Chesapeake Lower Vehicle Tax Rate for Certain Disabled Veterans

Chesapeake uses the local option in Code of Virginia section 58.1-3506(A)(19). The Commissioner's page gives the current lower rate as $0.09 per $100 of assessed value, against the general rate of $4.08. It is in addition to the statewide exemption, so a veteran who qualifies for both can have one vehicle exempt and a second at the lower rate. The city states the three routes as alternatives, which matches the statute: the veteran has lost, or lost the use of, a leg, arm, or hand, is blind, or is permanently and totally disabled. The application says in so many words that the veteran does not have to be 100% service-connected. The vehicle must be owned, not leased, registered with DMV for personal use, and regularly used by the veteran; it can be jointly owned with someone other than a spouse. The rate does not transfer automatically when the vehicle is sold. Two documentation details differ from the statute. The statute asks for a written statement from the Virginia Department of Veterans Services; the city asks for a VA Summary of Benefits letter no more than six months old. And the application asks for a current military ID with a Virginia driver's license. Many veterans have no military ID, so a veteran without one should ask what the office accepts instead, such as a Veteran Health Identification Card or the veteran designation on a driver's license.