CHINCOTEAGUE, VA - If you're a Virginia resident with a car, you've likely become familiar with the annual car tax bill that arrives in your mailbox. For many, this has become a source of frustration and headaches.
Antoinetta Parrish-Carter, a resident of Virginia for a year and a half, expressed her dissatisfaction, stating, "It's already a headache for me."
The annual fee for car ownership varies based on the vehicle's value, adding an additional financial burden for many Virginians. However, Governor Glenn Youngkin has proposed the elimination of this unpopular tax, garnering support from a significant portion of the state's residents.
Starlight Cherrix, a Chincoteague resident, highlighted the financial relief this change could bring, saying, "Any little bit helps, especially on the island because it's a tourist town, and we're all just scraping by on what we were able to save during the summer and the little hours that we get during the winter."
Roger Adams, manager of Adams Auto Repair on Chincoteague, emphasized the potential benefits for businesses, stating, "It definitely could help me. I mean, we're in the repair business, and if you spend 2 or 3 thousand dollars less a year paying taxes, that's 2 or 3 thousand dollars more a year you've got to do repairs and keep your vehicle safe and on the road."
Adams added, "People's money is tight everywhere. I mean, personally, I pay quite a bit of money. I've got 4 or 5 vehicles; that's 3 or 4 thousand dollars for me a year that I could be putting towards bills or having fun with family."
Moreover, Adams pointed out, "A lot of people keep older vehicles because they pay a couple hundred dollars a year." He continued to suggest that with the elimination of the car tax, Virginians might be more willing to purchase newer vehicles, potentially stimulating the local automotive market.
However, the proposed elimination of the car tax comes with potential consequences, leading Governor Youngkin to suggest an increase in the state sales tax to offset the lost revenue. Surprisingly, many Virginians seem open to this alternative.
Antoinetta Parrish-Carter expressed her support, stating, "It would be a great idea for him to get rid of it, and I wouldn't mind paying an extra sales tax or anything else he proposes to do to eliminate that. It would be a great thing."
As Virginia contemplates the end of the road for the car tax, it's important to note that nothing is set in stone. State lawmakers will engage in a debate on the proposal when the Virginia Legislature reconvenes on January 10th. The outcome of these discussions will determine the fate of the much-disliked car tax in the state.