Virginia Car Tax Rates by County

Vehicle personal property tax rates vary widely across Virginia. Among the 129 jurisdictions currently on CountyTaxTools, general personal property rates range from $1.55 per $100 (Henry County) to $9.00 per $100 (Pittsylvania County). These are general tangible personal property (TPP) rates from the Virginia Department of Taxation Local Tax Rates Survey (TY2025) - the vehicle-specific rate in some localities may differ. See the comparability notes below the table.

Key Takeaways

  • Rates range from $1.55 to $9.00 per $100 - nearly a 6x difference across Virginia jurisdictions.
  • These are general TPP rates from the Department of Taxation survey. Some localities set a different rate specifically for personal-use vehicles.
  • The rate alone does not determine your total bill - PPTRA relief percentage and assessment method also vary by locality.
  • Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads jurisdictions tend to have higher rates, while Shenandoah Valley and Historic Triangle areas tend lower.

Vehicle Personal Property Tax Rates - 129 Virginia Jurisdictions

Sorted by rate, lowest to highest. All rates per $100 of assessed value.
Jurisdiction Type General TPP Rate Tax Year
Henry CountyCounty$1.552025
Scott CountyCounty$1.652025
Washington CountyCounty$1.702025
Patrick CountyCounty$1.712025
Wise CountyCounty$1.792026
Dickenson CountyCounty$1.852026
Russell CountyCounty$1.952025
Lee CountyCounty$1.952026
Buchanan CountyCounty$1.952026
Tazewell CountyCounty$2.002025
Giles CountyCounty$2.022025
Lancaster CountyCounty$2.042025
City of NortonIndependent City$2.052026
Louisa CountyCounty$2.072026
Wythe CountyCounty$2.222025
Grayson CountyCounty$2.252025
City of GalaxIndependent City$2.252026
Carroll CountyCounty$2.302025
MartinsvilleIndependent City$2.302025
Smyth CountyCounty$2.302025
Bedford CountyCounty$2.352025
Pulaski CountyCounty$2.352025
Franklin CountyCounty$2.412025
Montgomery CountyCounty$2.552025
RadfordIndependent City$2.552025
Augusta CountyCounty$2.602025
BristolIndependent City$2.602025
Middlesex CountyCounty$2.602025
Nelson CountyCounty$2.792025
StauntonIndependent City$2.902025
Botetourt CountyCounty$2.942025
Alleghany CountyCounty$2.982025
Goochland CountyCounty$2.992025
Rockingham CountyCounty$3.002025
City of CovingtonIndependent City$3.082025
Loudoun CountyCounty$3.092026
Gloucester CountyCounty$3.102025
New Kent CountyCounty$3.102025
Floyd CountyCounty$3.202025
King George CountyCounty$3.252025
WaynesboroIndependent City$3.252025
Mecklenburg CountyCounty$3.262026
Appomattox CountyCounty$3.352025
Chesterfield CountyCounty$3.352025
Henrico CountyCounty$3.352025
FredericksburgIndependent City$3.402025
Madison CountyCounty$3.402025
Roanoke CountyCounty$3.402025
SalemIndependent City$3.402025
Amherst CountyCounty$3.452025
City of RoanokeIndependent City$3.452025
DanvilleIndependent City$3.452025
Fauquier CountyCounty$3.452025
HarrisonburgIndependent City$3.452025
Charlotte CountyCounty$3.462025
Caroline CountyCounty$3.502025
Colonial HeightsIndependent City$3.502025
Culpeper CountyCounty$3.502025
HopewellIndependent City$3.502025
Manassas ParkIndependent City$3.502025
Prince William CountyCounty$3.502026
WilliamsburgIndependent City$3.502025
Richmond CountyCounty$3.502025
King William CountyCounty$3.502026
Essex CountyCounty$3.502025
Hanover CountyCounty$3.572025
ManassasIndependent City$3.602025
Orange CountyCounty$3.602025
Powhatan CountyCounty$3.602025
Northumberland CountyCounty$3.602025
RichmondIndependent City$3.702025
Mathews CountyCounty$3.702025
Accomack CountyCounty$3.722026
Brunswick CountyCounty$3.752025
Surry CountyCounty$3.752025
Westmoreland CountyCounty$3.752025
Charles City CountyCounty$3.752025
Lunenburg CountyCounty$3.802025
LynchburgIndependent City$3.802025
Rappahannock CountyCounty$3.802025
Halifax CountyCounty$3.852025
Prince George CountyCounty$3.902025
Northampton CountyCounty$3.902026
King and Queen CountyCounty$3.942026
Campbell CountyCounty$3.952025
Greene CountyCounty$4.002025
James City CountyCounty$4.002026
Virginia BeachIndependent City$4.002025
York CountyCounty$4.002025
Buckingham CountyCounty$4.052025
ChesapeakeIndependent City$4.082025
Fluvanna CountyCounty$4.102026
Shenandoah CountyCounty$4.112025
Nottoway CountyCounty$4.122025
City of FairfaxIndependent City$4.132025
PoquosonIndependent City$4.152025
Frederick CountyCounty$4.232025
Amelia CountyCounty$4.252025
LexingtonIndependent City$4.252025
Rockbridge CountyCounty$4.252025
SuffolkIndependent City$4.252025
Albemarle CountyCounty$4.282025
Warren CountyCounty$4.282025
Page CountyCounty$4.302025
NorfolkIndependent City$4.332025
CharlottesvilleIndependent City$4.402025
Clarke CountyCounty$4.4962025
City of FranklinIndependent City$4.502025
Cumberland CountyCounty$4.502025
HamptonIndependent City$4.502025
Isle of Wight CountyCounty$4.502025
Newport NewsIndependent City$4.502026
Prince Edward CountyCounty$4.502025
Fairfax CountyCounty$4.572026
Dinwiddie CountyCounty$4.602025
WinchesterIndependent City$4.802025
Sussex CountyCounty$4.852025
PetersburgIndependent City$4.902025
Arlington CountyCounty$5.002026
EmporiaIndependent City$5.002025
Falls ChurchIndependent City$5.002025
Greensville CountyCounty$5.002025
PortsmouthIndependent City$5.002026
Southampton CountyCounty$5.002025
AlexandriaIndependent City$5.332025
Spotsylvania CountyCounty$5.372025
Stafford CountyCounty$5.722025
Buena VistaIndependent City$5.852025
Pittsylvania CountyCounty$9.002025

Rates shown are either confirmed personal-use vehicle rates (Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Arlington, Newport News, Portsmouth, James City County) or general tangible personal property (TPP) rates from the Virginia Department of Taxation Local Tax Rates Survey. Newport News, Portsmouth, and James City County rates were confirmed by direct email from each jurisdiction's Commissioner of the Revenue in April 2026 - each confirmed that the general TPP rate applies to all motor vehicles with no separate vehicle rate. For all other jurisdictions the personal-use vehicle rate may differ. PPTRA relief percentages are not included in this table because many are still pending confirmation. See each jurisdiction's page for details. See the full Arlington County personal property tax breakdown for Arlington's non-standard $3,001-$20,000 PPTRA formula and confirmed $5.00 vehicle rate.

What is being compared

This table compares the general tangible personal property (TPP) tax rate as reported in the Virginia Department of Taxation's Local Tax Rates Survey for tax year 2025. For Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, Arlington County, Newport News, Portsmouth, and James City County, the rate shown is the confirmed personal-use vehicle rate from official sources (each of these jurisdictions has confirmed either explicitly that the same rate applies to vehicles, or has published a separate personal-use vehicle rate).

All rates are expressed as dollars per $100 of assessed value. Virginia assesses vehicles based on their current market value as determined by each locality's chosen valuation guide.

What is not directly comparable

The rate alone does not determine your actual tax bill. Several factors make direct rate-to-rate comparisons incomplete:

  • General vs. vehicle-specific rates: Virginia localities can set separate tax rates for different classes of personal property. The Department of Taxation survey reports the general TPP rate, but some localities (Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Arlington) set a different rate specifically for personal-use vehicles. For most other jurisdictions, the vehicle-specific rate has not yet been independently confirmed.
  • PPTRA relief: Each locality applies a different PPTRA relief percentage, which directly reduces your bill. A high-rate locality with generous PPTRA may produce a lower net bill than a low-rate locality with minimal PPTRA.
  • Assessment method: Most localities use J.D. Power (NADA) clean trade-in values, but Loudoun County switched to MSRP-based assessment in 2026, and Arlington uses clean loan values. The same vehicle can have different assessed values across jurisdictions.
  • Additional fees: Some localities charge vehicle license or decal fees on top of the personal property tax (Prince William: $33/year). These are not included in the rate comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Virginia county has the highest car tax rate?

Among the 129 Virginia jurisdictions currently on CountyTaxTools, Pittsylvania County has the highest general tangible personal property tax rate at $9.00 per $100 of assessed value (TY2025 per the Virginia Department of Taxation Local Tax Rates Survey). Buena Vista follows at $5.85 and Stafford County at $5.72 per $100. These are general TPP rates; the personal-use vehicle rate in some localities may differ. Fairfax County ($4.57, TY2026) and Arlington County ($5.00, TY2026) are confirmed personal-use vehicle rates from official sources.

Which Virginia county has the lowest car tax rate?

Henry County has the lowest general personal property tax rate among the 129 Virginia jurisdictions currently on CountyTaxTools at $1.55 per $100 of assessed value (TY2025 per the Virginia Department of Taxation Local Tax Rates Survey). Washington County follows at $1.70 and Patrick County at $1.71 per $100. Among rates confirmed specifically for personal-use vehicles, Loudoun County is the lowest at $3.09 per $100 (TY2026).

Why do Virginia car tax bills differ so much by county?

Four factors drive the spread across counties and independent cities. First, each locality sets its own rate per $100 of assessed value. Second, Virginia's Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA) relief percentage is recalculated locally each year based on each county's share of the fixed statewide $950 million grant, so the same car can receive very different state relief depending on where it is garaged. Third, the assessment method varies: most localities use J.D. Power (NADA) Clean Trade-In value, but Loudoun County switched to MSRP-based assessment in 2026 and Arlington uses Clean Loan value. Fourth, some localities charge additional vehicle license or decal fees on top of the personal property tax.

Methodology

Rates for Fairfax County ($4.57), Loudoun County ($3.09), and Prince William County ($3.50) are confirmed personal-use vehicle rates from official county sources accessed in March-April 2026. Arlington County ($5.00) is the confirmed vehicle rate. All other rates are from the Virginia Department of Taxation Local Tax Rates Survey for TY2025, extracted via pdfplumber from the official PDF published at tax.virginia.gov.

The Department of Taxation survey reports the general tangible personal property rate set by each locality. For jurisdictions where the personal-use vehicle rate has not been independently confirmed, the general TPP rate is shown with a caveat. The "Tax Year" column indicates which year's rate is shown.

Next Steps

Sources

All rates are subject to annual change. Verify current rates with your local commissioner of the revenue before making financial decisions.

Munib Ur Rehman Written by Munib Ur Rehman

Nausheen Shahid Reviewed by Nausheen Shahid, PTIN-registered tax preparer (22+ years), LMN Tax Inc.