Chad Green, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, has called for the state to end its car tax, urging support for its repeal. The statement was made on the social media platform X.
“In Virginia, you never truly own your vehicle. You’re taxed when you buy it, and every year you drive it. I’m calling for an end to the car tax – who’s with me,” said Green, House Delegate.
Virginia’s car tax, officially known as the vehicle personal property tax, has emerged as a significant campaign issue. Both gubernatorial candidates have pledged to repeal it despite its crucial role in local budgets. For instance, Lynchburg collects approximately $26 million annually from this levy. While eliminating the tax is politically appealing, it presents fiscal challenges unless alternative revenue sources are identified. This debate recalls Governor Jim Gilmore’s 1997 “No Car Tax!” promise; however, current plans lack detailed funding strategies, according to Cardinal News.
In Alexandria’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget, the vehicle personal property tax generated $49.3 million at a rate of $5.00 per $100 of assessed value. City estimates indicate that increasing the rate to $5.83 would yield an additional $5.9 million, highlighting the tax’s substantial impact on municipal revenue and budget planning, as detailed in Alexandria’s revenue analysis.
Virginia’s vehicle tax rate stands at about 5.30%, compared with 3% in North Carolina and 5% in West Virginia. This positions Virginia’s levy among the higher burdens regionally, with neighboring states employing various strategies to balance vehicle-related revenue with affordability for residents, as shown in a state tax rate comparison published by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA).
Green represents Virginia’s 69th House District and was elected in 2023 after serving eight years on the York County Board of Supervisors, where he was chairman. A lawyer by profession, he holds degrees from the University of Alabama and Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law and has prioritized bipartisan work on education, infrastructure, and election policy.
