Virginia DMV Fee Calculator

Virginia assesses registration on vehicle VALUE, so an older or cheaper car costs materially less to register.

Virginia registration fee estimator

Virginia assesses registration on vehicle VALUE, so an older or cheaper car costs materially less to register.

First-year total —

Annual registration —

Virginia purchase tax —

Base fee —

Virginia at a glance

Figure	Virginia	Source
Fee model	Value-based (ad valorem) state	[2]
State sales tax on vehicles	5.30%	[2]
Max local sales tax add-on	1.70%	[2]
Typical annual renewal	$1,483	[2]

[2] Sources

State vehicle sales tax — all 50 states

Virginia highlighted. Same data as the table below, shown as a distribution so the comparison is visible at a glance.

Highlighted: Virginia, ranked 31 of 50. Median 6.00%.

Virginia registration by vehicle and model year

Estimated annual registration under Virginia's fee model.

Model year	$8,000 vehicle	$12,000 vehicle	$18,000 vehicle	$25,000 vehicle	$32,000 vehicle	$40,000 vehicle	$50,000 vehicle	$65,000 vehicle	$85,000 vehicle
2026	$565	$825	$1,215	$1,670	$2,125	$2,645	$3,295	$4,270	$5,570
2025	$551	$803	$1,183	$1,625	$2,067	$2,573	$3,205	$4,153	$5,417
2024	$538	$785	$1,155	$1,587	$2,018	$2,512	$3,129	$4,054	$5,287
2023	$528	$769	$1,132	$1,554	$1,977	$2,460	$3,063	$3,969	$5,176
2022	$519	$756	$1,112	$1,527	$1,941	$2,416	$3,008	$3,897	$5,082
2021	$512	$745	$1,095	$1,503	$1,911	$2,378	$2,961	$3,836	$5,003
2020	$505	$735	$1,080	$1,483	$1,886	$2,346	$2,921	$3,784	$4,935
2019	$500	$727	$1,068	$1,466	$1,864	$2,319	$2,887	$3,740	$4,877
2018	$495	$720	$1,058	$1,452	$1,846	$2,296	$2,858	$3,703	$4,828
2017	$491	$714	$1,049	$1,439	$1,830	$2,276	$2,834	$3,671	$4,786
2016	$489	$709	$1,042	$1,429	$1,817	$2,259	$2,813	$3,644	$4,751
2015	$489	$705	$1,035	$1,420	$1,805	$2,245	$2,795	$3,621	$4,721
2014	$489	$701	$1,030	$1,413	$1,796	$2,233	$2,780	$3,601	$4,695
2012	$489	$701	$1,021	$1,401	$1,780	$2,214	$2,757	$3,570	$4,655
2010	$489	$701	$1,019	$1,392	$1,770	$2,201	$2,740	$3,548	$4,626

Worked figures for Virginia

Virginia values:

Year	Age	Annual Fees	Purchase Tax	First Year
2026	0 yr	$405	$1,590	$1,995
2025	1 yr	$351	$1,590	$1,941
2024	2 yr	$305	$1,590	$1,895
2023	3 yr	$266	$1,590	$1,856
2022	4 yr	$233	$1,590	$1,823
2020	6 yr	$181	$1,590	$1,771
2018	8 yr	$143	$1,590	$1,733
2016	10 yr	$116	$1,590	$1,706
2014	12 yr	$96	$1,590	$1,686
2010	16 yr	$72	$1,590	$1,662

How Virginia compares nationally

On state vehicle sales tax, Virginia ranks #31 of 50 at 5.30% — 12% below the median of 6.00%. The national range runs from 0.00% (Oregon) to 7.25% (California).

Rank	State	State vehicle sales tax
#29	Maine	5.50%
#30	Nebraska	5.50%
#31	Virginia	5.30%
#32	North Dakota	5.00%
#33	Wisconsin	5.00%

Value-based (ad valorem) states, ranked

Same rule structure as Virginia:

State	State vehicle sales tax	vs Virginia
California	7.25%	+36.8%
Minnesota	6.88%	+29.7%
Washington	6.50%	+22.6%
Iowa	6.00%	+13.2%
Arizona	5.60%	+5.7%
Virginia	5.30%	—
Oklahoma	4.50%	-15.1%
Wyoming	4.00%	-24.5%
Colorado	2.90%	-45.3%

Virginia questions, answered with Virginia numbers

How does Virginia calculate registration fees?▾

Virginia assesses on vehicle VALUE, so the fee falls as the car depreciates. A newer vehicle costs materially more to register than an older one of the same type.

What does registration cost in Virginia for a typical car?▾

Around $1,895 for a 2024 vehicle, versus about $1,686 for a 2014 one. The $209 gap is depreciation flowing through Virginia's value-based formula.

What sales tax applies to vehicles in Virginia?▾

Virginia's state rate is 5.30%, and local add-ons can reach 1.70%. On a $30,000 purchase the state portion alone is about $1,590.

Other value-based (ad valorem) states

Arizona California Colorado Iowa Minnesota Oklahoma Washington Wyoming

Last reviewed 2026-08-26. Virginia figures only — verify with the relevant Virginia agency before acting. How this is calculated.