A West Virginia motor vehicle bill of sale allows you to properly document the transaction of selling an automobile. It identifies the vehicle, seller, and buyer.
The state requires notarization of the bill of sale, which you will need to title and register the vehicle.
Every motor vehicle, semi-trailer, pole trailer, and the recreational vehicle must be titled and registered when driven or moved upon a highway. Motorboats with at least 3hp/7lb thrust output must also be registered.
Vehicle Registration
State law requires registration for all vehicles used or moved on public roadways (West Virginia Code Section 17A-3-1). Registering your vehicle will give you a license plate, which you must display on the car. You must have a West Virginia bill of sale for vehicle registration.
Vehicle Inspections
West Virginia requires a routine safety inspection every 12 months. It has reciprocity with Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Therefore, out-of-state inspection sticker from these states is valid in West Virginia until expiration.
Where to Register Your Vehicle
You will register your vehicle with the West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. For first-time registration, you must apply in person at a DMV location.
The state announced it would begin digitizing the process in the first part of 2023 [1] . Register your vehicle online using the Champ Titles Digital Title and Registration Suite. Your registration will be digital, and you will get your license plate by mail.
Documents Required by the DMV Office
Regardless of how you register your vehicle in West Virginia, you will need specific documents to prove you have legal ownership rights to it, including:
- Notarized Bill of Sale
- Application for Certificate of Title
- Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form DMV-TM-1) for vehicles less than 10 years old
- Driver’s license or state ID
- Registration fees and tax payments
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Proof of insurance with minimum requirements:
- $25,000 for bodily injuries per person
- $50,000 for bodily injuries per accident
- $25,000 for property damage
Also, note that you must pay a fee for the service. Costs may change regularly, but you can see how much they will be on the DMV website.
Complete a motor vehicle power of attorney form to let someone else handle the registration process in your absence.
West Virginia Vehicle Bill of Sale Sample
If you buy or sell a vehicle, you can secure a West Virginia vehicle bill of sale form from Legal Templates. The document comes in PDF or Word format.
