Donate a car or vehicle in West Virginia - WV
State Title Information
Help a child with a car, motorcycle, automobile, truck, boat or any vehicle donation. What vehicles need titles in your state. How to transfer ownership...
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When donating a car it is necessary to transfer ownership. Various states have different regulations on how this is done. This page is a collection of actual references from various state web sites.
Just click on any of the links below for more information on that subject.
2. What is the title process for buying a new vehicle from a dealer or an individual?
3. What Fees are there regarding to titles?
4. Important things to note about titles
5. Odometer Statement Information
1. General Title Information:
A title to a vehicle is the legal document showing ownership. If the vehicle has more than one owner, and the names are joined by “AND” both owners must sign the title documents for a sale or transfer to be legal. If “OR” or “AND/OR” appears between the owner’s name, either owner can sign the title document as the seller or purchaser of the vehicle.
All highway vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, and motorboats are required to be titled at the time of purchase.
If the vehicle is new and has never been titled, a manufacturer’s statement of origin (MSO) and a completed title application (DMV Form - 1-TR) are required.
If the vehicle is used, you must submit the previous owner’s title, signed over to you. Both the seller and the buyer must sign the back of the West Virginia title.
If the vehicle is titled in another state, submit the out of state title properly reassigned, along with an application for title (DMV Form - 1-TR ).
If the vehicle is titled in another state, and you do not have a title because you are still making payments and there is no change in ownership, please submit:
- Insurance information must be provided which lists an insurance company licensed to do business in West Virginia
- A completed odometer disclosure statement (DMV Form TM-1 )
- A letter from the lienholder stating they are holding a title along with a copy of the title and lienholder’s correct mailing address
- Fees required - $10 title fee, $5 lien fee, 5% privilege tax on current
- The Automobile Red Book loan value and the license plate fee of $30
A completed form DMV Form - 1-TR (Application for a Certificate of Title)
2. What is the title process for buying a new vehicle from a dealer or an induvidual?
Title Process If you purchase a vehicle from a licensed West Virginia dealer, the dealer may accept your fees and submit the fees to the DMV on your behalf. However, if there is a lien on the vehicle, the dealer is required to collect the proper fees from you and apply for the title on your behalf. The dealer may transfer your license plates, or may issue you a temporary license plate, both of which are valid for 60 days.
If you purchase a vehicle from an individual, or purchase a vehicle from a dealer without a lien, you may apply for the title and registration by mail or in person at one of the Regional Offices or at one of the 130 privately owned license services located in most communities. The dealer may also take care of the paperwork on your behalf.
3. What Fees are there regarding to titles?
New residents must have their vehicles titled and registered within thirty 30 of establishing residency.
The title fees include a 5% privilege tax, a $10 title fee, and a $5 lien fee, if there is a lien on the vehicle. The registration (license plate) fee is $30.
The 5% privilege tax is based on the purchase price of the vehicle. If you are moving here from out of state, the tax is based on the The Automobile Red Book loan value of the vehicle.
If the purchase price is below 50% of the current The Automobile Red Book loan value, a notarized bill of sale must accompany the application for title, or the tax will be based on the The Automobile Red Book loan value at the time of titling.
Vehicles purchased from a dealer are taxed on the purchase price only.
Any vehicle not purchased from a registered dealer which is two years old or less will be taxed on the current The Automobile Red Book loan value despite the purchase price.
Tax is based on the net cost when a vehicle is purchased from a dealer and the “trade-in” is titled in West Virginia in the name of the purchaser.
4. Important things to note about titles:
Do not buy a vehicle from an individual unless the seller has the title to the vehicle in their name and can give it to you at the time of sale.
Make certain that the vehicle identification number on the title matches the vehicle identification number on the vehicle. Also, the vehicle odometer reading must not be less than the odometer reading on the face of the title.
When final payment is made, your lienholder will send the title with the lien released. Application to DMV for a clear title (fee - $10) should be made immediately. The lien remains on record with the DMV unless such application is made. If the title is lost and a lien is still on record with DMV, a lien release by the original lienholder would be required before a clear duplicate title can be issued. This could cause a delay in the sale of a vehicle.
5. Odometer Statement Information:
When a motor vehicle is sold or transferred, the odometer reading must be recorded in the assignment section of the title by the seller. If the title does not include this section for this purpose, the seller may record the mileage on an odometer statement on a form available from DMV. If an odometer reading is not accurate, the seller must so inform the buyer, and give a fair estimate of the actual mileage of the vehicle.
A separate odometer disclosure form is ALWAYS required unless:
- The vehicle is ten (10) or more model years old
- The vehicle is non-motorized
- The vehicle has a registered gross weight or gross vehicle weight rating of more than 16,000 pounds
The title is a new “Conforming Blue Title” printed after January 1991
Use the following formula to determine if the vehicle is ten or more years old:
THE CURRENT CALENDAR YEAR MINUS TEN EQUALS THE MOST RECENT EXEMPT MODEL YEAR
Example: 1997 - ten = 1987. Therefore, 1987 and older vehicles are exempt.
Recording a vehicle’s mileage and ensuring the accuracy of such recordings is part of DMV’s efforts to protect consumers. Recording mileage history helps legal authorities to detect and prove cases of odometer tampering, or the illegal practice of “rolling back” a vehicle’s mileage. When this occurs, the true condition of the vehicle is misrepresented and the buyer is deceived.
West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles
1800 Kanawha Boulevard East
Charleston, WV 25317
