Virginia Car Sales Tax Calculator 2026

What Virginia charges to buy and title a car in 2026: the vehicle tax (Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax (SUT) - collected at titling; vehicles are exempt from the general retail sales tax) at the verified state figure, plus the title fee. Registration is annual and itemised below — it varies too much by vehicle to fake a single number.

On a $35,000 purchase: tax $1,452.50 + title $15.00 = $1,467.50 at the counter before registration.

The purchase No trade-in credit in this calculation (see the rules).

Purchase price ($)

Trade-in value ($)

Vehicle tax

$1,452.50

at 4.15% on $35,000.00

At the counter

Taxable base	$35,000.00
Vehicle tax	$1,452.50
Title fee	$15.00
Tax + title	$1,467.50

Registration (annual): Passenger vehicles 4,000 lb or less $30.75/yr; 4,001 lb or more $35.75/yr (a Highway Use Fee may also apply to fuel-efficient and electric vehicles)

How Virginia taxes a car purchase

The tax

Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax (SUT) - collected at titling; vehicles are exempt from the general retail sales tax. 4.15% of gross sales price, $75 minimum; the gross price is NOT reduced by trade-in credit

Source: official Virginia source.

Trade-in

This calculation does not credit a trade-in: Virginia explicitly taxes the gross price.

Trade-in treatment per the official source.

Title & registration

Title: $15.00. Registration: Passenger vehicles 4,000 lb or less $30.75/yr; 4,001 lb or more $35.75/yr (a Highway Use Fee may also apply to fuel-efficient and electric vehicles)

Fees change; the DMV schedule governs.

Frequently asked questions

Private-party purchase — is the tax on what I paid?

Often not: several states tax the greater of the price or a book/standard value (Texas presumptive value, Delaware NADA, Vermont J.D. Power). The calculator uses your price; the agency may not.

Why is my dealer's total higher?

Dealer documentation fees and optional products are not taxes; this page covers the government charges only.

Do I pay again when I move states?

Usually a credit for tax paid to the first state, or a reduced new-resident rate (Georgia charges 3% TAVT to newcomers) — the destination state's rules are on its page.

Sources & verification. State DMV / revenue department publications (researched 4 November 2026; each page links its official source). Floors are labelled floors — local taxes add on top. An estimator for a typical purchase; private-party valuation rules (standard presumptive value, NADA/J.D. Power) can change the base.

Vehicle tax$1,452.50

Virginia Car Sales Tax Calculator for 2026: Virginia's vehicle tax on a $35,000 purchase is $1,452.50, plus a $15.00 title fee. Rates from the state DMV/DOR.

UNDERSTAND YOUR RESULTS

Virginia Car Sales Tax Calculator guide

The tax, title fee and registration position for buying a car in Virginia in 2026, from the state DMV/DOR.

How to use this tool

Enter the purchase price.
Enter any trade-in.
Read the tax and the at-the-counter total.

A worked example

On $35,000, the tax is $1,452.50.

What you can do with this tool

Virginia’s vehicle tax modelled in its real structure (Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax (SUT) - collected at titling; vehicles are exempt from the general retail sales tax), not a generic sales-tax clone.
Trade-in treatment stated plainly — no credit assumed where none is verified.
Title fee and the official registration position on the same page.

How it works

4.15% of gross sales price, $75 minimum; the gross price is NOT reduced by trade-in credit

Frequently asked questions

How much is car tax in Virginia?

On the test purchase, $1,452.50 — the page runs your own price.

Is there a trade-in credit?

Not in this calculation — the page explains the state’s position.