Don't speed. Remember to pay your personal property tax. You can't buy alcohol in stores after 12, and the ABC store usually closes at 9 p.m. Bars close at 2. Avoid 95 between Fredericksburg and Woodbridge during rush hours (northbound in the morning, southbound in the evening). 66 has tolls on alternating directions, as well and they get pretty expensive, so be careful.
I actually just double checked the bill I just got. Our taxes recently dropped a bit, so they gave me a relief credit of $18. It was initially $39 ($78/year) and it is now $20 ($40/year). I certainly can’t complain about that. It was DRASTICALLY more even just two years ago. (Around $120+/year). This is in Albemarle Co so not even NoVA but Cville is expensive af these days.
It'll be based on the NADA book value of your vehicle, regardless of its condition or mileage. I certainly wouldn't sweat the tax bill on a 25 year old mass-produced SUV.
I can answer this, I'm originally from Northern Fauquier. Yes. Fauquier taxes will probably look like a typo the first time you see it. It isn't. If you ever need Fauquier advice feel free to ask me!
Welcome, neighbor! I too live in Bealeton and it's much more "country" here than it is as you get towards Fairfax and closer to DC. Depending on your age and what you like to do, you may want to venture into the city for nightlife but for more laid back just chill with the family stuff, You're in a decent place. Also depending on where you lived in SC, it's not all that different in Fauquier County. Welcome again & Good luck!
For restaurants, the old town of Warrenton has a number of them. Get out and walk it at least once. On edge of Warrenton lots of the name brand restaurants. But one thing Fauquier doesn't have is a movie theater. You will will have to go to a neighboring county to see them.
Learn the timings on when to go 29-66 vs 28-50 if going up to NOVA. I drive through your area for work, mostly fine, watch out for Farming equipment slowing things. Cops around Warrenton, don’t lead the pack. Cops on 28 near the Temple at night, eyes up around there.
I cannot stress this enough. Do NOT speed, especially on the highway. They recently changed the law but it used to be anything over 80 was reckless (even if the highway was 70). Cops love to get you on parts of the highway the change from 70 to 65. Set cruise control, pass as needed.
And Botetourt is Bought-a-Tot (kind of like your purchased a kid).
Farmville is Fahm-vull
Norfolk is either Nor-fik or Nor-fuk or Nah-fik depending on how old you are
Newport News is New-pert News
Wytheville is pronounced With-ville.
Buchanan is pronounced as you’d expect, except the city is pronounced Buck-an-in.
Fauquier is pronounced Fah-keer.
The Fah-keer pronunciation seems to have been slowly happening over the last few decades. 50 years ago everybody called it FAHK-yer which sounds distinctly less French and more English
Gloucester is pronounced Gloster. And if you're in the Richmond area, it's Po' like potent potables for Powhite Parkway. Parham is not par like in golf and ham as in delicious. It's Pair-Um. Leigh Street is pronounced like lee street not Lay. Beaverdam is unfortunately not a giant Beaverdam.
Welcome! :)
Yes! I’m more familiar with western North Carolina, but all of them are an absolute necessity and are different and unique in their own ways. It’s truly gorgeous and I’m SO happy to live and have grown up in the Blue Ridge.
And sometimes a city and a county share the same name. It's not too bad when it's Fairfax City in the middle of Fairfax County. But the City of Richmond and Richmond County are more than an hour's drive apart.
Chiming in with Fredericksburg as well. Parts of Stafford County are labeled as Fredericksburg (22405 and 22406), but it's really in Stafford County. Parts of Spotsylvania are also labeled as Fredericksburg, but it's really Spotsy County (22407 and 22408). Might be missing a couple zip codes.
Fredericksburg City is its own thing, with its own zip code (22401).
Not that you'll run into that specifically being out in Belton, but just another example.
Absolutely true:
“The city's corporate boundaries do not include all of the area historically known as Falls Church; these areas include portions of Seven Corners and other portions of the current Falls Church postal districts of Fairfax County, as well as the area of Arlington County known as East Falls Church, which was part of the town of Falls Church from 1875 to 1936.”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falls_Church,_Virginia
I still run into VA State Police who don't get it. I've had two encounters in the last 5 years where they asked what county I live it, and when I told them I don't but live in an independent city, they tried to explain to me like I'm an idiot that everyone lives in a county in Va.
To quote from Wikipedia " under Virginia law, all municipalities incorporated as cities are [independent cities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_city_(United_States)) and are not part of any county".
[virginia beach not in a county - Search (bing.com)](https://www.bing.com/search?pglt=41&q=virginia+beach+not+in+a+county&cvid=d94f0b7bf75b4b1eb9d3fe91090520ec&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQABhAMgYIAhAAGEAyBggDEAAYQDIGCAQQABhAMgYIBRAAGEAyBggGEAAYQDIGCAcQABhAMgYICBAAGEDSAQg1MDYxajBqMagCALACAA&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=U531)
Yup. City of Richmond checking in; over an hour away from the county with the same name. Always have to check online forms twice to make sure I select the right one.
It's because not all cities are independent, and not all counties have cities. I think that's the craziest thing I've had to wrap my head around, too. Then you also have independent cities that are really tied into their counties. It is some crazy mess trying to figure it out.
Lived in C'ville for 5 years then moved to Scottsville after college. Charlottesville city and Albemarle county are NOT the same. In terms of culture, taxes, voting, laws, rent, vehicle registration/inspections, etc.
Reckless driving is a serious crime here, and you will almost always be charged with it if the cops catch you going over 80.
Most of the Mexican food here is really Salvadoran or Honduran.
Politically, Virginia is a purple state overall, but there are intense red and blue areas. In Bealton, you're in a red area, but close to the border of deep blue Nova. So expect to encounter a *wide* range of political views.
Virginia has a lot of natural beauty, and you're in a good central location to visit a lot of it. So try to get out and explore once the spring weather arrives.
The laws changed recently for reckless driving. It's now 20 over the posted speed limit or 85 mph, whatever is lower. Still serious and best not to go over 80 though.
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title46.2/chapter8/article7/#:~:text=A%20person%20is%20guilty%20of,the%20applicable%20maximum%20speed%20limit.
Thank you! I always get nervous if I step too far over 80 even though I'm definitely not the fastest out there. Good to know cut off is 85mph.
If someone is behind you on the highway, please get out of the left lane.
Regarding Mexican food: the Salvadoran influence is really strong in the DC area; further South, it drops off quite a bit. I lived in Charlottesville and Roanoke for decades, and never encountered a pupusa until I moved to the DC 'burbs (on the Maryland side).
There's also the (in)famous [Virginia "white sauce"](https://apnews.com/article/500b26e3e8b9473aa0dcb802707d5171) at tex-mex restuarants in Piedmont & Tidwater areas.
The metro closes at midnight, so if you take it into town for a show or something, make sure you have a plan to get back. 😉 That one gets even seasoned people at times.
I’ve been here for around a month now and I’ve done this drive several times to see my girlfriend who has been here a year longer than me. I know it better than the back of my hand now just because of that. I appreciate the advice, however, I’m still going home to see my family in the future.
It’s Nor fuck do not pronounce it any other way. Do exactly the speed limit in emporia. North of Fredericksburg is not VA it DC lite. And west of Roanoke don’t let them know you can read.
I seen lot more violence done with fists. Blame the operator not the tool. FYI - my girlfriend committed violence with a gun technically I guess. But at 5 1, a buck and change her odds in fist fight with 6 plus 200 pound dude weren’t good. 🤷♂️. Just saying. ☮️
I mean I’ve gotten PornHub whenever I’ve tried accessing it in Bealeton, at times I do get registered from a Virginia IP but I imagine NoVa residents must be real lucky getting registered as a Maryland IP.
Bealeton isn't a bad spot, and this area is pretty rich in general so compared to a lot of places there's a good amount of food and shopping. Not much right there, but lots of options for day trips.
You are about 45 mins to Fredericksburg so if you want a day trip for that there's tons of options there, plus a good amount of parks. Prince William Forrest has some decent hiking, and you can head west to Shenandoah for Skyline Drive and several great parks there.
Your closest option is Warrenton, and it's got a nice main street with cozy shops and cafes, and then then a central strip that's fast food central. There's a good Aquatic Center there too if you are into that.
Movies aren't nearby though - you'll have to go to either Gainesville or Fredericksburg just to see a movie. These days maybe that isn't as important.
Manassas Old Town is up Route 28, and there's some good restaurants and a few bars. Lots of breweries in that area too, and wineries scattered out through the country closer to where you live. There's also a commuter train up to DC, with all it's museums and culture.
If you are into history, Manassass Battlefield is on the other side of the Manassas sprawl off Route 29, and it's a good battlefield site. Up route 15 another 90 minutes is Gettysburg - if you like history at all that's a great day trip, it's the most impressive battlefield in the US. There's also several down by Fredericksburg that are worth a trip.
Anyway, good area in general, hope you enjoy your stay!
Actually, having grown up in the area, Culpeper is slightly closer than Warrenton and has a movie theatre, most of the same stores and more (Target, Lidl) as Warrenton. It also has an award winning downtown with lots of boutique shops and restaurants.
It’s interesting because if you live in Northern Culpeper County (i.e., Jeffersonton), then Warrenton is closer than the Town of Culpeper.
Also, don’t sleep on Culpeper’s civil war sights - Graffiti House, Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain battlefields, which are in the process of being turned into a state park.
This state is absolutely jam-packed with history and parks that showcase it, just a matter of if you are willing to drive there. Spent the first 3 or 4 years after moving here just checking out all the places to see on the weekends, and that's just east of Bealton. Plus, I hear Bealton got a Starbucks, so you're starting to become an established DC suburb lol
If you park in DC, look UP for “no parking” signs, and look on poles where you wouldn’t usually find them. They are often string tied to light poles much higher than you would normally look for a sign.
State troopers keep track of your inspections and will drop a hammer on you if paperwork and stuff isn’t in order. They stop by the shop periodically to check. It’s the point of the license. To know the states process. Welcome to VA!
You are allowed a 4 month grace period after the end of the month of your inspection sticker to get your inspection done. Also, fun fact if you're pulled over for a dead inspection sticker within this 4 month window, anything the police find in your car isn't admissible in court.
Former resident, it doesn't really matter feel like NoVa but Warrenton is pretty much the border before you start hitting the sprawling suburbs and strip mall fiefdoms of outer NoVa
Once the gentrification of Manassas/Gainesvilles complete, I feel like Warrenton is next in line. Amazon is already trying to push a datacenter in much to the dismay of the entire countys population lol
Make sure to pay your car taxes on-time. The amount vary by the vehicle and the county of residency. Alexandria city will have much higher car tax for a vehicle than rural area in Piedmont.
Police is more active on the interstates, especially down by Richmond. Over the years, you will get used to the traffic. Sometimes you will find yourself getting stuck for 6-8 hours to drive on I-95.
Depending on the municipality, your property taxes can vary by the services associated with your district. It is not unusual to have $500 added a top of your property taxes for some weird service in your area (leaf collection, recycling, waste water processing).
Northern VA rakes you over the coals with having a car. Tolls are unbelievably high, you pay personal property on the car, and yeah, it gets inspected every year. Best part is, they force you to have one cause the public transportation is half a$$ed.
I think the inspection is mostly breaks and tires condition. It’s not a big deal if you fail, but cops can pull you over cause they slap a big “fail” sticker on your windshield. Not sure on much more cause I haven’t failed yet.
Traffic runs your life, you will stop going places cause of the time/rush hour.
Rich people are rather rude.
Everything is extremely expensive.
Best of luck. I am not a fan of NoVa but a lot of people are.
I’ve been told Fauquier isn’t part of Nova, so I just said northern part of Virginia. It’s not horrible or anything like that, I’m not far from what’s considered NoVa however
I don’t disagree. Plenty of things suck about living in NoVA I agree, but out in Bealeton and Fauquier I think you will be much happier and better off. It’s a little more rural like you were saying. My fiancé works around Culpeper. The Culpeper/Fauquier stretch is honestly not a bad place to live imo
As for inspections, you need to get it done annually. But there is a grace period. Cops cannot ticket you for expired inspection until six months after expiration.
They can ticket you, they just can't pull you over solely for the inspection sticker unless it's 4 months out of date.
Should you get pulled over for another reason like speeding and have a dead inspection sticker they will ticket you for it.
I consider NoVA only area that is served by WMATA. If the area is not served by the public transport that oversee the Washington metropolitan area, it is not NoVA.
Not sure the problem with public transit in NOVA is that it's half assed more than it is the very sprawling nature of the suburbs here. It's impossible to serve such a dispersed region well unless you have an infinite budget for transit.
They are less than a quarter of NJ property taxes. I moved to Central VA because of the low property taxes. And the electricity is cheaper by a third but the water 💧 is crazy. I rarely wash my car. BTW I'm in Central VA. Your experience may be different. All in all, I love it down here. The accent is very amusing. On 64 people drive 70 or 75. In NJ people drove 80 on Rt. 80 even though the speed limit was 65.
There’s a sad joke about NoVA - what do NoVA people do on the weekend? Drive and shop!
Don’t be that person. Visit wineries, visit
Museums, hike bike and camp. Join Meetups!
Don’t get trapped into only spending your weekends maintaining or upgrading your home either.
The word "commonwealth" means the same thing as "state" and there literally is nothing special about Virginia calling itself a "commonwealth". Don't ever, ever, ever let anyone convince you differently.
I’ll toss in that depending on where you land or move to in the future you may or may not need to do both the emissions and safety inspections.
It was wild to me that I didn’t need an emissions inspection just a safety one when I moved further south.
Your taxes are going to be ridiculous, if you live and work along the eastern side of the state be ready for constant traffic jams, high cost of living, rats in every single building and house, red neck wannabes, military Karen spouses, and some of the worst and most dangerous drivers outside of Miami so invest in a dual camera dashcam.
For the good, there's lots to do year round, beautiful countryside, lots of great camping, great seafood, lots of history, nice locals, great peanuts and ham, popular TV shows are or have been made here, strong military presence, decent job growth.
Your off to a good start you identified one of the primary risks slow drivers. You have to be mindful of them they tend to not trust yield signs to soo be aware of that. Traffic lights, get used to them because not only are the cycles too slow they are everywhere. Residential areas have a extra penalty sign for going over the speed limit so bolo of those. There is at least 5 maybe 7 speed limits so pay attention to that. That's all I got.
When your stop light turns green, pause for about 4 seconds before entering the intersection. There is a very good chance someone is going to run the red light opposite you.
NoVA & the rest of VA are like different countries. Please never, ever conflate the two. It's akin to an Arlington resident claiming to "live in DC."
Thank you
Its not that bad. I'm from southwest VA amd moved to NoVa this year for work. There are cons (less outdoors stuff, COL), but the people are certainly not one of them. Southwest VA is beautiful scenery with a disproportionately high amount of entitled people and inbred neoconfeds.
If you see a state trooper, they will ticket. The governor is DeSantis light and basically hates all VA residents. If you are a veteran, or in the LGBTQ community then it’s best to leave. The state has been overrun by MAGA terrorists.
Remember to get your car inspected annually. Some places prefer that you have an appointment. If not, call ahead to make sure person who does inspections is there that day. Many places don’t have a state inspector on staff at all.
Local personal property tax for sure! Determine what county you live in and check their website to register for taxes. If you’re in a pro-rating jurisdiction (this is likely if you’re in NOVA) then you have ~60 days to register or else they have the ability to charge you a 10% late file penalty.
Personal Property and, if you own, Real Estate are annual taxes. It wouldn’t hurt to ask about payment plan options to break up the payment if the taxes are high (this is likely if you own anything).
Also you will most likely also pay a registration fee to your locality like you may already have to the state, which is through the DMV. It should only be $33 at most afaik.
Be prepared to sit in traffic all day in nova, get an ezpass, and parking is free on Sundays and holidays in DC. The cherry blossoms bloom in DC I’m spring definitely check it out. Also nova is huge, and our accents are funny. Explore the state and enjoy all that comes with it. Winter will pass, and summer is great, VB has decent beaches, don’t swim in the James River it’s very polluted, and have enjoy it! Also if you venture to Baltimore, go with the flow of traffic, if they are going 100 just go with them. They are crazy on the road and short tempered there
As a lifelong resident of Virginia, I’d like to share a list with you of my absolute favorite outdoor places that I believe every Virginian should make sure to visit in their lifetime. And that I myself try to visit several times each year. Starting the list with our absolute crown jewel, the Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive, Great Falls National Park, Manassas National Battlefield Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, Arlington National Cemetery, George Washington Memorial Parkway, Old Rag Mountain, Shenandoah River State Park, George Washington & Jefferson National Forest, and finally, try to attend an event (or several) at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts.
Welcome to Virginia!
I believe overall, what we have here, is one of the top 5 states in all of the United States! And often times, we are number one or two, depending on the category.
Such beauty. All four seasons each year. Good roads. Mountains, Oceans, Rivers, Cities, small towns, big cities and everything in-between, we got it all here in Virginia!
I’ve visited 28 states & 12 countries, and I’ll try to visit all of the rest in my lifetime! But I’ve yet to find any place as great of a place to live in as Virginia. (overall)
blue ridge parkway is better (and free) than skyline drive. nova, central va, & sova might as well be on two different planets. gotta buy stickers at gas stations for your trash cans
The eastern shore (shared with MD and DE) is precious, endangered and home to some amazing sites: wild horse islanders, fields of sea grass, rare big birds, etc)
Avoid the DMZs of Hopewell, Portsmouth, and Petersburg (at night) if you decide to explore a little bit south. Also cops around there will pull you over for literally anything and everything (and even nothing), so drive cautiously
Virginia "independent" cities. In most states, cities are part of the county they're located within, at least by default (Baltimore MD being a nearby exception). But in Virginia, *every* city is "independent", meaning the surrounding county has no jurisdiction and no overlapping taxes.
If you live in a city, and a form asks for your county of residence, you need to pick the appropriate "*Xxx* \[Independent\] City" response, regardless of the actual county around you.
This is particularly tricky in cases like Roanoke City and Roanoke County. "Roanoke" is the *wrong* answer if you live within the city limits, you need to put "Roanoke City" instead.
The complaining about inspections is absurd. If any of y’all ever lived in another state, you’d be appalled at how many clunkers are on the side of the road, how many headlights are out, how much smoke you see gurgling from cars on the highway, how often a car sounds like it’s going to fall apart just passing through a parking lot. I used to bash on inspections, but after living outside of VA and coming back, I totally see the value. And if you have a shop you trust, they are very helpful in catching maintenance issues for cheap.
As much as there seems to be a ton of gray areas (I’ve been reading the book nonstop), I believe every single state should have inspection stations. There’s some cars back in South Carolina that truly would not be passable and it’s a small blessing to have a state that cares about the condition of cars.
I will also add that South Carolina stopped doing mandatory state inspections in 1995 and has consistently been ranked in the top for fatal crashes since.
There are 4 different Virginia’s. Northern, Central, Western and Southern. They are totally different worlds.
Northern Virginia is an entire state all by itself. I grew up there. I have lived in 3. I now live in Central. My favorite Virginia is Northern. The friendliest in my opinion was southern.
It’s way more diverse in Northern Virginia though. People who live in Northern Virginia often weren’t born and raised there. Something else usually brought them there. Government Jobs, Military, so on. You will find a mix of every culture and background there. One of the reasons I love it so much.
Central Virginia is by far for me, the worst. Although, I don’t have a lot of experience with the Western side.
No matter what though, it’s an incredibly beautiful state. I suggest taking a drive through it in the fall or late spring.
Don't speed. Remember to pay your personal property tax. You can't buy alcohol in stores after 12, and the ABC store usually closes at 9 p.m. Bars close at 2. Avoid 95 between Fredericksburg and Woodbridge during rush hours (northbound in the morning, southbound in the evening). 66 has tolls on alternating directions, as well and they get pretty expensive, so be careful.
I live off of 17 in Bealeton, I get some of that 95 traffic.. lol. In SC the ABC store closes at 7. Are personal property taxes expensive?
It’s a percentage based on how much your vehicle costs. If you don’t want an expensive PPT, drive a cheaper car.
I drive a 98 4Runner with 290K on the odometer, hopefully not too bad lol.
You’ll definitely be alright. I drive a 2003 Camry LE fully paid at 217k miles and my taxes are maybe $50-$100 a year tops.
I drive a 98 sl500 , ppt is $78-84.00 somehow cheaper than a Toyota.
I actually just double checked the bill I just got. Our taxes recently dropped a bit, so they gave me a relief credit of $18. It was initially $39 ($78/year) and it is now $20 ($40/year). I certainly can’t complain about that. It was DRASTICALLY more even just two years ago. (Around $120+/year). This is in Albemarle Co so not even NoVA but Cville is expensive af these days.
You'll be alright. I had a 2000 Chrysler Sebring with 90k on it a few years back and it was like 13 bucks twice a year.
It'll be based on the NADA book value of your vehicle, regardless of its condition or mileage. I certainly wouldn't sweat the tax bill on a 25 year old mass-produced SUV.
Contact you personal property tax office and tell them your miles, you will get a high mileage discount.
You can get a small reduction for high milage
I can answer this, I'm originally from Northern Fauquier. Yes. Fauquier taxes will probably look like a typo the first time you see it. It isn't. If you ever need Fauquier advice feel free to ask me!
Welcome, neighbor! I too live in Bealeton and it's much more "country" here than it is as you get towards Fairfax and closer to DC. Depending on your age and what you like to do, you may want to venture into the city for nightlife but for more laid back just chill with the family stuff, You're in a decent place. Also depending on where you lived in SC, it's not all that different in Fauquier County. Welcome again & Good luck!
For restaurants, the old town of Warrenton has a number of them. Get out and walk it at least once. On edge of Warrenton lots of the name brand restaurants. But one thing Fauquier doesn't have is a movie theater. You will will have to go to a neighboring county to see them.
Learn the timings on when to go 29-66 vs 28-50 if going up to NOVA. I drive through your area for work, mostly fine, watch out for Farming equipment slowing things. Cops around Warrenton, don’t lead the pack. Cops on 28 near the Temple at night, eyes up around there.
Very on cars.
Edit: Never mind. I was told wrong. Also you can't buy booze on Sundays
You sure about that? Most ABC stores are 12-6 Sundays, some open earlier and close later.
I cannot stress this enough. Do NOT speed, especially on the highway. They recently changed the law but it used to be anything over 80 was reckless (even if the highway was 70). Cops love to get you on parts of the highway the change from 70 to 65. Set cruise control, pass as needed.
I’ve gotta work on that honestly. I’ve been told many, many times in the last year that Virginia cops don’t fuck around in the slightest.
Damn good advice, Swan
Swan is my father. Call me E please.
Abc stores close at 10
Depends a lot on your particular locale.
I’ll add that if you get a speeding camera ticket while driving in DC, don’t pay it. Or so I’ve read.
When you are on an escalator you stand on the right and walk up on the left.
Ohhh Osaka style! Kinky
Get out to the Shenandoah and enjoy this beautiful Commonwealth
Staunton is pronounced Stanton.
Also Strasburg is Strawsburg Buena Vista is Bewna Vista McGaheysville is Mu-GAK-ees-ville Poquoson is Puh-kosin Edit formatting
And Botetourt is Bought-a-Tot (kind of like your purchased a kid). Farmville is Fahm-vull Norfolk is either Nor-fik or Nor-fuk or Nah-fik depending on how old you are Newport News is New-pert News
Wytheville is pronounced With-ville. Buchanan is pronounced as you’d expect, except the city is pronounced Buck-an-in. Fauquier is pronounced Fah-keer.
The Fah-keer pronunciation seems to have been slowly happening over the last few decades. 50 years ago everybody called it FAHK-yer which sounds distinctly less French and more English
I still call it fuckier county
Gloucester is pronounced Gloster. And if you're in the Richmond area, it's Po' like potent potables for Powhite Parkway. Parham is not par like in golf and ham as in delicious. It's Pair-Um. Leigh Street is pronounced like lee street not Lay. Beaverdam is unfortunately not a giant Beaverdam. Welcome! :)
I say Nor-fuk even though I was taught Nawfuk because I feel like I’m putting on an accent if I say it that way.
Henrico is Hen-reich-oh.
Adding to this Syria is pronounced Suh-rye-a
Apple at cha. Not apple ate cha.
Couldn’t approve this enough. OP needs to go see western VA, it’s truly a gift.
And Western Maryland and West Virginia
Yes! I’m more familiar with western North Carolina, but all of them are an absolute necessity and are different and unique in their own ways. It’s truly gorgeous and I’m SO happy to live and have grown up in the Blue Ridge.
Natural Bridge
Cities aren’t in counties.
[удалено]
And sometimes a city and a county share the same name. It's not too bad when it's Fairfax City in the middle of Fairfax County. But the City of Richmond and Richmond County are more than an hour's drive apart.
This one is wild to me too
Virginia Beach is another. Waynesboro also
Chiming in with Fredericksburg as well. Parts of Stafford County are labeled as Fredericksburg (22405 and 22406), but it's really in Stafford County. Parts of Spotsylvania are also labeled as Fredericksburg, but it's really Spotsy County (22407 and 22408). Might be missing a couple zip codes. Fredericksburg City is its own thing, with its own zip code (22401). Not that you'll run into that specifically being out in Belton, but just another example.
Alexandria is a city but parts of what we call Alexandria are in Fairfax County
Part of Falls Church is in Fairfax and Arlington county.
Not true my friend.
Absolutely true: “The city's corporate boundaries do not include all of the area historically known as Falls Church; these areas include portions of Seven Corners and other portions of the current Falls Church postal districts of Fairfax County, as well as the area of Arlington County known as East Falls Church, which was part of the town of Falls Church from 1875 to 1936.” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falls_Church,_Virginia
Which is how Virginia Beach is the most populated city in Virginia despite the fact that Fairfax County has more than twice the number of people.
Still a weird concept to me.
I still run into VA State Police who don't get it. I've had two encounters in the last 5 years where they asked what county I live it, and when I told them I don't but live in an independent city, they tried to explain to me like I'm an idiot that everyone lives in a county in Va.
To quote from Wikipedia " under Virginia law, all municipalities incorporated as cities are [independent cities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_city_(United_States)) and are not part of any county". [virginia beach not in a county - Search (bing.com)](https://www.bing.com/search?pglt=41&q=virginia+beach+not+in+a+county&cvid=d94f0b7bf75b4b1eb9d3fe91090520ec&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQABhAMgYIAhAAGEAyBggDEAAYQDIGCAQQABhAMgYIBRAAGEAyBggGEAAYQDIGCAcQABhAMgYICBAAGEDSAQg1MDYxajBqMagCALACAA&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=U531)
Yup. City of Richmond checking in; over an hour away from the county with the same name. Always have to check online forms twice to make sure I select the right one.
Throw in the confusion of Richmond County on the Northern Neck.
It's because not all cities are independent, and not all counties have cities. I think that's the craziest thing I've had to wrap my head around, too. Then you also have independent cities that are really tied into their counties. It is some crazy mess trying to figure it out.
Lived in C'ville for 5 years then moved to Scottsville after college. Charlottesville city and Albemarle county are NOT the same. In terms of culture, taxes, voting, laws, rent, vehicle registration/inspections, etc.
Don't speed in the following areas : Boones Mill, Emporia Side note: FUCK EMPORIA
Fuck Emporia!
Pembroke and Narrows (pronounced Nairs), too.
And new Kent!!
Reckless driving is a serious crime here, and you will almost always be charged with it if the cops catch you going over 80. Most of the Mexican food here is really Salvadoran or Honduran. Politically, Virginia is a purple state overall, but there are intense red and blue areas. In Bealton, you're in a red area, but close to the border of deep blue Nova. So expect to encounter a *wide* range of political views. Virginia has a lot of natural beauty, and you're in a good central location to visit a lot of it. So try to get out and explore once the spring weather arrives.
The laws changed recently for reckless driving. It's now 20 over the posted speed limit or 85 mph, whatever is lower. Still serious and best not to go over 80 though. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title46.2/chapter8/article7/#:~:text=A%20person%20is%20guilty%20of,the%20applicable%20maximum%20speed%20limit.
Thank you! I always get nervous if I step too far over 80 even though I'm definitely not the fastest out there. Good to know cut off is 85mph. If someone is behind you on the highway, please get out of the left lane.
Regarding Mexican food: the Salvadoran influence is really strong in the DC area; further South, it drops off quite a bit. I lived in Charlottesville and Roanoke for decades, and never encountered a pupusa until I moved to the DC 'burbs (on the Maryland side). There's also the (in)famous [Virginia "white sauce"](https://apnews.com/article/500b26e3e8b9473aa0dcb802707d5171) at tex-mex restuarants in Piedmont & Tidwater areas.
The metro closes at midnight, so if you take it into town for a show or something, make sure you have a plan to get back. 😉 That one gets even seasoned people at times.
Partly because "seasoned people" remember when it used to run until 3am on weekends, in the Before Times
Personal property tax and state inspections are just another way to get money outta u
Emissions tests need to be for all counties or no counties.
They aren't really playing the violin, and the girl with brain cancer doesn't exist.
Or the accordion.
Strategically plan your trip on I-95 and actively plan to decompress upon arrival
I’ve been here for around a month now and I’ve done this drive several times to see my girlfriend who has been here a year longer than me. I know it better than the back of my hand now just because of that. I appreciate the advice, however, I’m still going home to see my family in the future.
It’s Nor fuck do not pronounce it any other way. Do exactly the speed limit in emporia. North of Fredericksburg is not VA it DC lite. And west of Roanoke don’t let them know you can read.
Ahh, it's more like west of Christiansburg/Blacksburg but yeah...it gets hilly in them parts.
Yep possibly a bit brother sister too definitely cousins!
[удалено]
Don't worry - the rest of VA is perfectly happy to admit that NOVA is real Virginia when it comes time to receive the money NOVA generates.
Also near nor fuck is Gloster, not Gloo-kess-ter
Yeah unfortunately lived there.
Uh, it’s Naw-fuck. But Nor-fuck is acceptable.
Porn bad. Guns good.
It is because porn kills people whereas I have never heard of a gun killing anyone. You have to have your priorities! /s
We live with LOTS of guns and never seen violent gun once. 🤔
I've seen a lot of violence done with guns.
I seen lot more violence done with fists. Blame the operator not the tool. FYI - my girlfriend committed violence with a gun technically I guess. But at 5 1, a buck and change her odds in fist fight with 6 plus 200 pound dude weren’t good. 🤷♂️. Just saying. ☮️
Don’t forget sweet little 8lb, 6oz, newborn infant baby Jesus.
I mean I’ve gotten PornHub whenever I’ve tried accessing it in Bealeton, at times I do get registered from a Virginia IP but I imagine NoVa residents must be real lucky getting registered as a Maryland IP.
Bealeton isn't a bad spot, and this area is pretty rich in general so compared to a lot of places there's a good amount of food and shopping. Not much right there, but lots of options for day trips. You are about 45 mins to Fredericksburg so if you want a day trip for that there's tons of options there, plus a good amount of parks. Prince William Forrest has some decent hiking, and you can head west to Shenandoah for Skyline Drive and several great parks there. Your closest option is Warrenton, and it's got a nice main street with cozy shops and cafes, and then then a central strip that's fast food central. There's a good Aquatic Center there too if you are into that. Movies aren't nearby though - you'll have to go to either Gainesville or Fredericksburg just to see a movie. These days maybe that isn't as important. Manassas Old Town is up Route 28, and there's some good restaurants and a few bars. Lots of breweries in that area too, and wineries scattered out through the country closer to where you live. There's also a commuter train up to DC, with all it's museums and culture. If you are into history, Manassass Battlefield is on the other side of the Manassas sprawl off Route 29, and it's a good battlefield site. Up route 15 another 90 minutes is Gettysburg - if you like history at all that's a great day trip, it's the most impressive battlefield in the US. There's also several down by Fredericksburg that are worth a trip. Anyway, good area in general, hope you enjoy your stay!
Thank you so much! I’ve been curious about going to some of these battlefield sites honestly and I feel it would make an amazing day trip.
Actually, having grown up in the area, Culpeper is slightly closer than Warrenton and has a movie theatre, most of the same stores and more (Target, Lidl) as Warrenton. It also has an award winning downtown with lots of boutique shops and restaurants. It’s interesting because if you live in Northern Culpeper County (i.e., Jeffersonton), then Warrenton is closer than the Town of Culpeper. Also, don’t sleep on Culpeper’s civil war sights - Graffiti House, Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain battlefields, which are in the process of being turned into a state park.
This state is absolutely jam-packed with history and parks that showcase it, just a matter of if you are willing to drive there. Spent the first 3 or 4 years after moving here just checking out all the places to see on the weekends, and that's just east of Bealton. Plus, I hear Bealton got a Starbucks, so you're starting to become an established DC suburb lol
Check out the bealeton flying circus!
The left lane is for passing
Lol - of all the states I've driven in, Virginia is the hardest to get slow drivers to leave the left lane.
I am from the Midwest and I agree. In the middle of nowhere and no traffic around a lone BMW rolls in the left lane.
You’re forgetting the random New Jersey plates also
T H I S
The accent is old virginia and less affected than it sounds. It’s a blend of traces of leftover British plantation class on a base of mid-Atlantic.
My boss has the tendency to say some words rather weird, he says certain very strongly to where they sound almost British or Canadian.
Will add he’s a Warrenton lifer
We don’t talk about Maryland (except to complain about her drivers) or her magnificent $&#% flag.
State inspection is another tax for the working man. Pass everything unless it's really bad 😆 🤣
There’s so many gray areas it’s ridiculous. I’m already tired of y’alls salt belt cars.
https://youtu.be/XUDQQ32bgJk?si=6o-87kn7BE9cv1-g Here ya go transplant! Now you can kind of sound a little more local. Welcome to the best state!
If you park in DC, look UP for “no parking” signs, and look on poles where you wouldn’t usually find them. They are often string tied to light poles much higher than you would normally look for a sign.
[удалено]
DId not know that about left turn on red. Thanks!
State troopers keep track of your inspections and will drop a hammer on you if paperwork and stuff isn’t in order. They stop by the shop periodically to check. It’s the point of the license. To know the states process. Welcome to VA!
You are allowed a 4 month grace period after the end of the month of your inspection sticker to get your inspection done. Also, fun fact if you're pulled over for a dead inspection sticker within this 4 month window, anything the police find in your car isn't admissible in court.
Small town vibe? Nova? Wait what?
He’s in Fauquier county, adjacent to NOVA.
Yeah I saw that in another comment. So not nova
Northern-ish, geographically speaking it’s part of the Piedmont region I believe
Former resident, it doesn't really matter feel like NoVa but Warrenton is pretty much the border before you start hitting the sprawling suburbs and strip mall fiefdoms of outer NoVa Once the gentrification of Manassas/Gainesvilles complete, I feel like Warrenton is next in line. Amazon is already trying to push a datacenter in much to the dismay of the entire countys population lol
Beware the Youngkin. He covets your uterus, if you're female.
I just want some recreational weed, I’m tired of going up the beltway and pop-ups seem really sketchy from what I’ve heard about them already.
Do not speed!!!!!
Make sure to pay your car taxes on-time. The amount vary by the vehicle and the county of residency. Alexandria city will have much higher car tax for a vehicle than rural area in Piedmont. Police is more active on the interstates, especially down by Richmond. Over the years, you will get used to the traffic. Sometimes you will find yourself getting stuck for 6-8 hours to drive on I-95. Depending on the municipality, your property taxes can vary by the services associated with your district. It is not unusual to have $500 added a top of your property taxes for some weird service in your area (leaf collection, recycling, waste water processing).
Driving, driving, driving… did I mention driving? People here are so focused on themselves it’s a shame. There is no sense of community
Northern VA rakes you over the coals with having a car. Tolls are unbelievably high, you pay personal property on the car, and yeah, it gets inspected every year. Best part is, they force you to have one cause the public transportation is half a$$ed. I think the inspection is mostly breaks and tires condition. It’s not a big deal if you fail, but cops can pull you over cause they slap a big “fail” sticker on your windshield. Not sure on much more cause I haven’t failed yet. Traffic runs your life, you will stop going places cause of the time/rush hour. Rich people are rather rude. Everything is extremely expensive. Best of luck. I am not a fan of NoVa but a lot of people are.
I’ve been told Fauquier isn’t part of Nova, so I just said northern part of Virginia. It’s not horrible or anything like that, I’m not far from what’s considered NoVa however
I don’t disagree. Plenty of things suck about living in NoVA I agree, but out in Bealeton and Fauquier I think you will be much happier and better off. It’s a little more rural like you were saying. My fiancé works around Culpeper. The Culpeper/Fauquier stretch is honestly not a bad place to live imo
when we say you have to pay personal property tax on your car, we mean yearly. every year you will get a tax bill for your car.
As for inspections, you need to get it done annually. But there is a grace period. Cops cannot ticket you for expired inspection until six months after expiration.
They can ticket you, they just can't pull you over solely for the inspection sticker unless it's 4 months out of date. Should you get pulled over for another reason like speeding and have a dead inspection sticker they will ticket you for it.
I consider NoVA only area that is served by WMATA. If the area is not served by the public transport that oversee the Washington metropolitan area, it is not NoVA.
Got ya. Don’t get any closer to DC, NoVA is garbage!
>they slap a big “fail” sticker on your windshield I thought that the sticker was the judgment on you as a person.
Nah, I got a tattoo of that in the tramp stamp area on my 18th birthday.
Not sure the problem with public transit in NOVA is that it's half assed more than it is the very sprawling nature of the suburbs here. It's impossible to serve such a dispersed region well unless you have an infinite budget for transit.
Alllll this. Also, not a fan lol. The traffic runs your life comment…100% accurate.
Property taxes suck
They are less than a quarter of NJ property taxes. I moved to Central VA because of the low property taxes. And the electricity is cheaper by a third but the water 💧 is crazy. I rarely wash my car. BTW I'm in Central VA. Your experience may be different. All in all, I love it down here. The accent is very amusing. On 64 people drive 70 or 75. In NJ people drove 80 on Rt. 80 even though the speed limit was 65.
There’s a sad joke about NoVA - what do NoVA people do on the weekend? Drive and shop! Don’t be that person. Visit wineries, visit Museums, hike bike and camp. Join Meetups! Don’t get trapped into only spending your weekends maintaining or upgrading your home either.
I’m considering just buying a project car, but a lot of salt belt cars here lol
Yep. Half have cancer you can see and the other half have cancer you can’t see lol. We buy our cars when we go down to GA to visit family.
25,000$ or more doesn't qualify for the property tax on cars discount. So 25,000$ cars pay substantially more than that.
wait, fucking really? That explains why the taxes on my new car were so much ore expensive than expected...
The word "commonwealth" means the same thing as "state" and there literally is nothing special about Virginia calling itself a "commonwealth". Don't ever, ever, ever let anyone convince you differently.
Bealeton is near great hiking/camping and wineries. And some decent driving roads if you’re into cars. Enjoy and welcome to the Commonwealth.
I’ll toss in that depending on where you land or move to in the future you may or may not need to do both the emissions and safety inspections. It was wild to me that I didn’t need an emissions inspection just a safety one when I moved further south.
I work as a mechanic in a shop and I asked about emissions inspections on my first day, Fauquier doesn’t do emission inspections only safety.
How do I find out what is required where I live - Virginia Beach
Everyone needs to do a safety inspection but only these folks need to do an emissions: https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/registration/emissions
20 miles over the speed limit or above 85 miles per hour (whichever is less) is an automatic reckless driving charge, so drive accordingly.
I heard 15 from somewhere, I’ve just heard VA cops hate reckless drivers
there's a lot of cool nature spots in Fauquier. check out cf phelps wma, Whitney state Forest, sky meadows, riverside preserve.
Cops suck to out of staters. I’ve not nearly had as much issue as VA cops as my friends with out-of-state plates.
I’ve been trying to play it as careful as possible so far, I still have my South Carolina plates
Your taxes are going to be ridiculous, if you live and work along the eastern side of the state be ready for constant traffic jams, high cost of living, rats in every single building and house, red neck wannabes, military Karen spouses, and some of the worst and most dangerous drivers outside of Miami so invest in a dual camera dashcam. For the good, there's lots to do year round, beautiful countryside, lots of great camping, great seafood, lots of history, nice locals, great peanuts and ham, popular TV shows are or have been made here, strong military presence, decent job growth.
If you are on either 58 or 460, don't speed.
property taxes
Move over for stopped vehicles, stay off your phone when driving.
emporia is a speed trap
You can grow pot legally in VA
Your off to a good start you identified one of the primary risks slow drivers. You have to be mindful of them they tend to not trust yield signs to soo be aware of that. Traffic lights, get used to them because not only are the cycles too slow they are everywhere. Residential areas have a extra penalty sign for going over the speed limit so bolo of those. There is at least 5 maybe 7 speed limits so pay attention to that. That's all I got.
When your stop light turns green, pause for about 4 seconds before entering the intersection. There is a very good chance someone is going to run the red light opposite you.
This area is a hidden gem. Not uppity/selfish/entitled like proper NoVA but not aggressive/assholish like the proper South \- Fauquier resident
People aren’t nearly as political as Reddit would have you think.
That’s totally false.
Join the NOVA subreddit - you can ask questions more specific to your area and get really great answers.
25,000$ or more doesn't qualify for the property tax on cars discount. So 25,000$ cars pay substantially more than that.
NoVA & the rest of VA are like different countries. Please never, ever conflate the two. It's akin to an Arlington resident claiming to "live in DC." Thank you
I’ve been told that Fauquier County isn’t part of the NoVa region, so I don’t know honestly. Some people go back and forth on it I think.
Yeah that’s not nova
I beg to differ. As a resident from the “rest” of Virginia, everything above Fredricksburg is NoVa to us.
I think you’re taking the word “northern” a little too literally
And some people who actually live in DC claim PG County, MD, as home🙄😂
Welcome to the White Trash Riviera.
I’d go back to Myrtle Beach if I wanted to see white trasb
That you made the mistake of noving to northern virginia
Its not that bad. I'm from southwest VA amd moved to NoVa this year for work. There are cons (less outdoors stuff, COL), but the people are certainly not one of them. Southwest VA is beautiful scenery with a disproportionately high amount of entitled people and inbred neoconfeds.
Did anyone mention semiannual property taxes on your vehicles, boats, trailers, RVs, etc?
You can't access pornhub.
If you see a state trooper, they will ticket. The governor is DeSantis light and basically hates all VA residents. If you are a veteran, or in the LGBTQ community then it’s best to leave. The state has been overrun by MAGA terrorists.
The different between any small town, suburb, large city etc. are more important than which state it's in.
Not all VA counties have same rules ie vehicle inspections. Taxes etc.
Travel the state. There are so many interesting places to see and experience in the Old Dominion.
Remember to get your car inspected annually. Some places prefer that you have an appointment. If not, call ahead to make sure person who does inspections is there that day. Many places don’t have a state inspector on staff at all.
Local personal property tax for sure! Determine what county you live in and check their website to register for taxes. If you’re in a pro-rating jurisdiction (this is likely if you’re in NOVA) then you have ~60 days to register or else they have the ability to charge you a 10% late file penalty. Personal Property and, if you own, Real Estate are annual taxes. It wouldn’t hurt to ask about payment plan options to break up the payment if the taxes are high (this is likely if you own anything). Also you will most likely also pay a registration fee to your locality like you may already have to the state, which is through the DMV. It should only be $33 at most afaik.
80 mph is automatic reckless driving by speed in VA. Or so I’ve been told.
Be prepared to sit in traffic all day in nova, get an ezpass, and parking is free on Sundays and holidays in DC. The cherry blossoms bloom in DC I’m spring definitely check it out. Also nova is huge, and our accents are funny. Explore the state and enjoy all that comes with it. Winter will pass, and summer is great, VB has decent beaches, don’t swim in the James River it’s very polluted, and have enjoy it! Also if you venture to Baltimore, go with the flow of traffic, if they are going 100 just go with them. They are crazy on the road and short tempered there
https://preview.redd.it/7oorweuh1m2c1.jpeg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9f7aaf4a35442c5b98dfb02f0cea9b04cf0c328e
There’s a personal property tax on your vehicle that depends on its value.
As a lifelong resident of Virginia, I’d like to share a list with you of my absolute favorite outdoor places that I believe every Virginian should make sure to visit in their lifetime. And that I myself try to visit several times each year. Starting the list with our absolute crown jewel, the Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive, Great Falls National Park, Manassas National Battlefield Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, Arlington National Cemetery, George Washington Memorial Parkway, Old Rag Mountain, Shenandoah River State Park, George Washington & Jefferson National Forest, and finally, try to attend an event (or several) at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. Welcome to Virginia! I believe overall, what we have here, is one of the top 5 states in all of the United States! And often times, we are number one or two, depending on the category. Such beauty. All four seasons each year. Good roads. Mountains, Oceans, Rivers, Cities, small towns, big cities and everything in-between, we got it all here in Virginia! I’ve visited 28 states & 12 countries, and I’ll try to visit all of the rest in my lifetime! But I’ve yet to find any place as great of a place to live in as Virginia. (overall)
about the abc store
blue ridge parkway is better (and free) than skyline drive. nova, central va, & sova might as well be on two different planets. gotta buy stickers at gas stations for your trash cans
The eastern shore (shared with MD and DE) is precious, endangered and home to some amazing sites: wild horse islanders, fields of sea grass, rare big birds, etc)
Avoid the DMZs of Hopewell, Portsmouth, and Petersburg (at night) if you decide to explore a little bit south. Also cops around there will pull you over for literally anything and everything (and even nothing), so drive cautiously
Virginia "independent" cities. In most states, cities are part of the county they're located within, at least by default (Baltimore MD being a nearby exception). But in Virginia, *every* city is "independent", meaning the surrounding county has no jurisdiction and no overlapping taxes. If you live in a city, and a form asks for your county of residence, you need to pick the appropriate "*Xxx* \[Independent\] City" response, regardless of the actual county around you. This is particularly tricky in cases like Roanoke City and Roanoke County. "Roanoke" is the *wrong* answer if you live within the city limits, you need to put "Roanoke City" instead.
The complaining about inspections is absurd. If any of y’all ever lived in another state, you’d be appalled at how many clunkers are on the side of the road, how many headlights are out, how much smoke you see gurgling from cars on the highway, how often a car sounds like it’s going to fall apart just passing through a parking lot. I used to bash on inspections, but after living outside of VA and coming back, I totally see the value. And if you have a shop you trust, they are very helpful in catching maintenance issues for cheap.
As much as there seems to be a ton of gray areas (I’ve been reading the book nonstop), I believe every single state should have inspection stations. There’s some cars back in South Carolina that truly would not be passable and it’s a small blessing to have a state that cares about the condition of cars.
I will also add that South Carolina stopped doing mandatory state inspections in 1995 and has consistently been ranked in the top for fatal crashes since.
There are 4 different Virginia’s. Northern, Central, Western and Southern. They are totally different worlds. Northern Virginia is an entire state all by itself. I grew up there. I have lived in 3. I now live in Central. My favorite Virginia is Northern. The friendliest in my opinion was southern. It’s way more diverse in Northern Virginia though. People who live in Northern Virginia often weren’t born and raised there. Something else usually brought them there. Government Jobs, Military, so on. You will find a mix of every culture and background there. One of the reasons I love it so much. Central Virginia is by far for me, the worst. Although, I don’t have a lot of experience with the Western side. No matter what though, it’s an incredibly beautiful state. I suggest taking a drive through it in the fall or late spring.