Skip to main content
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

Utility menu

  • Online Services
  • Locations
  • Moving
  • Forms
  • My Account

Main menu

  • Licenses & IDs

    • Driver's License
    • REAL ID
    • Learner's Permits
    • ID Cards
    • Commercial Driver's Licenses
    • Motorcycle License
    • Exams & Study Materials
    • Driver Training
    • Driver Improvement
    • Disability Programs
    • Payment Plan Program
    • Organ Donation
    • License Extension
    • Military Personnel
    • Moving

    Document Guide

    Know which documents are required for your driver application before you head to DMV.
    Access Guide
  • Vehicles

    • Title Your Vehicle or Trailer
      • Replacement Titles
      • Substitute Titles
      • Liens on a Title
      • Designate a Beneficiary on a Vehicle Title
      • First Printed Title
      • Off-Road Vehicles
      • Salvage and Nonrepairable Vehicles
      • Title a Converted Electric Vehicle
      • Title a Reconstructed, Specially Constructed or Replica Vehicle
      • Get a Homemade Trailer Plate
      • Converting a Vehicle to a Motor Home
      • Title a Repossessed Vehicle
      • Title an Imported Vehicle in Virginia
      • Virginia Salvage Code Sections
      • Disabled Veteran Sales and Use Tax Exemption
      • Electronic Titling
      • Submit Titling and Registration Applications by Mail
      • Title Application Drop-off Service
    • Registration
    • License Plates
    • Buying/Selling a Vehicle
    • Insurance Coverage Verification
    • Taxes & Fees
    • E-ZPass at DMV
    • Insurance Requirements
    • General Information
    • National Motor Vehicle Titling Information System (NMVTIS)
    • Abandoned Vehicle Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
    • Abandoned Vehicles/ Mechanics & Storage Lien (MSL) Vehicles
    • Download Vehicle Forms

    Registration Renewal

    Renew your vehicle registration before it expires to avoid a late fee.
    Renew Registration
  • Businesses

    • Motor Carriers
    • Hauling Permits
    • Insurance Services
    • Electronic Lien Program
    • Virginia Motor Fuels Tax Programs
    • Business Opportunities
    • How to Become a DMV Select Partner
    • Online Fleet
    • Dealer Services
    • Online Dealers
    • Rental Tax
    • Transportation Network Companies (TNC)

    VirginiaMCS

    Access VirginiaMCS to conduct your Virginia IRP and/or IFTA transactions online.
    Access VirginiaMCS
  • Records

    • Driver Alert Voluntary Driving Record Monitoring Program
    • Request a Copy of Your Driver or Vehicle Record
    • Request a Police Crash Report from DMV
    • Obtain Vehicle History
    • Change Address, Name or Sex Designation
    • Non-Governmental Access to DMV Records
    • Governmental Access to DMV Records
    • Resources for Family of Deceased
    • Emergency Contact Information
    • Vital Records at DMV
    • Prospective Purchaser Inquiry (PPI)
    • Release of DMV Information
    • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Rights and Responsibilities
    • Register to Vote

    Driving & Vehicle Records

    Purchase a copy of your driver or vehicle record online.
    View Records
  • Safety

    • Statewide Crash Data
    • Grants Management
    • Safety Programs
    • Safety Resources

    Points Balance

    Check your points balance to see where your record stands.
    Check Balance
Reserve Your Spot

Virginia DMV Holiday Hours

All DMV Offices will be closed Thursday, June 19th for Juneteenth.

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Vehicles

Title Your Vehicle or Trailer

Skip to main content
  • Title Your Vehicle or Trailer
    • Replacement Titles
    • Substitute Titles
    • Liens on a Title
    • Designate a Beneficiary on a Vehicle Title
    • First Printed Title
    • Off-Road Vehicles
    • Salvage and Nonrepairable Vehicles
    • Title a Converted Electric Vehicle
    • Title a Reconstructed, Specially Constructed or Replica Vehicle
    • Get a Homemade Trailer Plate
    • Converting a Vehicle to a Motor Home
    • Title a Repossessed Vehicle
    • Title an Imported Vehicle in Virginia
    • Virginia Salvage Code Sections
    • Disabled Veteran Sales and Use Tax Exemption
    • Electronic Titling
    • Submit Titling and Registration Applications by Mail
    • Title Application Drop-off Service

How to Title a Vehicle

Save time and prevent extra visits to DMV. Watch the Online Title Guide to ensure documents are complete and accurate before submitting them.

Are you a Virginia resident buying or selling a vehicle titled in Virginia? You may transfer ownership without visiting DMV.

DMV's electronic titling program securely transfers a vehicle's ownership from Virginia residents to buyers titling a vehicle in Virginia. 

Visit Electronic Titling

A title (also called a title certificate) establishes the legal owner of a vehicle and has important information on it, such as the vehicle identification number (VIN), date of manufacture, and make and model.

A title proves you own the vehicle. Registration proves the vehicle is authorized to be driven.

If you want to title and register your vehicle at the same time, see Register Your Vehicle for a list of what to submit. There is a separate registration fee.

Did You Know?

No time to wait for walk-in service? We offer five convenient alternatives to title your vehicle:

  • Drop off (no wait; pick up in 3-5 days)
  • Appointment (receive over the counter)
  • DMV Select (receive over the counter) 
  • Mail (receive by mail; postal delivery times vary)
  • Electronic titling

Step 1: Present the following documents

  1. For NEW vehicles: Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin/Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MCO or MSO) AND an online or paper Application for Title and Registration
    • For USED vehicles: Virginia title with the “Certification of Buyer” section complete. If you’re also REGISTERING your used vehicle, complete the “Application of Registration” section as well.
  2. Proof of address
  3. Proof of purchase price, such as a buyer's order, bill of sale or the seller's declared sale price on the title.

    Note: The bill of sale can be a handwritten statement signed by the seller and purchaser OR a Vehicle Price Certification signed by the seller or purchaser.

  1. Completed online or paper Application for Title and Registration
  2. Proof of address
  3. One of the following:
    • Title or registration card from your previous state of residence
    • The previous owner's out-of-state title signed over to you
    • An ownership document issued by the U.S. Armed Forces with your name appearing as owner
  4. If purchased within the last 12 months, one of the following:

    • Proof of purchase price (buyer's order, bill of sale or the seller's declared sale price on the title)
    • A Vehicle Price Certification signed by the seller or purchaser.

    Note: The bill of sale can be a handwritten statement signed by both the seller and purchaser.

If your previous state does not issue titles for your specific type of trailer, please present:

  1. Registration card that is either unexpired or expired for less than 12 months
  2. Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin, if available
  3. Completed Application for Certificate of Title and Registration
  4. Completed, signed and notarized Application in Lieu of Title Certificate
    • Indicate why the title is not available, describe the efforts made to obtain a certificate of title and provide all supporting documentation to provide a trail of ownership.
  5. The bill of sale. If the bill of sale is not available: A completed and signed Vehicle Price Certification identifying the trailer by VIN, make and year.

See Titling an Imported Vehicle in Virginia for vehicles brought into the U.S. from a foreign country.

Step 2: Pay the following fees

  • $15 titling fee 
  • Sales and Use Tax 

Note: If you are exempt from this tax, bring proof of your exemption status or complete the Purchaser's Statement of Tax Exemption.

Step 3: Record Odometer Reading

When a vehicle is sold or transferred, the seller must record the odometer reading (mileage) in the “assignment” section of the title, and the buyer must record the odometer reading on the Application for Title and Registration.

If an out-of-state title does not have an “assignment” section, the seller may record the mileage on an Odometer Disclosure Statement. Please present this to DMV when titling.

If an out-of-state title does not have an “assignment” section and the odometer reading is not actual (current), the seller must inform the buyer that it is incorrect by checking the appropriate box on the Odometer Disclosure Statement ("exceeds actual limits" or "odometer reading is not the actual mileage" or "exceeds actual limits").

If an out-of-state title shows the vehicle was exempt from odometer disclosure, then no odometer disclosure is required for a Virginia title. Simply present the out-of-state title showing the exemption.

Your DMV Record

If you have recently purchased a vehicle from a dealer and that dealer is processing the work for you, it may take up to 30 days for the dealer to process your transaction and for the vehicle to appear in your DMV record.

Leased vehicles will not show up in your DMV record.

Selecting Electronic or Paper Title

On the Application for Certificate of Title and Registration form, you can choose to receive a paper title, or have DMV keep an electronic record of the title to ensure its safety.

If you select the electronic option, when you need a paper title in the future, you may visit any customer service center and request one. You’ll be required to show proof you are the registered owner.

  • If no lien ever existed on the vehicle record and no paper title was previously issued, a one-time paper title will be issued at no fee.
  • If a lien existed or a paper title was previously printed, the $15 substitute title fee will be charged.

    Note: If the lien is an electronic lien and the lien has been released, a one-time paper title will be issued at no fee, provided it has not been printed already.

If you currently have an electronic title in good standing with no lien, you may request a paper title online, at a customer service center or by mail. If by mail, send a written request and payment (if applicable) to:

Virginia DMV 
Attn: Titles and Registration Work Center 
P.O. Box 27412 
Richmond, VA 23269

Your written request should include the VIN number or title number. If the title has never been printed, there is no fee. If it has been previously printed, the fee is $15.

About Us

Through our mission purpose, the DMV aims to be Virginia's most trusted service provider.

  • About DMV
  • Careers
  • Procurement

Resources

  • Online Services
  • How Do I?
  • Forms
  • News
  • Policies & Regulations
  • Fee Chart
  • ¿Habla Español?

Contact

  • Locations
  • Contact Us
  • Media

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (Superior Service | Secure Credentials | Saving Lives)

©2025 Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy.

Back to top