Frequently asked questions

The following are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding person property vehicles

Military

Q: I am active duty military, so do I owe this bill?

If the vehicle is in your name only and you are not a Virginia resident, no you do not. But you must provide us with an L.E.S. (Leave and Earning Statement) that is no more than 6 months old. You can fax or mail in an L.E.S. along with the bill you received. Fax # (757) 664-4109

Q: I am active duty military and my spouse, who is not in the military, is listed on the vehicle. Do I still owe this bill?

Yes you do. To be exempt from taxes:

The vehicle must be in the military member’s name only and
The member must be a non-resident of VA.

Vehicles that have been sold or are no longer located in Norfolk

Q: I no longer own this car. Do I owe the amount indicated on the bill?

Did you notify DMV of the sale? If you have not, please call DMV at 1-866-368-5463 and have them dispose of your vehicle (date of sale). Then please call us back so we can prorate your bill.

Q: I have moved out of Norfolk. Do I need to pay the bill I received from Norfolk?

Have you notified DMV of your address change? If not, please call them at 1-866-368-5463. Have them change your address, give them your move-out date and change your garage jurisdiction to that city. Then please call us back once it has been changed.

Q: I have moved to another state, do I owe this bill?

If you have changed your license plates to that state, we will need a copy of your current state registration, then, we can prorate your bill. If you still have your VA license plates, the bill issued by Norfolk is due. Once you have changed the license plates over to the new state, please provide us with that state registration. We will then prorate the vehicle(s) and send you a partial bill or refund.

Q: My son/daughter has a car away at school, it is registered in my name, do I owe this bill?

The answer depends on several variables, so you will need to talk with someone from the Personal Property office at (757) 664-7884.

High Mileage or Body Damage

Q: I have high mileage or I have body damage, do I qualify for a lower assessment?

If the vehicle is a 1996 or older, it does not qualify for high mileage.

If the vehicle is newer, we will need to have proof of the vehicle’s mileage. Provide a current state inspection receipt or a recent receipt from some kind of work that has been done on the vehicle, such as an oil change or purchase of tires.

For body damage on your vehicle, you will need to schedule an appointment for reassessing the vehicle.

Bill Amount Higher than Previous Years

Q: Why is my bill higher than last year?

This year there has been an increase in the personal property tax rate. The new tax rate is $4.25 per $100 of assessed value (last year the rate was $4.00 per $100). This has reduced the amount of Personal Property Tax Relief to 56% of the first $20,000 of assessed vehicle value (versus 60% in 2007).

If you are a boat owner, the rate has increased to $0.50 per $100 of assessed value.

Frequently asked questions

Military

Vehicles that have been sold or are no longer located in Norfolk

High Mileage or Body Damage

Bill Amount Higher than Previous Years

Other Questions