Personal property tax on cars in va (Winchester, Fredericksburg: sales, real estate)

[Woot21210]

Hello,
I am considering a move from md to va since I have heard that its cheaper in va then md and less car insurance rates and less income tax plus more jobs and just as good schools. But I have also seen that you have to pay a ton of money each year in property tax on your car. This is stupid I don't use any city services and if I do i still get a bill from them so what am I paying for? Would anyone be able to shed some light on this? And is there anywhere in va that doesn't do this? I pay $142 to renew tags in md and do not want to pay higher for saftey inspection and tags then I already do. So please share all you can on this topic so I can make my decision. I was considering Winchester or Fredericksburg area. What are your thoughts on these areas? Good? Bad? Thanks!!

[ChristineVA]

I can only discuss the costs in 1995 dollars.

In 1995, I moved from MD to VA. I was making $40,000 a year. Upon moving and changing my residency, my paycheck increased by $75 per check. I got an extra $1950 per year in my check just from changing states.

At that time, I owned two cars: a 2 year old Toyota Camry and a 4 year old Mazda Pick Up. Looking at my past records, my personal property tax ran me approximately $400.00 that year.

Soooo, I think I came out ahead living in VA. Now, if you are going to buy a REALLY expensive car, or have several cars, your math may not be as favorable.

[ReblTeen84]

My bill for a 2012 Grand Cherokee was over $600, being assessed around $28K. Our '04 Camry was 100 something.

Regardless of whether you're using city services, you're still driving on the roads, using infrastructure, etc.

[scottfs]

Originally Posted by Woot21210

Hello,
I am considering a move from md to va since I have heard that its cheaper in va then md and less car insurance rates and less income tax plus more jobs and just as good schools. But I have also seen that you have to pay a ton of money each year in property tax on your car. This is stupid I don't use any city services and if I do i still get a bill from them so what am I paying for? Would anyone be able to shed some light on this? And is there anywhere in va that doesn't do this? I pay $142 to renew tags in md and do not want to pay higher for saftey inspection and tags then I already do. So please share all you can on this topic so I can make my decision. I was considering Winchester or Fredericksburg area. What are your thoughts on these areas? Good? Bad? Thanks!!

I'm not exactly sure what, if anything, in particular, personal property taxes are allocated to. But don't kid yourself, you definitely use services that your local government provides. You have a police force that doesn't send you a bill when you call them at 3 in the morning that has to be paid for somehow. You drive on locally maintained roads and I assume you enjoy public parks, etc. Sometimes (like today) they hold local elections, etc.

When I moved from MD to VA I found that in aggregate, I was taxed less when you considered all kinds of taxes. Take your whole tax picture into consideration.

[GustavoFring]

Originally Posted by Woot21210

Hello,
I am considering a move from md to va since I have heard that its cheaper in va then md and less car insurance rates and less income tax plus more jobs and just as good schools. But I have also seen that you have to pay a ton of money each year in property tax on your car. This is stupid I don't use any city services and if I do i still get a bill from them so what am I paying for? Would anyone be able to shed some light on this? And is there anywhere in va that doesn't do this? I pay $142 to renew tags in md and do not want to pay higher for saftey inspection and tags then I already do. So please share all you can on this topic so I can make my decision. I was considering Winchester or Fredericksburg area. What are your thoughts on these areas? Good? Bad? Thanks!!

I think you would be more comfortable in MD..

[Cardiff Kook]

don't move to VA. there is no way to get around it

[snowdenscold]

Car tax is just one piece of the story:

- car tax
- state income tax
- county income tax (only for MD - it's combined w/ the state one)
- real estate property taxes
- sales tax
- gas tax
- auto insurance

In VA, there are two rates for your car tax. The first is for the $0 - $20,000 value range for your car. The second is for $20K+. These two rates will vary by county, but obviously the former is much smaller. So you will see quite a jump in a bill from a $15,000 car to a $30,000 car.

[CaliTerp07]

All states/counties have to get their money from somewhere. Each chooses to charge higher income tax, sales tax, or property tax. While you may come out ahead or behind slightly from crossing state lines, it's probably not going to be enough to change your standard of living.

[snuffy1968]

Not sure I would let the presence/absence of a car property tax have a material impact on where I would want to move.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by snuffy1968

Not sure I would let the presence/absence of a car property tax have a material impact on where I would want to move.

I think it is a valid consideration for figuring out the COL of living against two places. Another place that has this dilemma is the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area. Northern Kentucky property is cheaper as far as rent goes but there is a personal property tax on cars, where as on the Ohio side there is no property tax on cars but the rent is higher.