West Virginia - How to Register a Vehicle

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Procedure

If you are registering a motor vehicle in West Virginia for the first time, you must complete the following steps:

• All vehicles in West Virginia must be insured. When you register your vehicle you must provide proof of insurance. The easiest way to do this is to obtain auto liability insurance.
• Collect the necessary paperwork. If you bought your vehicle from a dealer, then the dealer will have sent the necessary paperwork to the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. In all other circumstances you will need to collect the following additional papers:
• A bill of sale is necessary if you have not transferred the title of the vehicle and you have not paid at least half the book value for the vehicle.
• The vehicle title. If the vehicle is less than ten years old, make sure that the title shows the correct odometer reading.
• Visit your local DMV office, and bring the completed forms with you. You do not need to make an appointment for this.
• If your vehicle already has a valid inspection sticker, you do not need to have your vehicle inspected until the sticker expires. However, if you purchased your vehicle in West Virginia and it does not have a current inspection sticker, you must have the vehicle inspected within three days of registering it. Inspections are carried out at a West Virginia State Police approved inspection station.

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Required Documents

• You must have one (1) Proof of Social Security Number:
• You must have one (1) Proof of Identity:
• You must have two (2) forms of Proof of WV Residency
• Proof of vehicle insurance
• Purchase bill
• All necessary vehicle documents.

You must have one (1) Proof of Social Security Number:

• Original Social Security Card
• Wage and Tax Statement (W-2) or payroll stub with the applicants employer name and employer ID number, as well as the applicants name, address, and Social Security Number
• SA/1099 Form (Social Security Benefit Form)

Please make sure your Social Security records reflect your full legal name, as reflected on your other documents. DMV must be able to establish a name connection between documents, therefore your full legal name must match your name on file with the Social Security Administration. If an applicant is not eligible for a social security number, then the applicant must submit a denial letter from both the Social Security Administration and IRS. The Division checks every social security number with the SSA. If you have a problem with the SSA, such as name or date of birth does not match with records of the DMV, and SSA then you must have the problem corrected before you can be issued a permit, license, or identification card. Your documents will be scanned and returned to you, which will provide DMV with a historical record, and provide you with additional protection, per the Federal Real ID Act of 2005. Please visit the Social Security Administration website for information about obtaining a Social Security number.

You must have one (1) Proof of Identity:

• U.S. Birth Certificate: An original or certified copy of a United States-issued birth certificate (U.S. Department of State and U.S. Military birth certificates ARE acceptable. Hospital birth certificates are NOT acceptable.)
  • To obtain a birth certificate, if you were born in West Virginia, contact the Office of Vital Statistics. If you were born in another state, the National Center for Health Statistics has information on how to obtain a birth certificate.
• Valid unexpired U.S. Passport
• If foreign born, valid, unexpired Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Documents

You must have two (2) forms of Proof of WV Residency

• You may use two documents from LIST B or one from LIST B and one from LIST C. Documents with a PO Box are not acceptable. Any recurring document cannot be more than 60 days old (ie utility bill). Married applicants may provide residency documents from LIST B or LIST C in their spouse's name when accompanied with a Certified Marriage Certificate.

LIST B

• WV utility bills (not more than 60 days old)
• Tax records with a WV street address
• WV mortgage documents, WV homeowner insurance documents for a WV residence or proof of WV home ownership
• WV W-2 form not more than 18 months old
• WV weapons permit
• A valid WV Motor Vehicles registration card
• WV voters registration card
• WV drivers eligibility certificate (School Enrollment Form) if applicant is under age 18 with the applicants WV street address
• WV Homestead Tax exemption
• Proof of WV Public Assistance
• Residential rental or lease agreement
• WV DMV Affidavit of West Virginia Residency

LIST C

• College admissions letter that shows the applicant is an in-state resident
• Letter from any of the below offices that show the applicant has been a WV resident at their facility and that shows the current physical address, letterhead preferred but not required: WV Homeless Shelter, Hotel or Job Corp
  • WV Senior Citizens Home
  • WV Rehabilitation Center
  • WV Nursing Home
  • WV Childrens Home, Orphanage or Shelter
  • WV Battered Womens Shelter
• Benefits letter from WV Health and Human Resources
• Check stub from any WV employer that shows a current physical address (cannot be hand written).
• Social Security benefits letter
• WV Professional License
• Letter from the applicants employer stating that all utility and house arrangements are provided by the employer
• United States Selective Service card
• Letter from the US Post Office that shows a new, physical, WV address assigned by the Post Office for the applicant
• WV Dealer temporary registration card
• WV Bank Statement, Auto Insurance or Hunting License
• License Plate renewal form
• 911 letter

Office Locations & Contacts

West Virginia Department of Transportation

Motor Vehicles
5707 MacCorkle Avenue, SE
Charleston, WV 25317
Map

Phone : 1-304-558-3900
Toll-Free: 1-800-642-9066 (West Virginia Residents Only)
Hearing Impaired: 1-800-742-6991

E-mail: [email protected]

Regional Offices Locations and Hours

Eligibility

Every motor vehicle, trailer, semi trailer, pole trailer, and recreational vehicle when driven or moved upon a highway must be titled and registered.

Fees

Motor Vehicle Registration Fees - for all vehicle classes

Validity

When a vehicle is registered in West Virginia, the registrant will receive a license plate and registration card, which is valid for 1 year.

Renewal notices for your vehicle registration are mailed approximately 30 days before the registration expires.

Documents to Use

Application Forms - Vehicles

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Instructions

The DMV Vehicle Services Unit handles all motor vehicle titles and registrations.

• If you have purchased a vehicle from a licensed West Virginia dealer, they will submit your taxes and fees along with the paperwork as they are responsible for collecting and remitting the sales tax to the division, regardless of whether there is lien or not.
• If you have a valid West Virginia license plate, the dealer may transfer your license plates for a fee of $5.50, which is good for sixty days and allows you to legally operate your vehicle.
• If you don't have a plate, the dealer can issue a temporary plate which will allow you to legally operate the vehicle for sixty days. The dealer has sixty days to process your title.
• If you purchase a vehicle from an individual, you may apply for the title and registration by mail or in person at one of the Division's Regional Offices. Work can also be processed through any of the privately owned license services that are regulated by the division.
• Both new and second-hand vehicles must be registered, regardless of whether they are purchased from a dealer or an individual.
• In addition, new West Virginia residents who have registered their vehicle in another state must register their vehicle in West Virginia.
• The initial vehicle registration must be done in person, and registration renewals must be done annually, either in person or by mail.
• The registration fee for passenger vehicles and pickup trucks weighing 8,000 pounds or less is $30.
• Registrants receive a license plate and registration card. Keep the registration card for all vehicles registered, which should be kept in the vehicle at all times.

Required Information

• Full Legal Name
• Social Security Number
• Mailing address
• Residence address
• Citizenship
• Driving license number

Vehicle description

• Make
• Year
• VIN
• Style of body
• Odometer reading
• Weight
• Title Brands

Need for the Document

Following are procedures on how you can register a vehicle in West Virginia.

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