Vehicle Taxes & Fees

Fairfax County, Virginia

CONTACT INFORMATION: In order to ensure everyone's safety during the pandemic, please connect with us virtually. Use our website, send an email, or call us weekdays from 8AM to 4:30PM. We are open for walk-in traffic weekdays 8AM to 4:30PM.

703-222-8234
TTY 711

12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 223
Fairfax, VA 22035

Young Tarry,
Division Director

Full-Time College Students

Tax Liability for Vehicles Used by Full-Time College Students

Generally, a motor vehicle is assessed in the locality where such vehicle is garaged or parked, with the exception of a vehicle used by a full-time college student. In this case, the vehicle will be taxed by the domicile locality of the owner of that vehicle, provided the vehicle is normally parked or garaged at the location of the institution of higher education and the owner presents sufficient evidence that an ad valorem personal property tax on the motor vehicle has been paid in the state of the owner's domicile. Otherwise, the vehicle is taxable by the locality in which the car is normally parked or garaged.

Example: A vehicle owner residing in Fairfax County may send their student to study full-time at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. In this case, the vehicle is owned by the parents and used by the full-time student. Even though the vehicle is physically parked/garaged in Charlottesville, it will need to be registered and assessed for taxes in Fairfax County, since that is where the legal owner of the vehicle resides. (Code of Virginia § 58.1-3511)

Fairfax Virtual Assistant