Free Tool
Virginia Closing Cost Calculator for Buyers & Sellers
Get a Virginia title and settlement estimate from Pruitt Title's live quote tool, then check the recordation tax, grantor's tax and Northern Virginia fees with the worked examples below.
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Use the live Pruitt Title quote tool for title insurance, settlement charges and Virginia closing taxes. Final figures are confirmed after the contract and transaction details are reviewed.
The quote tool stays embedded on DMV Title Guy. Results are estimates until Pruitt Title reviews the contract and transaction details.
How Virginia Closing Costs Are Calculated
Virginia closing costs combine taxes set by statute, title insurance, settlement fees, lender charges and prepaid items. The taxes are the most predictable part: they follow fixed rates on the price and the loan, and they differ by locality only in two ways, the local recordation tax and the Northern Virginia regional fees.
By custom the buyer pays the recordation tax, and the seller pays the grantor's tax and, in Northern Virginia, two regional fees. The contract can divide these differently, so the signed contract controls.
Virginia Closing Taxes and Fees
| Tax or fee | Rate | Customarily paid by | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| State recordation tax on the deed | $0.25 per $100 of the price | Buyer | Va. Code § 58.1-801 |
| State recordation tax on the purchase deed of trust | $0.25 per $100 of the loan | Buyer | Va. Code § 58.1-803 |
| Local recordation tax | One-third of the state tax (about $0.083 per $100), on the deed and the deed of trust | Buyer | Va. Code §§ 58.1-814, 58.1-3800 |
| Grantor's tax | $0.50 per $500 of the price ($0.10 per $100) | Seller | Va. Code § 58.1-802 |
| Northern Virginia WMATA capital fee | $0.10 per $100 of the price | Seller | Va. Code § 58.1-802.3 |
| Northern Virginia congestion relief fee | $0.10 per $100 of the price | Seller | Va. Code § 58.1-802.4 |
The clerk of the circuit court also charges flat recording fees for each document. Refinances pay recordation tax on the new deed of trust but no grantor's tax or regional fees, because those attach to a sale.
Local Recordation Tax and Northern Virginia Fees by Locality
| Locality | Local recordation tax (buyer) | Regional fees (seller) |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | Yes | Yes |
| Arlington County | Yes | Yes |
| Loudoun County | Yes | Yes |
| Prince William County | Yes | Yes |
| City of Alexandria | Yes | Yes |
| Cities of Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park | Confirm with the clerk | Yes |
| City of Fredericksburg | Yes | No |
Local recordation tax confirmed from each locality's official fee schedule, budget or code as of September 2026. Elsewhere in Virginia, a locality adds the local tax only if it has adopted one, so confirm with the circuit court clerk.
Worked Examples of Virginia Closing Taxes
These show the closing taxes only, using the statutory rates above. Title insurance, settlement fees, lender charges and prepaid items are added on top.
$650,000 Fairfax County purchase, 20% down
Buyer
- State tax on deed: $1,625.00
- State tax on loan: $1,300.00
- Local recordation tax: $975.00
- Buyer total: $3,900.00
Seller
- Grantor's tax: $650.00
- Regional fees: $1,300.00
- Seller total: $1,950.00
$450,000 Prince William County purchase, 10% down
Buyer
- State tax on deed: $1,125.00
- State tax on loan: $1,012.50
- Local recordation tax: $712.50
- Buyer total: $2,850.00
Seller
- Grantor's tax: $450.00
- Regional fees: $900.00
- Seller total: $1,350.00
$500,000 Fredericksburg purchase, 20% down
Buyer
- State tax on deed: $1,250.00
- State tax on loan: $1,000.00
- Local recordation tax: $750.00
- Buyer total: $3,000.00
Seller
- Grantor's tax: $500.00
- Regional fees: None outside Northern Virginia
- Seller total: $500.00
Who Pays Closing Costs in Virginia
Buyer closing costs
- State and local recordation tax on the deed and the purchase deed of trust
- Clerk's recording fees
- Lender's title insurance policy
- Owner's title insurance policy, if purchased
- Settlement or closing fee and title search
- Lender origination, appraisal and credit report fees
- Prepaid interest, homeowner's insurance, taxes and escrow deposits
Seller closing costs
- Grantor's tax
- Northern Virginia regional fees (in the nine Northern Virginia localities)
- Broker commission
- Mortgage payoff and lien releases
- Deed preparation and seller settlement charges
- Prorated real estate taxes and HOA dues
- HOA or condo resale disclosure packet
Sellers can estimate their proceeds with the seller net sheet calculator.
Title Insurance in Virginia
A lender's policy is required on a financed purchase; the owner's policy is optional and protects the buyer's ownership. Buying both at the same closing is usually cheaper than buying them separately. Each insurer files its own Virginia rates, and premiums can be negotiated.
Virginia Closing Cost FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are closing costs in Virginia?
It depends on the price, the loan, the locality and the lender. Recordation taxes are a predictable part: on a $650,000 Fairfax County purchase with a $520,000 loan, the buyer's state and local recordation tax comes to $3,900.00, and the seller's grantor tax and Northern Virginia fees come to $1,950.00. Title insurance, settlement fees, lender charges and prepaid items come on top. Use the quote tool above for your transaction.
Who pays recordation tax in Virginia?
By custom the buyer pays the recordation tax on the deed and on the purchase deed of trust, and the seller pays the grantor's tax. The purchase contract can divide them differently.
What is the Virginia grantor's tax?
The grantor's tax is $0.50 per $500 of the sale price, or 0.1%, paid by the seller under Va. Code § 58.1-802. On a $500,000 sale it is $500.
What are the Northern Virginia regional fees?
Sellers in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park pay two regional fees of $0.10 per $100 each: the WMATA capital fee (§ 58.1-802.3) and the congestion relief fee (§ 58.1-802.4). Together they are $0.20 per $100, or $1,000 on a $500,000 sale. Refinances do not pay them.
Does Fairfax County charge a local recordation tax?
Yes. Fairfax County adds a local recordation tax equal to one-third of the state tax, about $0.083 per $100, on both the deed and the purchase deed of trust. Arlington, Loudoun, Prince William and Alexandria do the same.
Do first-time homebuyers get a closing tax break in Virginia?
Virginia has no first-time buyer exemption from recordation tax or grantor's tax, so the buyer's recordation tax is the same. Virginia's first-time homebuyer savings account (Va. Code § 58.1-322.02) is a state income tax benefit for saving toward the purchase, not a closing tax reduction.
Who pays for title insurance in Virginia?
The buyer customarily pays for both the lender's policy and the optional owner's policy, though the contract can change that. Each insurer files its own rates, and Virginia title premiums can be negotiated (Va. Code § 38.2-4608(E)).
Are recordation taxes owed if I pay cash?
A cash buyer still pays recordation tax on the deed, but there is no deed of trust, so there is no recordation tax on a loan. The seller's grantor's tax and any Northern Virginia fees are unchanged.
Is this Virginia closing cost calculator exact?
The quote comes from Pruitt Title's TitleCapture tool using the details you enter. It is an estimate until Pruitt Title reviews the signed contract, the lender's figures, payoffs and the closing date.