How is personal property assessed?

The Commissioner of the Revenue is required by law to assess vehicles by means of a recognized pricing guide. The pricing guides utilized by the City of Charlottesville are the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) official used car guide and the official older used car guide. Clean trade-in is the value taken from these books. If a vehicle is not listed in the guide, the assessment will be based on a depreciated prior-year NADA Clean Trade-in Value and if none listed then a percentage of purchase cost or a percentage of MSRP

Motorcycles

The pricing guide utilized for motorcycles is the National Automobile Dealers Association Motorcycle appraisal guide. The value taken is clean trade-in. 

Trailers

For trailers, the assessed value is based on a percentage of the original cost.

Show All Answers

1. What types of personal property are taxable?
2. How is personal property assessed?
3. How is the amount of tax determined?
4. What is PPTR and How do I Qualify?
5. What is proration?
6. If I move out of Charlottesville or sell my automobile, will my tax bill be prorated?
7. When is my personal property tax bill due?
8. I have purchased a new vehicle and registered it at DMV. Do I need to obtain a City of Charlottesville decal?
9. I have just moved into the City of Charlottesville, must I notify the Commissioner's Office?
10. I sold or no longer own a vehicle or trailer, who do I notify?
11. If I buy an automobile, whom must I notify?
12. I am active duty military, am I liable for personal property tax in the City of Charlottesville?
13. I am a full-time college student, am I liable for personal property tax in the City of Charlottesville?