Appealing the Assessment

Dinwiddie County assesses personal property on the assumption that it is in average condition for its age. The vehicle owner can request a review of the assessment if a vehicle is not in average condition as of January 1 of the tax year being appealed, because of unusually high mileage, extensive unrepaired body damage or serious mechanical defects. This does not include normal wear and tear on tires, seals, battery, gaskets, pumps, hoses, belts, brake system, cooling system, electrical and ignition system, fuel system, exhaust system, and front-end parts.

Appealing your assessment does not guarantee that it will be reduced nor does the filing of an appeal relieve the payment of the tax bill by the respective due date. If the assessment is later reduced as a result of an appeal and the original bill was paid, the county may issue a tax refund if all other taxes are current.

Appeal Form For Personal Property Taxes (PDF)

If your appeal is for unusually high mileage not previously reported on the annual tax declaration, please contact my office. A copy of a state vehicle safety inspection slip, vehicle repair document or other similar documentation which clearly identifies the vehicle and mileage on or prior to January 1 of the tax year being appealed may be used as proof of high mileage.

High Mileage Form (PDF)

Extensive Damage

For extensive unrepaired body damage or serious mechanical defect, please contact my office with a detailed damage and repair estimate written by an insurance adjustor or auto appraiser on business letterhead which clearly identifies the vehicle and includes the name, address, phone number and signature of the adjustor or appraiser. It must be clear from the documents provided that the condition existed on January 1 of the tax year being appealed.

All other perceived assessment errors resulting from incorrect or incomplete vehicle information (e.g., wrong make, model, year, location, ownership) are handled through the regular administrative correction process. Thus, if the vehicle description, owner, period of tax, mailing address or location of the vehicle is incorrect, or the vehicle has been sold or moved from Dinwiddie County, please call the commissioner's office at (804) 469-4500 option 4 and provide the pertinent information so the assessment may be corrected.

Timeframe

All appeals must be made within three years from the last day of the tax year for which assessment is made, or within one year from the date of the assessment, whichever is later. It is our intent to respond to vehicle assessment appeals within 7 days. However, additional time may be necessary due to unpredictability in the number and complexity of appeals submitted to the office at any given time.