Fairfax County, VA Vehicle Tax & Registration (2026)
In Fairfax County, a vehicle purchase is taxed at Virginia's flat 4.15% (minimum $75) — the same statewide — but your ongoing cost is the local personal-property "car tax" of $4.57 per $100 of assessed value, which Fairfax County sets. A safety inspection is required statewide. As part of the Northern Virginia emissions program, Fairfax County requires an emissions test every two years before you renew.
Verified July 2026 from official sources. How we verify fees.
What you'll pay in Fairfax County
- Sales & use tax: 4.15% (min $75), statewide
- Personal-property car tax: $4.57 per $100 of assessed value (set by Fairfax County)
- Safety inspection: required (statewide)
- Emissions test: required every 2 years (NoVA)
The car tax is the local variable
Virginia's sales tax, title fee, and registration fees are uniform statewide — the number that actually differs by locality is the annual personal-property tax on your vehicle. Fairfax County charges $4.57 per $100 of assessed value; the state's PPTRA relief offsets part of the bill on the first $20,000 of value. Estimate the one-time purchase cost on our Virginia registration page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the car tax in Fairfax County, VA?
Fairfax County levies an annual personal-property tax of $4.57 per $100 of your vehicle's assessed value. The one-time purchase sales tax is a flat 4.15% statewide.
Does Fairfax County require an emissions test?
As part of the Northern Virginia emissions program, Fairfax County requires an emissions test every two years before you renew.
How much is sales tax on a car in Fairfax County?
4.15% of the sale price, with a $75 minimum — the same everywhere in Virginia. Fairfax County's local variation is the yearly car tax, not the sales tax.