Chad Green, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, has expressed concerns over the car tax, describing it as “outdated and unfair.” He said that Democrats in Richmond are maintaining the tax instead of focusing on working families.
“Every Virginian knows the pain of the car tax,” said Green, House Delegate. “It’s outdated, unfair, and hits working families hardest. Unfortunately, Democrats in Richmond are fighting to protect the car tax, and not working families.”
According to the City of Williamsburg, personal property taxes are levied on vehicles and other personal property typically garaged within the city. This includes cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, trailers, aircraft, and manufactured homes. However, antique vehicles with permanent plates are exempt from this tax. The general tax rate is set at $3.50 per $100 of a vehicle’s value as of January 1st, with payments due by December 1st. The city provides relief on the first $20,000 of qualifying vehicle value under the Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA), and additional exemptions are available for specially equipped vehicles, disabled veterans, and military spouses with appropriate documentation.
In 1998, the Virginia General Assembly enacted PPTRA to offer relief on the first $20,000 of a vehicle’s assessed value. According to a report by Axios, this relief has been gradually reduced since 2022 due to increased car valuations. Consequently, higher tax bills have been observed even for older vehicles.
A Democratic-led Virginia Senate subcommittee reviewed several proposed tax cuts by Governor Glenn Youngkin in January. These proposals included a phased elimination of the car tax and exemption of service tips from state income tax. The subcommittee ultimately rejected or postponed these measures along with expansions to the standard deduction and earned income tax credit. According to the Virginia Mercury, Sen. Louise Lucas chaired the Senate Finance Resources subcommittee which indicated that while these proposals will not advance immediately, they may be addressed in future state budget amendments.
Green is a lifelong Peninsula resident from Newport News who serves in the Virginia House of Delegates and practices law through his own firm. He holds degrees from the University of Alabama and Cumberland School of Law and is licensed in Virginia, Alabama, and before the U.S. Supreme Court. Green previously served eight years on the York County Board of Supervisors in roles including chairman and vice chairman. In his current role in the House, he serves on various committees such as Education and Privileges and Elections Committees and has sponsored or co-sponsored over 150 bills focused on taxation, education, veterans’ programs, public safety, and transportation infrastructure oversight.
