Overview
On top of both of those, fuel-efficient and electric vehicles owe the annual Highway Use Fee: up to $131.88 for a fully electric car, and a scaled amount - starting around $7 a year - for any gas or hybrid vehicle rated 25 combined MPG or better. This is the fee most people miss: it's not just an EV tax, a 35-MPG Corolla or a Prius pays it too. Pick your vehicle and locality below for the real annual total.
01 - Official fees
Virginia registration fees fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger vehicle ≤ 4,000 lbs | $30.75 | |
| Passenger vehicle 4,001–6,500 lbs | $35.75 | |
| Motorcycle | $24.75 | |
| Fairfax County local vehicle license fee | $33 / $38 | light / heavy; motorcycle $18 |
| City of Norfolk local fee | $31 / $36 | motorcycle $17 |
| City of Hampton local fee | $35 / $40 | motorcycle $17 |
| Highway Use Fee - 25+ MPG gas/hybrid | ≈$7–$100/yr | scales with efficiency |
| Highway Use Fee - fully electric | $131.88/yr |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with the Virginia DMV (your county or city Commissioner of the Revenue collects the annual car tax) - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How Virginia registration is billed
- 1
New purchase: register at the same DMV visit where you title the vehicle and pay SUT.
- 2
Renewal: DMV mails or emails a notice roughly 30–60 days before expiration.
- 3
Confirm your locality - some cities and counties fold a local vehicle-license fee into the same bill.
- 4
If your vehicle is 25+ MPG or electric, the Highway Use Fee is added automatically based on its EPA rating.
- 5
Pay online at dmv.virginia.gov, by mail, or at any DMV Select or Customer Service Center location.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Virginia vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Virginia registration fees FAQ
How much does it cost to register a car in Virginia per year?
$30.75 for 4,000 lbs or less, $35.75 for 4,001–6,500 lbs, at the state level. Add any local vehicle-license fee your city or county charges (many charge none; Fairfax adds $33–$38, for example), and the Highway Use Fee if your vehicle is fuel-efficient or electric.
Do all Virginia counties charge a local vehicle registration fee?
No - most don't. It's mainly cities and a subset of counties, and where it does exist it usually shows up on the same bill as your registration or your personal property tax bill rather than a separate decal purchase, since Virginia phased out physical decals statewide.
My car gets 32 MPG - why am I being charged a fee meant for EVs?
The Highway Use Fee isn't EV-only; it applies to any vehicle rated 25 combined MPG or higher, gas or electric. The logic: efficient cars buy less gas, so they pay less of the per-gallon fuel tax that funds roads - the Highway Use Fee closes that gap. Your 32-MPG car owes a modest scaled fee, well under the $131.88 EV rate.
Is there a way to pay the Highway Use Fee by the mile instead?
Yes - Virginia's Mileage Choice Program lets eligible vehicles pay per mile driven instead of the flat annual fee, calibrated so participants never pay more than their standard Highway Use Fee. It helps low-mileage drivers, especially below the state's 11,600-mile average, come out ahead. Enroll at dmv.virginia.gov before your renewal.
Is this the same as Virginia's 'car tax'?
No - registration is a DMV fee. The 'car tax' is your county or city's separate annual personal property tax (commonly $3.70–$5.00 per $100 of your vehicle's value, with a state PPTRA subsidy on part of it), billed by the Commissioner of the Revenue, not DMV. You'll get both bills, from two different agencies.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.