Virginia man warns US drivers after county values 3.5-year-old van at $42,200, far above its real worth

If you’ve ever filed a car tax bill and wondered how your aging vehicle has somehow gained value like fine wine, Stephen Martin knows the feeling.

The Amherst County driver says his 2022 Toyota Sienna and 2016 Ford F-250 are worth much less than what he was taxed on, and he’s not convinced the county looks at it the same way.

It might mean something. Second-hand car prices have increased in recent years. iSeeCars examined pricing data on more than 2.6 million three-year-old vehicles and found that the typical used car currently costs about $32,635; this is roughly $9,500 higher than in 2019 (1).

Martin says his county taxes his vehicles as if the market were at its peak. As a result, he says he faces appraisals well above the price at which he could sell his cars.

“This is bullshit, there’s something wrong here. Something’s mixed up,” Martin told ABC 13 (2).

He’s worried he’s not the only one. Many drivers across Virginia may be facing the same sticker shock.

When Martin compared the Amherst County assessment to online pricing guides, the difference was hard to ignore. The state valued the minivan at $42,200; that was only a few grand less than he paid for a new one three and a half years ago.

Edmunds, TrueCar and Kelley Blue Book place the van’s current value much lower, pegging it at between $30,000 and $35,000. His truck showed a similar discrepancy.

“I entered all the information as if it were a perfect vehicle. If you go there, my tailgate is collapsed, my side is collapsed,” he said. “So this is further evidence that the evaluation system is flawed.”

The depreciation math backs it up. According to BrokerLink, cars typically lose about 20% of their value in the first year, 15% in the second year, and 12% in the third year (3). By this measure, a $45,000 vehicle like Martin’s should be worth:

• Year 1: $36,000

• Year 2: $30,600

• Year 3: $26,928

And today’s depreciation could be even steeper. According to S&P Global Mobility (4) Americans are keeping their vehicles longer; The average car age is now 12.8 years, the highest on record. Age, mileage, condition, and market trends all shape resale value, and for most drivers, prices tend to decline over time rather than returning to the original sticker price.

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ABC 13 compared Amherst County’s tax rate of $3.45 per $100 of value to fair market estimates and found Martin could pay $450 to $700 more than he should. His objection didn’t get very far. The county offered a mileage deduction of about $30.

He is not alone. The Virginia DMV says more than 8.4 million registered vehicles are subject to personal property tax each year (5). Each region sets its own fee; some hover around $3.00 per $100 of assessed value, while others approach $3.70. Most counties use J.D. Power value guides (formerly NADA) to determine taxable value.

Amherst County Revenue Commissioner Jane Irby told ABC 13 the county uses J.D. Power’s Jan. 1 valuations for every registered VIN. He couldn’t explain why those figures are sometimes higher than consumer tools like Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds, but said mileage deductions are the only tax deduction currently offered. Neighboring countries have also confirmed they use JD Power as the industry standard for tax assessments.

Martin’s experience resonates throughout the state. In Chesterfield County, Alesha Moore told WTVR-TV that her 2018 Nissan Murano, valued at about $16,000 the previous year, was reappraised for $22,350, an increase of $6,350 (6).

“Counties send you 15 bills for three different things. They think they’re going to overload you with information and you’re going to pay for it,” Moore said.

Some lawmakers say the broader system needs an overhaul. Del. Tim Griffin tells ABC 13 he plans to revive a bill that would repeal Virginia’s car tax when the General Assembly convenes. For now, Martin says nothing about the current valuation resembles real-world pricing.

“How many more people, retirees, seniors, people who lost their jobs, are paying more taxes because of overassessments,” he said.

If your bill seems high, consumer experts recommend your vehicle’s value across multiple pricing guides, save screenshots, and contact your local tax office to inquire about disputes or available deductions.

We rely only on vetted sources and reliable third-party reports. See our editorial ethics and guidelines for details.

iSeeCars (1); WSET (2); Broker link (3); S&P Global (4); DMV (5); WTVR-TV (6).

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without any warranty.