To register a vehicle in Virginia, ownership has to be proved, and insurance needs to be obtained. Besides, necessary inspections, registration form submission, and taxes and fee payments are all part of the car registration process in Virginia.
The particular steps involved depend on whether the vehicle is bought in Virginia, brought from out of state, purchased through a dealership, or acquired through a private sale process.
To register a vehicle in Virginia, you have to show proof of ownership, have Virginia-compliant insurance, pass any required inspection, and submit the proper title and registration forms with the DMV. You are also required to pay title, tax, registration, and plate fees.
Title the Vehicle First
In Virginia, a vehicle usually is required to be titled before it is registered. The title assigns legal ownership, while the registration makes it possible for the vehicle to be used on the roads.
In the case of a new vehicle, a Manufacturer’s Certificate or Statement of Origin is usually required, as well as an Application for Title and Registration. For a used vehicle that is titled in Virginia, the seller must properly assign the Virginia title to you and complete the Certification of Buyer and registration sections. In addition, you must provide proof of your Virginia address and proof of purchase price of the vehicle, such as the buyer’s order, bill of sale, or the amount recorded on the title.
If you bring your car from out of state, you need to put together a title and registration application, proof of residence, and the out-of-state title or registration certificate. If your vehicle is acquired within the last 12 months, DMV may ask for proof of the cost of acquiring that vehicle. New residents of Virginia must submit paperwork to register their cars within 30 days of their arrival in the state.
The Virginia title charge is $15, plus applicable motor vehicle sales and use tax. If it applies, the registration charge comes in addition to that.
Obtain Virginia-Compliant Insurance
Before DMV provides license plates or registration decals, the owner of the vehicle must indicate that he/she possesses liability insurance from company authorized to conduct business in Virginia. As for policies that will be created on or after January 1, 2025, the required minimum liability limits in Virginia are:
- $50,000 for injury or death to one person
- $100,000 for injury or death to two or more people
- $25,000 for property damage
You must maintain valid insurance coverage during the vehicle registration period regardless of whether the vehicle is temporarily inoperable. If you let your coverage end without canceling or returning the plates, you may have your driving and registration privileges suspended, incur a noncompliance fee of $600, and have to file an SR-22.
Complete the Required Inspections
Virginia vehicles must pass an annual safety inspection and display a valid inspection sticker before being operated. Safety inspections are conducted by authorized inspection stations, many of which are located at repair shops and service centers.
A vehicle may also have to undergo an emissions inspection if it is garaged in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, or Stafford County, or in Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, or Manassas Park. A vehicle new to Virginia may also not need to undergo the emissions inspection test if it has a valid emissions certificate issued within the last 12 months. The emissions requirement does not apply to motorcycles.
Submit the Registration Application
Complete Virginia DMV Form VSA 14, the Application for Registration, unless registration is being completed as part of the title application. You will generally submit:
- The completed title and registration application
- The properly assigned title or ownership document
- Proof of your Virginia address
- Proof of the purchase price, when required
- An odometer disclosure, when applicable
- Certification of required insurance
- Payment for taxes, title fees, registration fees, and plates
Dealerships are able to process title transfers electronically for most of their sales. Eligible vehicle transactions from private sellers with existing titles in Virginia are also able to use Virginia DMV’s electronic titling services. All other transactions can be processed at a DMV customer service center, DMV Select location, or by mail.
Pay the Registration Fees
Usually, the annual registration fee of a regular passenger vehicle is $30.75 if the weight of the vehicle is 4,000 pounds or less. Variations to this fee structure exist for motorcycles, trailers, and heavy vehicles. An annual highway use fee may also apply to electric and fuel-efficient vehicles.
As soon as the DMV processes the transaction, you get the motor vehicle registration card, license plates or decals, as well as a date by which the document expires. It is worth mentioning that some counties and cities in Virginia may require additional local vehicle registrations, decals or personal property documentation, which makes the DMV registration insufficient.
