Out-the-Door Car Price in Virginia: Tax, Title & Fees

Buying & Financing Center

Out-the-door price on a new Buick or GMC in Virginia, line by line

Updated . Written by the Haley Buick GMC Midlothian sales and finance team.

The short answer

In Virginia, the out-the-door price on a new vehicle is the sale price plus our $799 dealer processing fee, plus 4.15% motor vehicle sales and use tax on both, plus title ($15) and registration ($30.75 or $35.75 a year for most passenger vehicles). Add any dealer-installed products or accessories on your quote, then subtract your trade-in. A 2026 Buick Enclave at its $48,395 starting price with destination comes to about $51,286 out the door before a trade-in.

At a glance

Virginia sales and use tax
4.15%, processing fee included
Title fee
$15
Registration
$30.75 or $35.75 a year, by weight
Dealer processing fee
$799
On this page
  1. The out-the-door formula
  2. Worked example: a 2026 Buick Enclave
  3. What's taxed and what isn't
  4. Our $799 processing fee
  5. Dealer-installed products and add-ons
  6. What isn't in the out-the-door price
  7. How to get an itemized quote
  8. Related guides
  9. Frequently asked questions
  10. References

The out-the-door formula

Every Virginia out-the-door quote is built the same way, whether you're buying a Buick SUV or one of our GMC trucks and SUVs. Ask for each of these as its own line:

  1. Sale price of the vehicle, including destination, after any manufacturer rebates. See current GM incentives.
  2. Dealer processing fee: $799 at Haley Buick GMC Midlothian.
  3. Dealer-installed products or accessories, if any, each listed with its own price.
  4. Virginia motor vehicle sales and use tax: 4.15% of the sale price plus the processing fee ($75 minimum).
  5. Title fee: $15.
  6. Registration: $30.75 a year for vehicles 4,000 lbs or less, or $35.75 for 4,001-6,500 lbs. Local fees may apply.
  7. Minus your trade-in and any cash down, which lower what you pay or finance but not the tax.

Worked example: a 2026 Buick Enclave

Here is the math on a 2026 Buick Enclave at its starting MSRP with destination and no trade-in. Your quote will use your vehicle's actual price.

Illustrative out-the-door price: 2026 Buick Enclave
Line itemAmountHow it's set
Starting MSRP$46,400.00Buick, October 2026
Destination charge$1,995.00Buick; same at every dealer
Sale price$48,395.00Before any negotiation or GM incentives
Dealer processing fee$799.00Haley Buick GMC Midlothian
Virginia sales and use tax (4.15% of $49,194)$2,041.55Set by the state; includes the processing fee
Title fee$15.00Virginia DMV
Registration (1 year, 4,001-6,500 lbs)$35.75Virginia DMV
Estimated out-the-door totalabout $51,286.30Before trade-in, add-ons or incentives

Illustrative only; not an offer. Your itemized quote shows the exact price, any dealer-installed products, and DMV's figures for your vehicle and plate.

Welcome to Virginia sign beside an interstate highway
Virginia collects its 4.15% motor vehicle sales and use tax when the vehicle is titled, and the processing fee is part of the taxable price.

What's taxed and what isn't

  • The processing fee is taxed. Virginia DMV includes the dealer processing fee in the price it taxes, so $799 adds about $33 in tax.
  • Manufacturer rebates lower the tax. Under Virginia law, a GM rebate or incentive applied to the deal isn't part of the taxable sale price.
  • Your trade-in doesn't lower the tax. Virginia taxes the full sale price with no deduction for a trade-in or the loan you still owe on it.
  • Cash down doesn't lower the tax either; it only lowers the amount you finance.

Our $799 processing fee

The processing fee is our charge for preparing your sale documents and handling the title and registration paperwork with Virginia DMV. Virginia doesn't cap processing fees, but state law requires dealers to show the fee as its own line on the buyer's order, and it is the same on every vehicle we sell. Because fees differ from dealer to dealer, compare out-the-door prices, not advertised prices.

Dealer-installed products and add-ons

Some quotes include products or accessories installed by the dealer, along with optional protection products offered in the finance office. Before you sign, ask for each one as a separate line with its price, ask which are optional, and ask what each adds to your monthly payment if you finance. You decide what's worth it for you.

What isn't in the out-the-door price

  • Chesterfield County car tax. Personal property tax is billed by the county, prorated by month and due each June 5. See our local guide.
  • Virginia's [highway use fee](/buick-suv-guide-midlothian-va.htm#mpg) applies at registration to vehicles rated 25 mpg combined or more, such as some Buick Envista and Encore GX models.
  • Insurance, which you arrange before you take delivery.

How to get an itemized quote

  1. Pick the vehicle. Send us the stock number or VIN from our new inventory.
  2. Ask for an out-the-door quote by phone, text or online, with every line itemized.
  3. Tell us about your trade. Get a written offer from Haley Buys Cars so we can show your net amount.
  4. Get pre-qualified with GM Financial or Capital One through our finance center if you plan to finance.
  5. Compare like with like. Line up quotes from different dealers by their out-the-door totals.

Related guides

Each guide below goes deeper on one topic from this page. New guides are added as they publish.

Buying and financing a Buick or GMCPrices, financing, trade-ins and the Haley Advantage.
Which 2026 models qualify for the loan interest deductionModel-by-model list with assembly plants.Publishing Oct 30
Car payment calculator for VirginiaMonthly payment with Virginia tax and fees built in.Publishing Nov 4
Negative-equity trade-insWhat to do if you owe more than it's worth.Publishing Nov 13

More guides from Haley Buick GMC Midlothian

Buying & Financing GuidePrices, Virginia taxes and fees, financing and the Haley Advantage.GMC Truck & SUV GuideEvery 2026 GMC compared: towing, engines, trims.Buick SUV GuideEnvista, Encore GX, Envision and Enclave side by side.Service, Parts & Collision GuideMaintenance, inspections, recalls, parts and collision repair.Midlothian & Chesterfield GuideCar tax, inspections, roads and drive times.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate the out-the-door price on a car in Virginia?

Add the sale price, the dealer processing fee and any dealer-installed products, then add 4.15% Virginia motor vehicle sales and use tax on the sale price plus processing fee, a $15 title fee and registration ($30.75 or $35.75 a year for most passenger vehicles). Subtract your trade-in last.

Is the dealer processing fee taxed in Virginia?

Yes. Virginia DMV includes the dealer processing fee in the price it uses to calculate the 4.15% motor vehicle sales and use tax.

Does a trade-in reduce sales tax in Virginia?

No. Virginia taxes the full sale price of the vehicle with no deduction for a trade-in or for money still owed on it. A manufacturer rebate applied to the deal is not taxed.

What is the dealer processing fee at Haley Buick GMC Midlothian?

$799. It covers preparing the sale documents and handling title and registration paperwork with Virginia DMV, and it is shown as its own line on the buyer's order.

How much is title and registration in Virginia?

The title fee is $15. Annual registration for most passenger vehicles is $30.75 at 4,000 lbs or less and $35.75 from 4,001 to 6,500 lbs; local fees may apply.

Is Chesterfield car tax part of the out-the-door price?

No. Chesterfield County bills personal property tax separately, prorated by month, with payment due June 5.

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.

Request an itemized quoteGet pre-qualifiedValue your tradeCall (804) 525-9626

References

  1. Motor vehicle sales and use tax (includes the dealer processing fee; no trade-in credit). Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
  2. Code of Virginia § 58.1-2401: definition of sale price (trade-ins; manufacturer rebates). Virginia General Assembly.
  3. Application for certificate of title and registration (VSA 86): $15 title fee. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
  4. New law reduces vehicle registration fees for Virginians ($30.75 and $35.75 base fees). WSET, June 2020.
  5. Destination freight charge. Buick.
  6. Here is 2026 Buick Enclave pricing with options and packages. GM Authority, 2025.
  7. Highway use fee. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
  8. Treasurer's Office: tax calendar (personal property tax due June 5). Chesterfield County.

Example is illustrative and not an offer; prices are manufacturer's suggested retail prices plus destination. Plus tax, title, registration and a $799 dealer processing fee; dealer-installed products, if any, are itemized on your quote. Taxes and DMV fees are set by Virginia and can change. Program benefits apply to qualified vehicles only; see dealer for details. Information current as of October 2026.