Virginia Car Sales Tax Calculator Tax, title & license fees (2026)

How much is car sales tax in Virginia?

Virginia charges a 4.15% motor vehicle sales and use tax when you title a vehicle, with a $75 minimum. Two things work differently from most states: a trade-in doesn't lower the tax, but a manufacturer rebate does.

The taxable amount is the gross sales price, including the dealer's processing fee, after any rebates or incentives. Trade-in credit, unpaid liens and other credits aren't subtracted.

Multiply by 4.15%. If the result is less than $75, you pay $75.

The title fee is $15 ($15 more with a lien). Registration is $30.75 for passenger vehicles up to 4,000 lb and $35.75 from 4,001 to 6,500 lb. Electric vehicles pay a $135.63 highway use fee, and vehicles kept in Northern Virginia add $2 for emissions. Your locality bills personal property tax separately.

Virginia isn't alone in ignoring the trade-in: California and Oregon do the same, and in Oklahoma a trade-in never reduces the excise tax. See how trade-ins affect car sales tax across states.

1. Taxable = price + dealer processing fee - rebate (trade-in ignored)
2. Private: taxable = greater of price or NADA value if provided
3. Tax = max($75, taxable x 4.15%)
4. Total = tax + title + lien + registration + emissions + highway use fee + local tag + personal property tax + processing fee

Virginia car tax example with real numbers

Dealer purchase with a trade-in and rebate

You buy a $3,500-lb car for $30,000, pay an $899 processing fee, receive a $1,000 rebate and trade in your old car for $7,000.

1. Taxable amount: $30,000 + $899 − $1,000 = $29,899. The $7,000 trade-in doesn't count.
2. Sales and use tax: $29,899 × 4.15% = $1,240.81.
3. Add the $15 title and $30.75 registration: $45.75.
4. Estimated total: $1,286.56, plus local personal property tax.

Computed with the calculator on this page using the figures in our data. Local add-ons not mentioned in the example are left out.

Exceptions that change your Virginia tax bill