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RickC32093
Contributor ⭐
June 17, 2025

Yearly car taxes state by state:

  • June 17, 2025
  • 5 replies
  • 3167 views

For those living in VA can you share what the yearly car registration renewal is in VA? If it's like where we live now in NC inside of Wake County it can fluctuate from county to county. This is specifically for the western side of VA near the mountains and country. I didn't see that on the smart asset website I'm using to compare TN and VA ideas for retirement. One thing is for sure overall VA seems to be less costly in the western part of the state than Wake County in NC where we're at. TN in Tri-cities was less costly with homes and retirement, but many outsiders have moved in from more expensive states and really messed that market up unfortunately. 

 

Thank you for any guidance.

 

Rick

    5 replies

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    jh8565246
    Contributor ⭐
    June 17, 2025

    Are you talking about the personal property tax on cars?  You can google the amount as long as you know the county.  Here in Loudoun County (northern Va) it's $4.15 p/$100 of assessed value.  (So obviously an older car is better.)  If you're talking about registration that's only $35 or so per year.  You get a small discount paying online.  

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      RickC32093Author
      Contributor ⭐
      June 17, 2025

      So just to make sure I understand. Personal property tax we pay yearly on vehicle value and it goes down each year as value of vehicle depreciates, included in that is vehicle registration for new sticker, etc. we generally pay anywhere from $200-400/year on this in wake county. Yearly state inspection is $30, assuming it’s similar in VA? 

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        ch12713064
        Contributor ⭐
        June 18, 2025

        Correct, your car tax should go down each year.  Here in Loudoun County we also pay a "decal" tax (although there hasn't been an actual decal to put on the car for years) and that's about $25.  Different counties may tack on other things.

          But the registration isn't included.  Car tax is paid to the county while the registration is paid to the state.  There's also a yearly inspection ($10?) and emission fee every other year ($35?) 

        One new thing (which I think is great) is the state puts up emissions monitors in different places on the roads.  When you go past them, it tests the car and if it's due, you just get the bill in the mail (or notification you didn't pass).  You don't have to take your car in to have it done. 

         

        I looked mine up, and for a 2021 car the yearly tax is $688 and for a 2015 car it's $192.

          SummerOnTheWay1
          SummerOnTheWay1
          June 17, 2025

          📎  Rick @RickC32093 , I am in Roanoke County (Virginia) and as @jh8565246 stated in their post - OLDER CAR is the way to go IF interested. I have a 2006 Hyundai Elantra. Now Roanoke City is higher.

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