Virginia car sales and use tax calculator
The Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax in Virginia is 4.15% of the taxable amount.
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
By Mr. Voltage · Data checked Oct 6, 2026 · Page changed Oct 11, 2026
Where will you register the car?
Fairfax County, Virginia
Example quotes. Pick your place and type yours. Example: three quotes on one car in Fairfax County, Virginia. Pick your own place and type your quotes.
Your deals at a glance
| Deal | Payment | All-in |
|---|---|---|
| $561.73a month | $38,703.55so far | |
| $506.42a month | $41,461.98so far | |
| $549.20a month | $37,952.00so far |
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Your numbers stay in this browser.
$561.73 a month · 60 payments
All-in $38,703.55 so far
$506.42 a month · 72 payments
All-in $41,461.98 so far
$549.20 a month · 60 payments
All-in $37,952.00 so far
Out-the-door $34,125.63 so far
so far: not including a doc fee yet. Enter your dealer’s.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $34,787.43 so far
so far: not including a doc fee yet. Enter your dealer’s.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $34,636.21 so far
so far: not including a doc fee yet. Enter your dealer’s.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Gas · change
Fuel
Gas car. Electric and hybrid cars pay more in some states
Car or light truck
A car or SUV. A pickup is charged by its gross weight
Shipping weight
Assumes a car of about 3,500 lb. Change the weight class if yours is heavier
Combined miles per gallon
The research’s test car. Find your car’s EPA combined mpg at fueleconomy.gov
Assessed value
An estimate: the research valued its test car at $28,000. Your county may value yours differently
Service contract sold by
Insurer-issued contracts are exempt; most are dealer or administrator contracts
Gas · change
Fuel
Gas car. Electric and hybrid cars pay more in some states
Car or light truck
A car or SUV. A pickup is charged by its gross weight
Shipping weight
Assumes a car of about 3,500 lb. Change the weight class if yours is heavier
Combined miles per gallon
The research’s test car. Find your car’s EPA combined mpg at fueleconomy.gov
Assessed value
An estimate: the research valued its test car at $28,000. Your county may value yours differently
Service contract sold by
Insurer-issued contracts are exempt; most are dealer or administrator contracts
Gas · change
Fuel
Gas car. Electric and hybrid cars pay more in some states
Car or light truck
A car or SUV. A pickup is charged by its gross weight
Shipping weight
Assumes a car of about 3,500 lb. Change the weight class if yours is heavier
Combined miles per gallon
The research’s test car. Find your car’s EPA combined mpg at fueleconomy.gov
Assessed value
An estimate: the research valued its test car at $28,000. Your county may value yours differently
Service contract sold by
Insurer-issued contracts are exempt; most are dealer or administrator contracts
Virginia law sets no figure for this fee.
Virginia calls it a processing fee.
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Virginia law sets no figure for this fee.
Virginia calls it a processing fee.
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Virginia law sets no figure for this fee.
Virginia calls it a processing fee.
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Assumes etching, protection packages and nitrogen are not taxed as parts of the car. No Virginia source settles them. If they are, the tax is 4.15% of their price more.
- No city, county or town sales tax applies to a car in Virginia: state law forbids it.
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No plate fee: standard plates come with the registration.
dmv.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No separate fee to record a lien on the original title.
dmv.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No city, county or town sales tax applies to a car in Virginia: state law forbids it.
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No plate fee: standard plates come with the registration.
dmv.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No separate fee to record a lien on the original title.
dmv.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No city, county or town sales tax applies to a car in Virginia: state law forbids it.
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No plate fee: standard plates come with the registration.
dmv.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
- No separate fee to record a lien on the original title.
dmv.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $1,425.63 in tax and fees first; $3,574.37 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $1,392.43 in tax and fees first; $3,607.57 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $1,386.21 in tax and fees first; $3,613.79 goes toward the price.
Illustrative rate, not a quote. Your APR depends on your credit, the term, the vehicle and the lender.
Illustrative rate, not a quote. Your APR depends on your credit, the term, the vehicle and the lender.
Illustrative rate, not a quote. Your APR depends on your credit, the term, the vehicle and the lender.
60 payments, last $561.48
72 payments, last $506.16
60 payments, last $549.20
cash down plus every payment
cash down plus every payment
cash down plus every payment
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Local vehicle registration fee: $33.00 · due each year, billed by your county or city
fairfaxcounty.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Personal property tax: $1,279.60 · due each year, billed by your county or city · about
fairfaxcounty.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
State relief on the personal property tax: −$447.86 · due each year, taken off the bill · about
fairfaxcounty.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Local vehicle registration fee: $33.00 · due each year, billed by your county or city
fairfaxcounty.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Personal property tax: $1,279.60 · due each year, billed by your county or city · about
fairfaxcounty.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
State relief on the personal property tax: −$447.86 · due each year, taken off the bill · about
fairfaxcounty.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Local vehicle registration fee: $33.00 · due each year, billed by your county or city
fairfaxcounty.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Personal property tax: $1,279.60 · due each year, billed by your county or city · about
fairfaxcounty.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
State relief on the personal property tax: −$447.86 · due each year, taken off the bill · about
fairfaxcounty.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
6 charges this total leaves out
6 charges this total leaves out
6 charges this total leaves out
What’s different in Virginia
Virginia calls it the Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax.
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
A trade-in does not lower the amount taxed.
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Negative equity rolled into the new loan is not taxed. That point is not confirmed.
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Virginia’s law sets no figure for the processing fee.
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
No city or county adds a sales or use tax on a car, but the locality where the car is kept bills an annual personal property tax and may bill a local registration fee after the sale.
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Worked examples
Each line below is worked by the same engine as the calculator, on the day this page was built (Nov 11, 2026).
A new car with a trade-in and negative equity
A new car at $32,700.00, with a trade-in allowed at $10,000.00 and $13,000.00 still owed, $5,000.00 down, financed at 5.90% for 60 months, bought from a dealer and registered in Fairfax County.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price | $32,700.00 |
| Trade-in allowance | $10,000.00 |
| Still owed on the trade-in | $13,000.00 |
| Equity (negative if you owe more than it is worth) | −$3,000.00 |
| Taxable amount law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $32,700.00 |
| Motor vehicle sales and use tax law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $1,357.05 |
| Title fee dmv.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $15.00 |
| Registration fee dmv.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $30.75 |
| Emissions program fee law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $2.00 |
| Highway use fee dmv.virginia.gov · checked Oct 6, 2026 | $20.83 |
| Out-the-door price | $34,125.63 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $32,125.63 |
| Monthly payment | $619.59 |
| Interest over the loan | $5,049.43 |
| Total paid, interest included | $42,175.06 |
A used car from a dealer
A used car, model year 2022, at $21,500.00, $5,000.00 down, financed at 5.90% for 60 months, bought from a dealer and registered in Fairfax County.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price | $21,500.00 |
| Taxable amount law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $21,500.00 |
| Motor vehicle sales and use tax law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $892.25 |
| Title fee dmv.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $15.00 |
| Registration fee dmv.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $30.75 |
| Emissions program fee law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 | $2.00 |
| Highway use fee dmv.virginia.gov · checked Oct 6, 2026 | $20.83 |
| Out-the-door price | $22,460.83 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $17,460.83 |
| Monthly payment | $336.76 |
| Interest over the loan | $2,744.52 |
| Total paid, interest included | $25,205.35 |
The rules in Virginia
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Name of the tax | Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Motor vehicle sales and use tax | 4.15% of the taxable amount law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Retail sales and use tax on service contracts (on half the price) | a local rate set by the buyer’s place, on the amount it taxes law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| What is taxed | Taxed: the vehicle price, the doc fee, accessories fitted before delivery and loose items sold with the car. Not taxed: other dealer fees on the order, protection packages, service contracts, GAP, prepaid maintenance and government fees. law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Trade-in | A trade-in does not lower the amount taxed. law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Maker’s rebate | A maker’s rebate lowers the amount taxed. A detail of that point is not confirmed. law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Dealer discount | A dealer discount lowers the amount taxed. That point is not confirmed. law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Negative equity | Negative equity rolled into the loan is not taxed. That point is not confirmed. law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Doc fee | The law sets no figure for the processing fee. law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Title fee | $15.00 dmv.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Registration fee | worked from the rule a year dmv.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Registration fee | worked from the rule a year dmv.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Private-party purchase | The same 4.15% rate and $75 minimum. The buyer pays DMV when titling. A gift to a spouse, son, daughter or parent is exempt. law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Private sale of a newer car | For a car no more than 5 years old that is in a recognized pricing guide, the tax price is not less than the guide’s trade-in value less $1,500. The buyer may sign an affidavit declaring a lower price actually paid. law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Bought out of state | Use tax at the Virginia rate, less credit for the tax paid to the other state, with proof of payment. law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| New resident | No tax if the owner has had the car longer than 12 months, or has had it less than 12 months and shows sales tax paid to another state. Otherwise 4.15% of its fair market value at registration. There is no flat new-resident fee. law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Highway use fee | An annual fee at registration for electric vehicles ($135.63) and for vehicles rated 25 mpg or more, set by the mpg. The amounts are reset each July 1. dmv.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
| Interest rate markup | No statutory limit was found: a seller may charge the finance rate the seller and the buyer agree. law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026 |
What has changed
· Watching: Fairfax County sets its personal property tax rate and the state relief percentage for tax year 2027, in spring 2027, by the county.
dmv.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
· The rules on this page start here. Nothing earlier is loaded.
Questions people ask
What is Virginia's motor vehicle sales and use tax?
It is the tax Virginia puts on the sale or use of a motor vehicle, paid by the buyer and collected by DMV when the car is titled. DMV calls it the sales and use tax, or SUT. The rate is 4.15% of the sale price. On a dealer sale the dealer works it out, lists it on the buyer’s order and sends it in with the title application. The price taxed includes the dealer processing fee and leaves out a maker’s rebate. No trade-in is deducted. No city, town or county adds a sales or use tax on a car.
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Does Virginia give a trade-in tax credit?
No. The tax is on the total price paid with no allowance or deduction for trade-ins or unpaid liens. DMV’s own example is a $40,000 car with a $5,000 trade-in, which is taxed on $40,000.
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
Is the Virginia dealer processing fee capped?
No. Virginia law sets disclosure rules for the fee but no maximum, and no statute indexes it. A dealer that charges one must post a clear and conspicuous sign in the public sales area (at least 8.5 by 11 inches, with print at least 0.5 inch) and list the amount as its own line on the buyer’s order. The fee is part of the price the 4.15% tax is figured on.
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
I bought a car out of state. What do I pay in Virginia?
A Virginia resident who titles a car bought out of state owes the 4.15% use tax, less credit for the tax paid to the other state if the buyer shows proof of payment. If the car is first used in Virginia 6 or more months after the purchase, the tax is figured on its current market value. There is no credit if the other state exempts sales to residents of states that give no credit.
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026
What will I pay after the sale, such as local personal property tax?
The locality where the car is kept bills an annual personal property tax on it and, in many places, a local registration fee. Virginia has no statewide rate for either: each locality sets its own, and DMV collects a local fee only for Virginia Beach. In 10 Northern Virginia localities DMV also collects a $2 a year emissions program fee with the registration. These are bills after you buy, so they are not part of the out-the-door price.
tax.virginia.gov · checked Oct 8, 2026
dmv.virginia.gov · checked Oct 8, 2026
law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Oct 2, 2026