Treasurer
Arlington County Vehicle Decals
Arlington County Code requires a county decal to be displayed on the front windshield of each vehicle next to the State inspection sticker.
- An Arlington County decal is required to be displayed within 60 days of the vehicle's entrance into Arlington or within 60 days of purchasing the vehicle to be located in the County.
- Present a valid state registration for each vehicle to the Commissioner of Revenue for newly registered vehicles.
- Upon payment of all outstanding Arlington County personal property taxes and parking tickets, a decal will be issued.
- New decals are issued beginning in the summer. All vehicles must display the new decal by November 15 each year.
- If you have moved from another county that required a decal and your decal was issued within the current tax year (January 1 to December 31), you can be issued an Arlington County decal for no fee if you present proof of purchase, in the form of a receipt, from the issuing county.
The decal fee, as set by the County Board, is $33 for most vehicles.
Registration and decal purchase can be completed online or by visiting our office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need a decal?
The Arlington County Board requires a vehicle decal, as set forth in the Arlington County Code. The Board also sets the decal fee, which is currently $33 for most vehicles.
Arlington County Police will ticket all vehicles garaged, stored, or parked in Arlington County which do not display a valid Arlington County decal. Beginning on November 16, police departments of surrounding jurisdictions will also issue tickets to Arlington-based vehicles which are not displaying a valid Arlington decal.
Why does Arlington continue to require vehicle decals while some neighboring jurisdictions do not?
Since issuance of a decal is contingent on payment of vehicle personal property taxes, decals remain the best tool to ensure payment of personal property taxes by all who have vehicles in Arlington County. Computerized systems (such as DMV) are too often inaccurate to be as effective as the decal for property tax enforcement.
Neighboring jurisdictions that no longer have decals also have much higher tax delinquency rates than Arlington County (about .55% delinquent compared to as high as 10%).
If I paid for a decal in another jurisdiction and move to Arlington, do I have to pay the fee again?
No. If you have already paid a decal fee for the current year, you do not need to pay it again. However, you will need to contact the Treasurer's Office after you have registered your vehicle with the Commissioner of Revenue's Office in order to have the fee waived and get your decal issued.
Residential Permit Parking - Permits and Passes
If you live in a Residential Permit Parking (RPP) zone, you will also need to obtain a RPP permit or pass through the Department of Environmental Services in order to park on the street during restricted hours. More information is available at Residential Permit Parking.
