Virginians pay on average $1,139 per year in property taxes to own a vehicle — the most in the country. Republicans in the 2025 session proposed providing relief from car taxes for low-income families. But Democrats killed that bill, just as they have repeatedly killed Republican tax relief bills.

Scott Surovell, the Democrat Senate majority leader, called Governor. Glenn Youngkin (R) called his proposal to reduce car taxes “a zombie gimmick” that was rejected in the 1990s.

Democrats appear to have forgotten the history of this issue, which favors Republicans. Jim Gilmore, a Republican who was elected Governor in 1997 on the promise to eliminate the car tax, ran his campaign with this goal. Gilmore managed to pass legislation in his first year that would phase out the car tax over five-years. Next came Democrat Governor. Mark Warner, in 2002. He immediately frozen the car tax relief to 70 percent. Then he further eroded this phase-out plan.

It is possible that the Democrat legislation governing car taxation was designed to be confusing. I am a Virginian who is well-educated. However, the monstrous bill that appears in my mailbox each year has always baffled me. What I found out is below.

State Law allows each city or counties to set their own personal property tax rate. Localities receive a percentage tax relief from the commonwealth on vehicles up to a value of $20,000 Localities receive $950 million in state tax relief annually, as set by law. Localities are required to first pay the vehicle taxes of military personnel on active duty, and then use the remaining funds for “tax relief”.

does not apply to vehicles used for business and trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds. The local government determines the percentage of relief. As an example, in 2024, Virginia Beach’s relief rate was 44.6%, Fairfax’s was 50%, Richmond had 22 percent and Roanoke, 44.79%.

Recently, my college-age child purchased a vehicle. He was confused when his vehicle tax bill arrived and said that he already paid it on the car he bought. He was surprised when I told him that Virginia has a annual vehicle tax.

After he graduates college, I don’t believe he will want to live in Virginia.

This is an example of a Virginia vehicle tax bill. The total amount owed for each of these vehicles is over 1,000 per year.

Republicans Fight to Eliminate Car Tax Against Democrat Obstruction

In 2023, Virginia Del. Tim Anderson (R), a Republican, submitted a constitutional change to abolish the automobile tax. Anderson’s effort was quickly killed, as with many other Republican bills that were introduced in the Democrat controlled legislature. Anderson, who is running for office this year with the House of Delegates as a whole, wants to provide tax relief for Virginians. Anderson said:

Taxation is too high. We are taxed too much on our wages, on the things we purchase and on the vehicles we own. The size of the government must be reduced to allow for a way to eliminate car tax. Next year, this will be my top priority.

Sen. Tara Durant, (R), sponsored in 2025. This bill would have provided a tax credit for 2025-2027 to taxpayers with incomes below $50,000 ($100,000.000 for joint filers). The compromise was not enough for many Republicans, but Democrats still killed the bill.

They made it clear that they did not wish to offer any tax relief to Virginians in . Period.

Gov. Youngkin was right when he referred to the car tax as “the most hated” tax since the tea taxes that ignited the American Revolution. He proposed a $1.1 billion car tax reduction in his budget. However, it was stymied once again by the Democrat controlled legislature.

It’s obvious that in Virginia, lawless Democrats are trying to tax and spend on useless projects while Republicans are looking to put money back into the pockets of families. WalletHub discovered that red states are taxed more than blue states. Virginia, despite its Republican governor, is a blue-colored state. New York’s taxes are more than twice as high as Florida.

Virginia is in the middle. This will get worse if Democrats gain control of both the legislature and governor’s office this November.

The Republican candidates for Virginia should emphasize the stark differences between the two parties when it comes to the car tax. I have never met a Virginian that likes the car tax. It’s high time we bring back former Gov. Jim Gilmore is coming out of retirement in order to help Republicans with their campaigning this election!