Rouss City Hall

Vehicle Registration FAQs

Important! Let the Commissioner of the Revenue's Office know if you change your address sell or trade your vehicle or move out of the city.

When registering my vehicle, what do I bring to the Commissioner of the Revenue's Office?

I am moving to the City of Winchester from out of State

  1. Virginia Vehicle Registration (Need to go to the DMV first)
  2. Bring Social Security Number(s) or
    Virginia Driver's License number(s) (begins with a "T")

I am moving into the City of Winchester from another locality within Virginia

  1. Virginia Vehicle Registration
  2. Social Security Number(s) or
    Virginia Driver's License number(s) (begins with a "T")

What is the Personal Property Tax Relief Act?

The Personal Property Tax Relief Act of 1998 provides tax relief for passenger cars, motorcycles, and pickup or panel trucks having a registered gross weight of less than 7,501 pounds. To qualify a vehicle must:

  • be owned by an individual or leased by an individual under a contract requiring the individual to pay the personal property tax;

AND

  • be used 50% or less for business purposes. Motor homes, trailers and farm use vehicles do not qualify for tax relief.

Does your vehicle qualify for Car Tax Relief?

If you can answer YES to any of the following questions, your motor vehicle is considered by State Law to have a business use and does NOT qualify for Car Tax Relief.

  • Is more that 50% of the mileage for the year used as a business expense for Federal Income Tax purposes OR reimbursed by an employer?
  • Is more than 50% of the depreciation associated with the vehicle deducted as a business expense for Federal Income Tax purposes?
  • Is the cost of the vehicle expensed pursuant to Section 179 of the Internal Revenue Service Code?
  • Is the vehicle leased by an individual and the leasing company pays the tax without reimbursement from the individual?

Vehicle Registration Fees:

  • Passenger Cars & Trucks Gross Weight 10,000 Lbs. and Under - $24.00 each
  • Vehicles with National Guard Plates (limit 2) - $12.00 each
  • Trucks Gross Weight Over 10,000 Lbs. - $36.00
  • All 2 or 3 Wheel Motorized Cycles - $12.00
  • Antique Vehicles (Must have Antique Plates) - $10.00
  • Disabled Veterans - No registration fee on one vehicle per year. First time filers must present Disabled Veterans Administration card

 

Taxpayers must register a vehicle within 45 days of purchasing the vehicle or moving into the City of Winchester, or will be subject to a $5.00 penalty added to the above registration fee amounts as well as a 10% penalty on their first personal property tax bill for the vehicle.