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Vehicle Personal Property Tax - Vehicle Decals

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1. I am a new resident of Loudoun County, living outside of an incorporated town. Where do I obtain a decal?

If you live in Loudoun County, but outside of an incorporated town, you should first file a personal property return with the Commissioner of the Revenue and then contact the Loudoun County Treasurer to obtain a Loudoun County decal. You must display this decal on your vehicle within 60 days of purchasing or moving a vehicle into Loudoun County. If you have a current, unexpired decal issued by another Virginia locality, or have paid the license fee to another Virginia locality, you may be issued the Loudoun County decal free of charge. Otherwise, the fee for obtaining a Loudoun County decal is $25.

2. I am a new resident living in one of Loudoun's seven incorporated towns. Where do I obtain a decal?

If you live in one of Loudoun's incorporated towns, you should file a personal property return with the Commissioner of the Revenue, and then contact the appropriate town office to purchase a vehicle decal. Towns may require decal display within 30 days. Contact your town office for further information:

• Hamilton
  Ph: 540-338-2811
• Hillsboro
  Ph: 540-668-7090
• Leesburg
  Ph: 703-777-2420
• Lovettsville
  Ph: 540-822-5788
• Middleburg
  Ph: 540-687-5152
• Purcellville
  Ph: 540-338-7421
• Round Hill
  Ph: 540-338-7878

3. My car is registered out-of-state. Do I still need to register my car with Loudoun County?

Yes, if you intend to have your car garaged, parked or stored in Loudoun County for 30 days or more, you must register the vehicle in Loudoun County and purchase the appropriate decal. All vehicles not displaying a current Loudoun County or Town decal, even those registered out-of-state, are subject to ticketing. Your car is assessed property tax for the length of time it is located in Loudoun County.

To register your vehicle, you'll need to submit your valid out-of-state vehicle registration. This must be done in person Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at one of our office locations:

• Leesburg Office
  1 Harrison St. S.E. 1st Floor
  Leesburg, VA 20175
  Ph: 703-777-0260
• Sterling Office
  21641 Ridgetop Cir. Ste. 100
  Sterling, VA 20166

4. How long does a vehicle decal remain valid?

You must renew vehicle decals, both town and county, annually. The fees for county decals will be included with county personal property tax bills. Upon receiving full payment of outstanding personal property taxes and decal fees by October 5, the Treasurer will mail decals to county residents in time for the display deadline of November 15.

For those wishing to purchase a county decal in person, new decals will be available each year beginning July 1. Contact the Treasurer's Office at 703-777-0280 for additional information.

Residents of incorporated towns must contact their town offices for decal renewal.

5. If I move into Loudoun County from another Virginia locality, is that locality's decal valid in Loudoun for the remainder of the year?

No. You are required to display a Loudoun County decal within 60 days after moving into the county. The Treasurer will issue a Loudoun County decal free of charge if you present a paid receipt issued by your previous Virginia locality and it is for the same year as the current decals being offered by Loudoun County. No refunds or adjustments will be made after your decal has been purchased. Contact your appropriate town office if you are moving into an incorporated town.

6. If I transfer Virginia state license plates from one vehicle to another or trade vehicles, may I transfer the decal also?

No. If you sell the vehicle for which you bought a current decal and have purchased a replacement vehicle, you must remove the decal from the vehicle being sold or traded. Within 60 days, register the replacement vehicle with the Commissioner's Office and report the sale of the other vehicle. Then contact the Treasurer's Office and a new decal will be issued for the replacement vehicle, free of charge as long as it is for the same year as the current decals being offered by Loudoun County.

This can only be done at the time of obtaining a new decal. No refunds or adjustments will be made after your decal has been purchased. You must pay any tax still due before a new decal will be issued.

DMV notifies Loudoun County of new and used car registrations. However, the dealer may not be prompt in reporting to DMV the trade-in of your old vehicle. To avoid being taxed erroneously, you should notify DMV and the Commissioner of the Revenue when you trade or sell a vehicle.

7. What about leased vehicles?

Leasing companies, as the registered owners of the vehicles they lease, are required to file and obtain the appropriate vehicle decals. This is true, regardless of any contractual agreement between lessor and lessee as to the payment of personal property tax.

If the leasing company does not furnish you with a decal for your leased vehicle before the display deadline, you could be subject to a police citation for failure to display a valid decal.