Registering and titling a vehicle in West Virginia: new residents, purchases and renewals

How to title and register a vehicle in West Virginia after buying from a dealer or private seller or moving from another state, how the 6% titling tax works, and how to renew with proof of insurance and personal property tax.

Guide · West Virginia · Vehicle registration · Titles · updated October 29, 2026

Vehicle titles and registration in West Virginia are handled by the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the same agency that issues driver's licenses. The DMV says every motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer, pole trailer and recreational vehicle driven or moved on a highway must be titled and registered. A title is the legal document that proves ownership. When you register, you get a license plate and a registration card. Keep the card in the vehicle with your current insurance certificate.

Where to go

Vehicles without an active lien can be titled and registered:

• In person at any DMV regional office
• By mail
• Through an authorized private license service

The main title application is the Application for Certificate of Title (form DMV-1-TR). When a vehicle is sold, the seller records the mileage in the title's assignment section, or on the Odometer Disclosure Statement (DMV-TM-1) if the title has no such section. For offices, see the West Virginia DMV office list.

Fees and the 6% titling tax

For a purchase, the DMV lists these standard charges:

• A $15 title fee
• A 6% titling sales tax on vehicles with a net purchase price over $500, or a flat $30 if the net price is under $500
• A $10 lien recording fee, if applicable
• Registration or transfer fees

If you trade in a vehicle, the tax is charged on the price minus the trade-in value. The trade-in must be titled in West Virginia in your name to get that credit. The DMV notes that manufacturer rebates are taxable.

Buying from a dealer

West Virginia dealers are required to collect the title taxes and fees and send them to the DMV with the paperwork. For a new vehicle, the dealer gives you the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin. If you buy from an out-of-state dealer, your title application must include a complete dealer invoice showing the final purchase price.

Buying from a private seller

You need the previous owner's title, properly reassigned to you. On a West Virginia title, both seller and buyer sign the back. Before you buy, the DMV warns you to check that:

• The seller holds a title in their own name and can hand it to you at the time of sale.
• The VIN on the vehicle matches the VIN on the title exactly.
• The odometer reading is not lower than the one on the title.

How the tax is worked out in a private sale depends on the price and the vehicle's age:

• Above 50% of book value: the 6% tax is charged on the price you declare.
• Below 50% of the NADA Clean Loan book value: include a notarized bill of sale signed by both of you. Otherwise the tax is charged on the full book value.
• Vehicles two years old or newer that are not bought from a dealer are taxed on book value, whatever the price.

Bills of sale, including the DMV's form DMV-7-TR, must come with legible copies of both the buyer's and the seller's driver's licenses. For a gift, the seller completes an Affidavit of Transfer of Ownership Without Consideration (DMV-5-TR), which both of you sign. The affidavit is not needed for a West Virginia-titled vehicle passing between parent and child or between spouses.

Moving to West Virginia with a vehicle

The DMV says new residents must have their vehicles titled and registered within 30 days of establishing residency. It lists these fees:

• A $15 title fee
• A $10 lien fee, if applicable
• A regular registration fee of $51.50

The 6% titling tax does not apply if all of these are true:

• The vehicle was already titled in your name in another state.
• You were not a West Virginia resident when you got it.
• You can show that you now live in West Virginia, for example with a new West Virginia driver's license.
• You apply and pay within those 30 days.

The exemption does not cover leased vehicles. To title the vehicle, submit:

• Your out-of-state title
• A completed DMV-1-TR
• An odometer disclosure

Your insurance can be listed on the title application, but it must be with a company licensed to sell insurance in West Virginia. If a lender holds your title, the DMV asks for a copy of the title and a letter from the lender, along with the application and odometer statement. The license step is covered in the West Virginia driver's license and ID card guide.

Inspection

West Virginia requires a safety inspection every 24 months at an official inspection station licensed by the West Virginia State Police. A passing vehicle gets a windshield sticker valid for 24 months, and driving without a valid sticker is illegal. The deadlines for a first inspection are:

• New residents: within 10 days of titling the vehicle, which also applies to vehicles bought out of state.
• Vehicles bought or acquired in West Virginia without a valid sticker: within 10 days.

Inspection stickers from Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming stay valid until they expire. Bring your registration card and insurance certificate to the inspection.

Insurance

West Virginia law requires all registered vehicles to be insured, whether or not they are driven. The DMV runs random electronic insurance checks on actively registered vehicles and mails letters when it cannot confirm coverage.

Renewing your registration

The DMV mails a renewal reminder postcard about 30 days before your registration expires. It says it is still your responsibility to know when your plates expire, so keep your address up to date. Before renewing, you need proof that you paid your personal property tax. The tax is assessed by the county assessor and collected by the county sheriff. You can renew:

• Online through the DMV self-service portal, with your insurance and personal property tax details and a valid credit card. You can also get a digital registration card for your phone.
• By mail, sending the renewal notice (DMV-44) or your current registration card with the fee, insurance information and tax receipt.
• At a regional office, with the same items.
• At your county sheriff's office, in counties that process renewals.
• At a WV DMV Now kiosk: there are 12 across the state.

Plates

If a plate is lost or stolen, notify the West Virginia State Police right away. You can order duplicate plates, registration cards and decals online, or with form DMV-32-TR. A vehicle must already be titled and registered with a regular plate before you can apply for a special plate.