Once you move to Virginia, you have 30 days to title and register your car and 60 days to get a Virginia driver’s license. Your city will also want to know about your car for personal property tax, a bill many new residents do not see coming.
As local movers in Virginia Beach, we move families into Hampton Roads from all over the country, and the same questions come up on almost every delivery. Here is the checklist we would hand you with the last box.
| Task | Deadline | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|
| Title and register your vehicle | Within 30 days of moving | Virginia DMV |
| Get a Virginia driver’s license | Within 60 days (30 days for CDL holders) | Virginia DMV |
| Safety inspection | Once the car is registered here, with no grace period | Any licensed inspection station (Virginia State Police) |
| Report the car for personal property tax | Often within 30 days; varies by city | Your city’s Commissioner of the Revenue |
| Register to vote | 11 days before an election, or same-day with a provisional ballot | Virginia Department of Elections |
| Update your address after any later move | Within 30 days | Virginia DMV |
Already a Virginia resident and just moving across town? Our change of address checklist covers what to update and when.
Transferring Your Driver’s License
You can drive on your out-of-state license for your first 60 days of residency (Va. Code § 46.2-308). After that, you need a Virginia license.
- Tests: If you are 18 or older and your current license has not been expired for more than a year, you skip the knowledge and road tests. Everyone takes a vision screening.
- Cost: $32 for a standard eight-year license, plus $10 if you choose REAL ID (DMV).
- REAL ID: Optional in Virginia. A REAL ID from another state does not transfer, so you apply fresh here (DMV REAL ID).
- What to bring: Original documents only: one proof of identity, one proof of legal presence, two proofs of Virginia residency, and your Social Security number. Bring your old license and any name change documents. The DMV’s document guide builds your list for you.
- Appointments: Not required. You can book one, reserve a spot, or walk in (DMV appointments).
A tip from moving day: pack your passport, birth certificate, and Social Security card in a personal bag that rides with you, not in a box on the truck. You will need them at the DMV within weeks.
Titling and Registering Your Vehicle
Virginia gives new residents 30 days to title and register a car (Va. Code § 46.2-662). The car must be titled in Virginia before it can be registered here.
The titling tax. Virginia charges a motor vehicle sales and use tax of 4.15% of the sale price, with a $75 minimum. Most new residents do not pay it. You are exempt if your car already has an out-of-state title or registration and either (DMV):
- You have owned it for more than 12 months, or
- You have owned it for less than 12 months and can show you paid sales tax in another state.
Bought the car recently and cannot prove tax was paid? Virginia charges the tax on the car’s fair market value. Bring the bill of sale.
Insurance. Virginia requires liability coverage of at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage for policies starting on or after January 1, 2025 (DMV). The old option of paying a fee instead of buying insurance ended July 1, 2024.
Inspection. Hampton Roads cars need an annual safety inspection, about $20 for a standard vehicle. Get it right before or right after you register; there is no grace period. Emissions testing applies only in certain Northern Virginia localities, so no Hampton Roads city requires it (DMV emissions).
Personal Property Tax in Hampton Roads
Virginia cities tax the cars you own every year, and new residents usually have to report their vehicles to the local Commissioner of the Revenue soon after moving. This is separate from DMV registration, and it is the bill that surprises people the most.
How it works across the state:
- Each city sets its own rate per $100 of assessed value, using a pricing guide value for your car.
- Proration is up to each city. Where a city adopts it, the tax is prorated by month (Va. Code § 58.1-3516).
- Tax relief applies to the first $20,000 of value on a personal-use car, truck, or motorcycle under the state’s Personal Property Tax Relief Act. The relief percentage changes by city and by year (Va. Code § 58.1-3524).
What we confirmed for local cities:
| City | What to know | Official page |
|---|---|---|
| Newport News | File a property return within 30 days of moving in. Taxes are due June 5 and December 5. | Automobile information |
| Norfolk | Taxes are due June 5. Vehicles are taxed at $4.33 per $100 of assessed value. | Personal property tax |
| Virginia Beach | Report your vehicle to the Commissioner of the Revenue. | Commissioner of the Revenue |
| Chesapeake | Check due dates and decal rules with the city. | Important tax dates |
Weighing which city to live in? Taxes are one line in our cost guides for Virginia Beach and Norfolk.
Military Families: What Is Different
Active-duty service members stationed in Virginia on orders get several exemptions, which matters in a region built around Naval Station Norfolk and Joint Base Langley-Eustis.
- Driver’s license: Active-duty members, their spouses, and dependent children 16 years and 3 months or older can keep driving on a valid home-state license (DMV military FAQ).
- Personal property tax: Under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, active-duty members whose legal residence is in another state are exempt on their vehicles. A spouse with the same out-of-state domicile is also exempt.
- Proof: Cities ask for a current Leave and Earnings Statement. Virginia Beach requires one every year, and new arrivals may need an LES dated within the last 90 days (DMV exemptions chart).
- The catch: A car leased, or co-owned with someone who is not military or a military spouse, is usually taxable.
If you are arriving on PCS orders, our PCS move timeline lays out the rest of the first 30 days, and our PPM move guide explains moving yourself on orders.
Other First-Month Tasks
- Register to vote. You can register online through the Department of Elections citizen portal. The regular deadline is 11 days before a general or primary election, which works out to October 23 for the November 3, 2026 election. Virginia also offers same-day registration with a provisional ballot.
- Get your city decal or sticker, if required. Some localities still require one, handled by the Commissioner, Treasurer, or Director of Finance, not the DMV.
- Set up utilities and mail forwarding before the truck arrives. Our change of address checklist has the timeline.
- Learn the area. Still choosing where to settle? Start with pros and cons of living in Virginia and our Virginia Beach neighborhoods guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to register my car in Virginia after moving?
30 days. You must title the car in Virginia first, then register it.
How long can I drive on an out-of-state license in Virginia?
60 days from when you become a resident, or 30 days if you hold a commercial license.
Do I pay sales tax on my car when I move to Virginia?
Usually not. You are exempt if you have owned the car for more than 12 months, or for less time but paid sales tax in another state.
Does Hampton Roads require an emissions test?
No. Emissions testing applies only in certain Northern Virginia localities. You do need an annual safety inspection.
Do military members pay personal property tax in Virginia?
Not if they are on active duty with legal residence in another state and the car is solely theirs or shared with a qualifying spouse. Expect to show a current LES to your city.
Can Tidal Town Moving move us to Virginia?
Yes. We handle long-distance moves into Hampton Roads and local moves across Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, and the rest of the region. Call (757) 716-9286 or get a free estimate.