100 (current; tax year not labeled) 23.25% (2026 tax year - Resolution 26-20); 100% relief at $1,000 or less NADA book value June 5 and December 5
Gloucester County $3.10 per $100 20% (2025 tax year - most recently published) 100% of average retail value June 30 and December 5
City of Harrisonburg $3.45 per $100 (current city rate) 18.2% (2026 tax year - confirmed); 100% relief at $1,000 or less J.D. Power Clean Trade-In (January) December 5 (billed around November 1; not prorated)
Henrico County $3.35 per $100 42% (2025 tax year - most recently published); 100% relief at $1,000 or less J.D. Power Loan Value Verify with Department of Finance
James City County $4.00 per $100 32.0% TY2026 (confirmed by COR, 2026-04-22); 32.5% TY2025 Verify with Commissioner of the Revenue Verify with Commissioner of the Revenue
King George County $3.25 per $100 24% (2025 tax year - most recently published) NADA Clean Trade-In (January) June 5 and December 5
City of Lynchburg $3.80 per $100 (FY2027 adopted budget) 31.50% (2026 tax year - Ordinance O-26-050) Verify with Commissioner of the Revenue June 5 and December 5 (two installments)
Montgomery County $2.55 per $100 (2026) 29.94% (2026 tax year - confirmed); 100% relief at $1,000 or less J.D. Power (formerly NADA) December 5 (prorated)
Newport News $4.50 per $100 38.0% TY2026 (confirmed by COR, 2026-04-23); 36.5% TY2025 Verify with Commissioner of the Revenue Verify with Commissioner of the Revenue
Norfolk $4.33 per $100 51% (bills due June 5, 2026 - adopted city budget); 100% relief at $1,000 or less J.D. Power guides June 5
Northampton County $3.90 per $100 39% (2024 tax year - most recently published) NADA Clean Loan Value December 5
Pittsylvania County $9.00 per $100 (2026) of 30% of trade-in value 37% (2026 tax year - confirmed) on the first $6,000 of assessed value; 100% relief at $300 assessed or less Assessed value from your tax bill (30% of J.D. Power average trade-in) June 10 and December 10 (not prorated)
Poquoson $4.15 per $100 41.0% (current per city PPTR Calculator); 100% relief under $1,000 NADA Clean Loan Value (January) June 5 and December 5
Portsmouth $5.00 per $100 50% TY2026 (adopted, confirmed by COR, 2026-04-22); 50% TY2025 Verify with Commissioner of the Revenue Verify with Commissioner of the Revenue
Richmond County $3.50 per $100 50% (2025 tax year - most recently published) J.D. Power Clean Loan Value (January) December 5
City of Roanoke $3.45 per $100 (posted city rate) 41.26% (2026 tax year - confirmed) NADA Loan Value Verify with the City Treasurer
Roanoke County $3.40 per $100 (calendar year 2026) 44.89% (2026 tax year - confirmed) Verify with Commissioner of the Revenue June 1, 2026
Rockingham County $2.60 per $100 (2026) 34% (2026 tax year - confirmed); 100% relief at $1,000 assessed or less NADA Clean Loan Value (January) December 5 (not prorated)
City of Salem $3.40 per $100 (posted city rate) 43.5% (2026 tax year - confirmed); 100% relief at $1,000 or less J.D. Power Loan Value (January) May 31 (prorated by months owned)
Spotsylvania County $5.37 per $100 (effective 1/1/2025, most recently published) 33% (2026 tax year - confirmed) Verify with Commissioner of the Revenue First half June 5, 2026; second half - verify with Treasurer
City of Staunton $2.90 per $100 (posted city rate) 33% (2026 tax year - confirmed); 100% relief at $1,000 or less J.D. Power Clean Trade-In (January) December 5
Suffolk $4.25 per $100 (2026) 32% (2026 tax year - confirmed); 100% relief under $1,000 NADA Clean Loan Value (January 1) December 5
Warren County $4.28 per $100 (2026) 27% (2026 tax year - confirmed); qualifying value $1,001 to $20,000 Assessed value from your tax bill June 5 and December 5 (prorated monthly)
City of Waynesboro $3.25 per $100 (current city rate) 29% (2026 tax year - confirmed); 100% relief at $1,000 or less NADA Clean Trade-In (January) December 5 (billed in October; not prorated)
City of Williamsburg $3.50 per $100 (tax year 2026) 32% (2026 tax year - confirmed); no tax at $1,000 or less J.D. Power Average Loan Value On or before December 1
City of Winchester $4.80 per $100 (posted city rate) 25% (2026 tax year - confirmed) Verify with Commissioner of the Revenue June 5 and December 5 (semi-annual)
York County $4.00 per $100 (2026) 39% (2026 tax year - confirmed) Verify with Commissioner of the Revenue June 25 and December 5 (semi-annual)

What the calculator uses: the tax year 2026 PPTRA percentage for Fairfax County (49.0%), Arlington County (100% on the first $4,000, 13% to $20,000), Alexandria (100%, 50%, 25%, or 12% by value band), Chesterfield County (40%), Spotsylvania County (33%), Frederick County (28%), Fredericksburg (23.25%), Suffolk (32%), Norfolk (51%, bills due June 5, 2026, per the adopted city budget), Albemarle County (39%), York County (39%), Roanoke County (44.89%), Lynchburg (31.50%), Charlottesville (31%), the City of Roanoke (41.26%), Winchester (25%), Harrisonburg (18.2%), Salem (43.5%), Staunton (33%), Waynesboro (29%), Falls Church (31%), Williamsburg (32%), Montgomery County (29.94%), Warren County (27%), Pittsylvania County (37%, on the first $6,000 of the 30% assessed value), Rockingham County (34%), Newport News (38.0%), Portsmouth (50%), and James City County (32.0%). On November 4, 2026 the remaining percentages were rechecked against official sources: Loudoun (41%), Prince William (37.0%), Henrico (42%), King George (24%), Northampton (36%), Dinwiddie (34%) and Poquoson (41%) are now confirmed for tax year 2026. For three jurisdictions the calculator still uses the most recent percentage the jurisdiction has published: Gloucester and Richmond County (tax year 2025) and Essex (tax year 2024). Salem's 43.5% is the figure in the April 13, 2026 City Council packet; its adoption has not been confirmed. Those estimates may differ from your 2026 bill once a newer percentage applies. Newport News, Portsmouth, and James City County rates and PPTRA percentages were confirmed by direct email from each jurisdiction's Commissioner of the Revenue in April 2026; for these three, and for Dinwiddie, Essex, and Henrico, due dates are not yet confirmed (Spotsylvania's second-half date and the City of Roanoke's due date are also unconfirmed) from an official source - contact the jurisdiction's tax office. 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.

Arlington County - Tiered 2026 Relief

On April 22, 2026, the Arlington County Board approved a resolution allocating state PPTRA funds for tax year 2026: qualifying personal-use vehicles receive 100% relief on the first $4,000 of value and 13% relief on value from $4,001 to $20,000, with no relief above $20,000. Example: a vehicle assessed at $15,000 owes $750.00 before relief, gets $271.50 of relief, and owes an estimated $478.50. Source: arlingtonva.us - Vehicle Tax Relief (PPTRA).

Alexandria - 2026 Relief by Value Band

The City of Alexandria sets its tax year 2026 relief by the vehicle's total assessed value, applied to the first $20,000 of value only: 100% for personal-use vehicles assessed at $5,000 or less, 50% at $5,001 to $20,000 (maximum relief $533.00), 25% at $20,001 to $25,000 (maximum $266.50), and 12% above $25,000 (maximum $127.92). The rate is $5.33 per $100, vehicles are valued at NADA clean trade-in as of January 1, and the 2026 tax is due on or before October 5, 2026. Example: a vehicle assessed at $22,000 owes $1,172.60 before relief, gets $266.50 of relief, and owes an estimated $906.10. Source: alexandriava.gov - Car Tax.

Spotsylvania County - 33% Relief for 2026

Spotsylvania County states that for the 2026 tax year the relief given to taxpayers is 33%, so owners pay 67% of the tax on the qualifying first $20,000 of value. The calculator pairs it with the county's most recently published automobile rate, $5.37 per $100 (effective January 1, 2025); a 2026 rate was not posted at our last check. First-half 2026 personal property taxes were due June 5, 2026. Source: spotsylvania.va.us - Personal Property Tax Relief Changes.

Frederick County, Fredericksburg, Norfolk, and Suffolk - October 2026 Additions

Each was checked against the locality's own official source in October 2026. Frederick County: "The 2026 Personal Property rate is $4.35/100 for personal vehicles ... The PPTRA rate for 2026 is 28% on the first $20,000 of assessed value" (fcva.us - Treasurer). Fredericksburg: City Council Resolution 26-20 (April 21, 2026) set 2026 relief at 23.25% on the first $20,000, with full relief for vehicles assessed at $1,000 or less; the city publishes a $3.40 per $100 rate (fredericksburgva.gov - Tax Information). Norfolk: the adopted FY2026 city budget applies 51% relief to tax bills due June 5, 2026 (the FY2027 budget lowers it to 50% for bills due June 5, 2027), at $4.33 per $100 (norfolk.gov - Personal Property Tax Relief Act). Suffolk: "2026 Tax Relief is 32%", with 100% relief for qualifying vehicles valued under $1,000, at $4.25 per $100 (suffolkva.us - Personal Property Tax Relief).

Albemarle, York, Roanoke County, and Lynchburg - Added October 23, 2026

Each was checked against the locality's own official source on October 23, 2026. Albemarle County: the county's PPTR rate table lists 39% for tax year 2026 (42% for 2025), and "The personal property tax rate is 4.28% of assessed value for calendar year 2026" (albemarle.org - Personal Property Exemptions). York County: "The 2026 tax rate is $4.00 per $100.00 of assessed value" and "Personal Property Tax Relief is at 39% for 2026" (yorkcounty.gov - Treasurer FAQ). Roanoke County: the county lists 44.89% as the 2026 "Percentage of Reduction Shown on Tax Bill", and its calendar year 2026 personal property rate is $3.40 per $100 (roanokecountyva.gov - Personal Property Tax Relief). Lynchburg: Ordinance O-26-050 in the adopted FY2027 budget sets relief at 31.50% for calendar year 2026, at $3.80 per $100 (lynchburgva.gov - FY2027 Adopted Budget). None of the four publishes a low-value full-relief threshold on the pages we checked, so the calculator applies the percentage at every value; if your bill shows full relief for a low-value vehicle, your bill is correct.

Harrisonburg - Added October 25, 2026

Checked against the city's own official source on October 25, 2026. The City of Harrisonburg states: "The car tax relief applied to Harrisonburg vehicle taxes in 2026 is 18.2% and is provided only on the first $20,000 of a vehicle's value." The current rate is $3.45 per $100, vehicles are assessed at the clean trade-in value in the January J.D. Power guide, and "The tax is billed around November 1 with a due date of December 5" (harrisonburgva.gov - Personal Property Tax). The city's PPTRA notice adds that a qualifying vehicle assessed at $1,000 or less has its tax eliminated, which the calculator applies. Harrisonburg does not prorate the tax for vehicles sold or moved after January 1.

Rockingham County - Added November 4, 2026

Checked against the county's own official pages on November 4, 2026. Rockingham County's Tax Rates table lists tax year 2026 with a vehicle rate of $2.60 per $100 and "Tax Relief 34.0%" (2025: $2.65 and 33.0%) (rockinghamcountyva.gov - Tax Rates). The county's Personal Property Tax Relief page gives the same schedule: "If assessed value is $1,000 or less, the rate of tax relief is 100%", 34% from $1,001 to $20,000, and 34% on the first $20,000 above that; motor homes, trailers, and farm use vehicles do not qualify (rockinghamcountyva.gov - Personal Property Tax Relief). The Personal Property Tax page says vehicles are assessed at the clean loan value in the January NADA guide, bills are due December 5, the county does not prorate, and late payment carries a 10% penalty plus 10% annual interest (rockinghamcountyva.gov - Personal Property Tax). An older, undated county relief page (/308) still lists 40%, the figure the Tax Rates table gives for 2021; the calculator uses the year-labeled 2026 figure. Town levies are not included.

Pittsylvania County - Added November 2, 2026

Checked against the county's own official pages on November 2, 2026. Pittsylvania County's Personal Property Tax Relief page lists its tax percentages by year, starting "2026: 37%" (2025: 39%), and states: "Tax relief is limited to the 1st $6,000 of the assessed value as shown on your tax bill of any qualifying vehicle," because the county assesses vehicles at "30% of average trade-in"; for "qualifying vehicles valued at $1,000 or less (100% value) your obligation to pay this tax has been eliminated," which is an assessed value of $300 (pittsylvaniacountyva.gov - Personal Property Tax Relief). The county's Personal Property Tax page gives "The current personal property tax rate as of 2026 is $9 per $100 in assessed value," says bills are "due on June 10 and December 10," and that the county is not a pro-rating jurisdiction (pittsylvaniacountyva.gov - Personal Property Tax). Enter the assessed value printed on your bill, not the full trade-in value. The separate $40.75 county vehicle license fee is not included.

Warren County - Added October 29, 2026

Checked against the county's own official pages on October 29, 2026. Warren County's Personal Property Tax Relief page states: "For qualified vehicles, your tax bill is reduced by 27% for the tax year 2026 on the first $20,000 of value," and lists qualifying vehicles as those with "a minimum assessed value of $1,001 - $20,000" (warrencountyva.gov - Personal Property Tax Relief). The county's 2026 tax rate table sets tangible personal property at $4.28 per $100 (warrencountyva.gov - Tax Rates), automobiles and trucks are prorated monthly, and the Treasurer lists the first half of personal property tax due June 5 and the second half due December 5. The county does not state how a vehicle assessed at $1,000 or less is treated, so the calculator shows no estimate at that value; confirm a low-value bill with the Commissioner of the Revenue. Town of Front Royal residents also pay a town levy that this estimate does not include.

Montgomery County - Added October 27, 2026

Montgomery County's Commissioner of the Revenue publishes its relief percentage by year: "2025 | 30.00% 2026 | 29.94%", and states that "If a qualified vehicle's assessed value is $1,000 or less, the Commonwealth's share of the tax is 100%" (montgomerycountyva.gov - Personal Property Tax Relief). The county's Spring 2026 newsletter reports that with the FY27 budget "personal property taxes remain at $2.55" per $100. Vehicles are assessed with J.D. Power (formerly NADA), the county prorates, and personal property tax is due to the Treasurer on or before December 5 (County Code Sec. 2-32(d), quoted on the county's personal property taxes page).

Salem, Staunton, Waynesboro, Falls Church, and Williamsburg - Added October 26, 2026

Each 2026 percentage was taken from the city's own adopted City Council action on October 26, 2026. Salem: Resolution 1524 (April 13, 2026 City Council packet; final adoption not yet confirmed) makes qualifying vehicles valued at $1,001 to $20,000 "eligible for 43.5% tax relief" and eliminates the tax on qualifying vehicles valued at $1,000 or less; the city's posted rate is $3.40 per $100 and bills are due May 31 (Salem City Council packet, April 13, 2026). Staunton: the resolution adopted September 10, 2026 sets "33% ... to be applied to the first $20,000 in value of each qualifying vehicle with an assessed value of more than $1,000"; the city code eliminates the tax at $1,000 or less, the posted rate is $2.90 per $100, and bills are due December 5 (Staunton City Council minutes, September 10, 2026). Waynesboro: Resolution R26-29 (September 14, 2026) sets tax year 2026 relief at 29%, with 100% relief for personal use vehicles valued at $1,000 or less; the current rate is $3.25 per $100, due December 5, not prorated (waynesboro.va.us - Resolution R26-29). Falls Church: Ordinance TO26-16 (adopted July 13, 2026, Ord. 2117) gives qualifying vehicles assessed at $3,000 or less 100% relief and those above $3,000 "31% relief from taxes on the first $20,000 of the assessed value"; 2026 bills are due October 5, 2026 (City of Falls Church - TO26-16). The calculator uses the city's posted vehicle rate of $4.80 per $100; the FY2027 budget changes before Council on May 11, 2026 list "Maintaining vehicle tax rate at $4.80" (we did not capture the adopted rate ordinance text). Williamsburg: the tax levies for the tax year beginning January 1, 2026 set the rate at $3.50 per $100 of J.D. Power average loan value and relief "at 32%" on the first $20,000 for qualifying vehicles assessed at more than $1,000; the city states the tax is eliminated at $1,000 or less and bills are due on or before December 1 (williamsburgva.gov - FY27 Adopted Budget, Appendix J). The calculator applies each city's low-value full-relief rule.

Charlottesville, Roanoke, and Winchester - Added October 24, 2026

Each was checked against the city's own official source on October 24, 2026. Charlottesville: City Council Resolution R-26-042 (April 9, 2026) applies relief "at the rate of thirty-one percent (31%) ... to the first $20,000 of value of each qualifying vehicle having a value of more than $1,500" and 100% relief to qualifying vehicles valued at $1,500 or less, and Ordinance O-26-043 sets the tax year 2026 motor vehicle rate at $4.40 per $100 (charlottesville.org - April 9, 2026 Council certifications). The calculator applies the 100% rule at $1,500 or less. City of Roanoke: "The current percentage reduction for personal property tax relief is 41.26% for the 2026 tax year," with vehicles assessed at NADA loan value and a posted rate of $3.45 per $100 (roanokeva.gov - Personal Property Tax). Winchester: "The PPTRA rate for 2026 is 25% on the first $20,000 of assessed value for qualifying vehicles," at a rate of $4.80 per $100, billed semi-annually on June 5 and December 5 (winchesterva.gov - Personal Property). Neither Roanoke nor Winchester publishes a low-value full-relief threshold on the pages we checked.

Chesterfield County - No Tax at $1,500 or Less

Chesterfield County's Commissioner of the Revenue states that for personal property assessments of $1,500 and below, no tax is due (a registration fee may still apply). Above that, the 2026 rate for automobiles and trucks is $3.25 per $100 with 40% relief on the first $20,000. This matches the county's own worked example: a vehicle assessed at $19,300 owes $627.25 before relief, receives $250.90 of relief, and owes $376.35, before the separate $20 registration fee. Source: chesterfield.gov - Personal Property Taxes.

Henrico County - Full Relief at $1,000 or Less

Henrico County states that qualifying vehicles assessed at $1,000 or less receive 100% tax relief; above $1,000, relief is 42% (tax year 2025) on up to $20,000 of assessed value. Henrico's approved rate for cars, trucks, and motorcycles is $3.35 per $100, and vehicles are assessed at J.D. Power loan value. Source: henrico.gov - Personal Property Tax Relief.

Dinwiddie County - 90% Assessment Ratio

Dinwiddie County taxes vehicles at 90% of fair market value. Enter the full pricing-guide value and the calculator applies the 90% ratio, then the $4.60 rate and 34% relief on the first $20,000 of taxed value. This matches the county's own worked example: a $25,000 vehicle is taxed on $22,500 and owes $722.20. Source: dinwiddieva.us - Calculating the Tax.

Poquoson - Full Relief Under $1,000

Poquoson's official PPTR Calculator states 41.0% relief on the first $20,000 and 100% relief for personal-use vehicles valued under $1,000. Source: ci.poquoson.va.us - PPTR Calculator.

Fairfax County - 2026 PPTRA Rate Confirmed

Fairfax County publishes a full PPTRA rate history. 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 have since published their 2026 PPTRA rates (41% and 37.0%), confirmed November 4, 2026.

Official Sources

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. Where a locality assesses vehicles at a percentage of value, the threshold applies to the vehicle's value: Pittsylvania County assesses at 30% of trade-in value, so relief covers the first $6,000 of the assessed value on its bills.

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.