On this page
- Where we are and who we serve
- What it costs to own a car in Chesterfield County
- Matching a vehicle to your part of the region
- New to Chesterfield? Titling and registering your car
- Roads and driving conditions south of the James
- Weekend destinations, and what to drive there
- Fort Lee and DSCR: service members and federal employees
- A year on the road in Chesterfield
- Guides in this center
- Frequently asked questions
Where we are and who we serve
Haley Buick GMC Midlothian sits on Midlothian Turnpike (U.S. Route 60) in Chesterfield County, southwest of downtown Richmond. Our mailing address says Richmond, VA 23235, but we serve the Midlothian community and the south and west side of the Richmond region.
| From | Typical route | Approximate drive |
|---|---|---|
| Bon Air | Buford Rd or Forest Hill Ave to Midlothian Turnpike | about 10 minutes |
| Midlothian village and Brandermill | Midlothian Turnpike east, or Route 288 to Route 60 | 15-20 minutes |
| Tuckahoe and the West End | Huguenot Bridge to Huguenot Rd and Midlothian Turnpike | 15-20 minutes |
| Chesterfield Courthouse | Route 10 to Chippenham Parkway north | about 20 minutes |
| Chester | Route 288 or Chippenham Parkway | 20-25 minutes |
| Colonial Heights | I-95 north to Chippenham Parkway | about 25-30 minutes |
| Powhatan Courthouse | Route 60 east | about 30-35 minutes |
| Fort Lee | I-95 north to Chippenham Parkway | about 35-40 minutes |
Off-peak estimates; confirm in Google Maps for your route and time of day.
What it costs to own a car in Chesterfield County
| Cost | Who sets it | Amount or timing |
|---|---|---|
| Motor vehicle sales and use tax | Commonwealth of Virginia | 4.15% of the sale price at purchase ($75 minimum) |
| Title fee | Virginia DMV | $15, one time |
| Registration | Virginia DMV | About $40.75-$45.75 a year for most passenger vehicles, by weight |
| Personal property (car) tax | Chesterfield County | Billed annually; due June 5; prorated by month |
| Safety inspection | Virginia State Police program | Annual; $20 maximum fee |
| Highway use fee | Virginia DMV | Annual, for vehicles rated 25 mpg combined or more and EVs; FY2026 range $6.86-$131.88 for gas vehicles |
| Tolls | RMTA and VDOT | Powhite Parkway and the Powhite Parkway Extension; E-ZPass accepted |
Confirm current amounts with Virginia DMV and Chesterfield County before budgeting.
How Chesterfield's car tax works
- It's a county tax, not a state one. Chesterfield County taxes vehicles garaged in the county each calendar year, and the Treasurer's Office bills it. Personal property tax is due June 5.
- It's prorated by month. If you buy, sell or move a vehicle during the year, you're taxed only for the months it was yours and garaged in Chesterfield.
- Relief applies to the first $20,000 of value. Virginia's Personal Property Tax Relief Act reduces the tax on the first $20,000 of a personal-use vehicle's assessed value; the county sets the relief percentage each year.
- Value comes from a pricing guide. The county assesses vehicles using a standard pricing guide, so a new, expensive vehicle costs more in year one and less as it ages.
- Use the county's calculator. Rates and relief percentages change with the county budget, so use Chesterfield's online estimator rather than an old number.
Trading or buying late in the year? Our guide to Chesterfield car tax proration works through examples, and our Chesterfield County car ownership guide covers every cost in more depth.
Matching a vehicle to your part of the region
After years of selling and servicing vehicles on Midlothian Turnpike, we hear the same needs from each part of our area again and again:
| Area | Common needs | Models to start with |
|---|---|---|
| Bon Air, Tuckahoe and the near West End | Older neighborhoods, narrower driveways, short commutes downtown | Buick Envista, Encore GX, GMC Terrain |
| Midlothian, Brandermill, Woodlake and Swift Creek | Growing families, school carpools, weekend sports | GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave, GMC Yukon |
| Powhatan and western Chesterfield | Gravel roads, farm and contractor work, towing | GMC Sierra 1500 AT4, Canyon, Sierra HD |
| Chester, Colonial Heights and southern Chesterfield | I-95 and Route 288 commutes, Fort Lee and DSCR schedules | Buick Envista or Envision, GMC Canyon, Sierra 1500 |
| Lake and river households | Boats, campers and steep ramps | Sierra 1500 (diesel for long tows), Yukon, Canyon |
General patterns from customer conversations, not a rule. The best vehicle depends on your own driving.
New to Chesterfield? Titling and registering your car
- Title and register within 30 days. New Virginia residents must title and register their vehicles with Virginia DMV within 30 days of moving.
- Get a Virginia safety inspection. Most vehicles need a valid Virginia inspection; any official station can do it for $20 or less.
- Tell the county. File your vehicle with the Chesterfield County Commissioner of the Revenue so it's assessed correctly; you'll be billed for the months it's garaged here.
- Change your license. Get a Virginia driver's license, typically within 60 days of moving.
- Buying here instead? If you buy from us, we handle the title and registration paperwork as part of the sale.
Military members stationed at Fort Lee or working at DSCR have different rules; see our military car-buying guide.
Roads and driving conditions south of the James
- Route 288 loops from Chester to Powhatan and the West Creek area. Its overpasses and the James River crossing are among the first places to ice in a freezing-rain event.
- Powhite Parkway and Chippenham Parkway carry most commuters toward downtown and the West End. Plan for tolls on Powhite.
- Midlothian Turnpike (U.S. 60) is the area's main retail corridor, with frequent signals and heavy weekend traffic near Chesterfield Towne Center.
- Hull Street Road (U.S. 360) serves the fast-growing southern part of the county toward Amelia.
- Rural Powhatan and western Chesterfield have unpaved driveways, farm roads and steep lake ramps, which is where 4WD and all-terrain tires earn their keep.
Weather and seasonal risks
| Risk | When | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Deer collisions | Peak October-December, especially at dawn and dusk | Good headlights, automatic emergency braking, slowing on wooded roads |
| Early darkness | After Daylight Saving Time ends (Nov 1, 2026) | Headlight aim, auto high beams |
| Freezing rain and black ice | December-February | Good tires matter more than AWD or 4WD; leave extra distance on bridges and overpasses |
| Flash flooding | Heavy summer storms and tropical systems | Never drive into water over the road; avoid low crossings near creeks |
| Flood-damaged used cars | Weeks after hurricane season | Check title history and inspect before buying used |
Read what to do if you hit a deer and our AWD vs. 4WD guide for Richmond winters.
Weekend destinations, and what to drive there
| Destination | Distance from Midlothian | Vehicle tips |
|---|---|---|
| Pocahontas State Park (Chesterfield) | about 20 minutes | Virginia's largest state park; roof rails for bikes, any AWD SUV for gravel lots |
| Robious Landing Park and the James River | about 15 minutes | Kayak racks; Encore GX or Envision with roof rails |
| Lake Chesdin | about 35-40 minutes | Boat ramps; Canyon or Sierra for small boats |
| Lake Anna | about 1.25 hours | Pontoons and wake boats; Sierra 1500 or Yukon |
| Smith Mountain Lake | about 2.5 hours west | Larger boats and campers; Sierra 1500, especially diesel, for long tows |
| Outer Banks | about 3.5-4 hours | Beach driving permits; 4WD and tire pressure gauges |
Approximate drive times; confirm routes and park rules before you go.
For hitch and tow-rating details on the lake trips, see our GMC towing guide for Virginia lakes.
Fort Lee and DSCR: service members and federal employees
Fort Lee in Prince George County and Defense Supply Center Richmond in Chesterfield are two major employers in our area. Fort Lee was renamed Fort Gregg-Adams in 2023 and returned to Fort Lee in June 2025, so older documents may use either name. Service members, veterans and DSCR employees often have out-of-state registrations, upcoming PCS moves or deployments to plan around. See our military car-buying guide, and ask about 5,000 bonus Haley Advantage Rewards points for military members.
A year on the road in Chesterfield
| Month | What's happening | Car to-do |
|---|---|---|
| January | New year; tax season begins | Claim the car loan interest deduction if you bought a qualifying new vehicle |
| Whenever you buy, sell or move a vehicle | Chesterfield prorates car tax by month | Report the change to the Commissioner of the Revenue so your bill is prorated correctly |
| June 5 | Chesterfield personal property tax due | Pay or set up a payment plan |
| Summer | Lake and towing season | Check trailer lights, tires and cooling system |
| October-December | Deer season; model-year closeout | Check headlights; best window for year-end deals |
| November | Clocks fall back (Nov 1, 2026); Thanksgiving travel on I-95 and I-64 | Pre-trip inspection |
| December-February | Ice season | Battery test, tires, washer fluid |
Confirm county deadlines each year on chesterfield.gov.
Guides in Local Guides & Service Areas
Each guide below goes deeper on one topic from this page. New guides are added as they publish.
Military and veteran car-buying guideFort Lee and DSCR buyers.Publishing Nov 6
Buick GMC dealer near Bon Air and ChesterfieldDrive times, routes and what locals buy.Publishing Nov 9
Chesterfield County car ownership guideCar tax, inspections, DMV, tolls and traffic.Publishing Nov 12
Chesterfield car tax prorationBuying, selling or trading late in the year.Publishing Dec 7
Buick GMC dealer near Chester and Colonial HeightsRoutes, service and collision.Publishing Dec 8
Buick GMC dealer near PowhatanWork trucks and Saturday service.Publishing Jan 5
Frequently asked questions
When is Chesterfield County car tax due?
Chesterfield County personal property tax, including the tax on vehicles, is due June 5 each year. The county prorates it by month for vehicles bought, sold or moved during the year.
Where is Haley Buick GMC Midlothian?
At 9831 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23235, on U.S. Route 60 in Chesterfield County. The postal city is Richmond; the dealership serves the Midlothian community.
Is Haley Buick GMC Midlothian the same as Haley Buick GMC Airport?
No. Both belong to the Haley Automotive Group, but they are separate dealerships. Haley Buick GMC Airport is in Sandston, in eastern Henrico County. Haley Buick GMC Midlothian is on Midlothian Turnpike in Chesterfield County.
How long do I have to register my car after moving to Virginia?
New residents must title and register their vehicles with Virginia DMV within 30 days of moving to the state.
How much is a car inspection in Virginia?
Virginia caps the safety inspection fee at $20 for a passenger vehicle. Vehicles bought from Haley Buick GMC Midlothian get lifetime state inspections as part of the Haley Advantage on qualified vehicles.
Do I need AWD to drive in Chesterfield County?
Not usually. Central Virginia gets more ice than deep snow, and good tires matter as much as AWD. AWD or 4WD helps on rural Powhatan roads, steep lake ramps and the occasional heavy snow.
What areas does Haley Buick GMC Midlothian serve?
Midlothian, Bon Air, Chesterfield, Chester, Colonial Heights, Powhatan, Tuckahoe and the south and west side of the Richmond area.
What is Virginia's highway use fee?
An annual fee, collected with registration, on electric vehicles and on gas vehicles rated at 25 mpg combined or more, to make up for lower fuel-tax payments. For fiscal 2026 it ranges from $6.86 to $131.88 for gas vehicles.
Talk to a real person at Haley Buick GMC Midlothian
9831 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23235. Sales Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-6pm. Service and Parts Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 8am-2pm.
Fees, tax rates and deadlines are set by Virginia and Chesterfield County and can change; confirm current amounts with Virginia DMV and the county before budgeting. Drive times are approximate. Program benefits apply to qualified vehicles only; see dealer for details. Information current as of October 2026.