Overview
If your vehicle is fuel-efficient (25+ combined MPG) or fully electric, add the annual Highway Use Fee - up to $131.88 for an EV, scaled down for efficient gas and hybrid cars - collected at registration to make up for the gas tax those vehicles don't pay at the pump. And separate from everything the DMV collects, expect a second bill later from your county or city: Virginia's famous annual 'car tax' (personal property tax), which this calculator does not include since it's paid to the Commissioner of the Revenue, not the DMV.
01 - Official fees
Virginia tax, title & license fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Vehicle Sales & Use Tax | 4.15% | of full sales price - no trade-in deduction; $75 minimum |
| Title fee | $15.00 | flat, any vehicle |
| Registration (≤ 4,000 lbs) | $30.75/yr | |
| Registration (4,001–6,500 lbs) | $35.75/yr | |
| Highway Use Fee - fuel-efficient (25+ MPG) | ≈$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 to pay TTL in Virginia
- 1
Get the seller's signed-over title (or let the dealer handle paperwork for a new purchase).
- 2
Complete Form VSA 17A (Application for Certificate of Title) with your sale price.
- 3
Bring the title, VSA 17A, proof of Virginia insurance, and ID to a DMV office or dmv.virginia.gov within 30 days.
- 4
Pay the 4.15% SUT (on the private-sale NADA rule if it applies to you), the $15 title fee, and registration.
- 5
Budget separately for your county or city's annual personal property 'car tax' - it comes later, from a different office.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Virginia vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Virginia tax, title & license FAQ
How much is tax, title and license on a $30,000 car in Virginia?
About $1,290: $1,245 in SUT (4.15% of the full $30,000 - a trade-in would not reduce this in Virginia), a $15 title fee, and $30.75–$35.75 in first-year registration. An EV or 25+ MPG vehicle adds the Highway Use Fee on top.
Does a trade-in lower my Virginia sales tax?
No - this is Virginia's biggest TTL surprise. Unlike Texas, Georgia, or most other states, Virginia taxes the full sales price of the vehicle you're buying regardless of any trade-in credit the dealer gives you. Code of Virginia § 58.1-2405 specifically excludes trade-in credits from the taxable 'sale price.'
What is Virginia's 'car tax' and why isn't it in this calculator?
It's the annual personal property tax your county or city Commissioner of the Revenue bills separately from anything DMV collects - typically $3.70 to $5.00 per $100 of your vehicle's assessed value, with a state PPTRA subsidy on part of the first $20,000. Worked example: a $30,000 car in Fairfax County (rate $4.57/$100, 49% PPTRA relief in 2026) owes $1,371 gross, minus $447.86 in relief, for $923.14 net - billed once a year, months after you've forgotten about the DMV visit. Richmond's relief has fallen from 50% a few years ago to 22% today as rising car values outrun the state's fixed relief pool.
Why do I owe more SUT than 4.15% of what I actually paid?
On private-party sales, Virginia compares your stated price against the NADA Official Used Car Guide trade-in value. If your price is more than $1,500 below that NADA figure, SUT is assessed on the NADA value instead - filed on Form SUT-1A. Dealer sales don't face this comparison.
Does the Highway Use Fee apply to my regular gas car?
Only if it's rated 25 combined MPG or higher. A typical V6 sedan around 22–24 MPG owes nothing. A 35-MPG compact or a hybrid crosses the line and owes a scaled annual fee that climbs toward the EV rate as efficiency rises - the state built this specifically because efficient gas cars, not just EVs, pay less at the pump.
I'm titling a car I just moved to Virginia with. Do I owe 4.15% again?
Generally yes, unless you already paid Virginia SUT or can document sales tax paid to another state that Virginia credits against the 4.15% - bring your out-of-state purchase documents to the DMV counter.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.