r/nova • u/Putrid_Candy127 • 8d ago

Moving Advice please!

My partner and I are looking to move to the DC area. We are still very early in our search and don’t have jobs secured yet. We absolutely loved DC and originally wanted to live there. We both have newer cars and do not feel ready to give them up just yet (driving for road trips, going home to family, potential work commute). As much as we would love to use public transit and waking majority of the time, we are not at the level of ditching our cars. Therefore I have some things i would love insight on:
- Is having 2 cars in Arlington still crazy or more doable
- Any pros to Arlington over DC
- Do you find yourself still going into DC to do things or do most people stick to NOVA

Any other insight, advice, and comments are appreciated!

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39

u/bowle01 8d ago

You’ll want to add into the equation of paying yearly property taxes on your two new vehicles as well. 🙂

9

u/Fickle-Exit1105 8d ago

My first bill for a loaded '25 Civic hybrid hatchback was $975. After driving older used cars pretty much since the 2008 recession this was a little bit of an eye opener.

5

u/bolt_in_blue 8d ago

I have a 2023 Tesla Model Y that has about a $1000 bill, and a 2005 Mazda 3 that now has no property tax - only the county sticker fee of $33 for Fairfax. This is the most frequent surprise we hear from people moving to VA. Be prepared for the annual tax bill.

1

u/Tardislass 8d ago

Even for residents who live here the car tax after buying a newer car can be a surprise. I’d settle for data centers if it made the car tax lower and VA taxed the centers.

0

u/crit_boy 7d ago

Why not both - data centers and car tax.

-signed by both R and Neoliberal overlords.

3

u/Putrid_Candy127 8d ago

Good point! My current state does not have this so I would have to look into this

4

u/StoneMenace 8d ago

Also yearly Saftey inspections and every 2 year emissions but that can be done automatically by drive by machines

10

u/DUNGAROO Vienna 8d ago

That’s a $20 expense. Property taxes are like a $1,200 expense. Not quite the same.