Norfolk, VA Vehicle Tax & Registration (2026)
In Norfolk, 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 $4.33 per $100 of assessed value, which Norfolk sets. A safety inspection is required statewide. Norfolk does not require an emissions test — only the statewide annual safety inspection.
Verified July 2026 from official sources. How we verify fees.
What you'll pay in Norfolk
- Sales & use tax: 4.15% (min $75), statewide
- Personal-property car tax: $4.33 per $100 of assessed value (set by Norfolk)
- Safety inspection: required (statewide)
- Emissions test: not required
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. Norfolk charges $4.33 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 Norfolk, VA?
Norfolk levies an annual personal-property tax of $4.33 per $100 of your vehicle's assessed value. The one-time purchase sales tax is a flat 4.15% statewide.
Does Norfolk require an emissions test?
Norfolk does not require an emissions test — only the statewide annual safety inspection.
How much is sales tax on a car in Norfolk?
4.15% of the sale price, with a $75 minimum — the same everywhere in Virginia. Norfolk's local variation is the yearly car tax, not the sales tax.