by Armando Martinez
Introduction
Registering a car bought from a private owner sale in West Virginia can be a little confusing. You might have questions about what paperwork you need, where to go and what documents to bring with you. The process is not difficult once you know what steps to take, but it's important to understand the process before starting registration so that there are no surprises along the way. You’ll have 30 days to complete this process from the date you purchased your vehicle.
This article will explain how to register your vehicle when buying from an individual seller instead of from a dealership or other business entity.
Step 1: Obtain a Bill of Sale and Complete the Title Application Form
The first step in registering a car bought from a private owner sale is obtaining a Bill of Sale. The Bill of Sale is an official document that states the seller's name, address and signature as well as information about the vehicle being sold--such as its year, make and model. The buyer must also sign this form before submitting it with their title application form (see below).
The following information should be included on your Bill of Sale:
- Date of sale;
- Name(s) of buyer(s);
- Address where purchased;
- Type/year/make/model;
- Vehicle identification number (VIN);
Step 2: Obtain Insurance for Your Vehicle
The next step is to get insurance for your vehicle. You can do this by contacting an insurance company and adding the car to your existing policy, or by buying a new policy from them. If you choose the latter option, make sure that the seller pays for part of the cost of insurance before purchasing their vehicle so that they are not responsible for any damages caused by you while driving it.
Step 3: Get an Emissions Test Before Registering Your Vehicle
The seller must sign an affidavit stating that the vehicle's emissions system has not been tampered with and that they are aware of the penalties for tampering. You will need to take this form to your local DMV office or mail it in.
You can make an appointment at any of West Virginia's emissions centers, which are located throughout the state.
Step 4: Submit the Registration Application
- Complete the West Virginia DMV Title Application online.
- Mail in the application, along with proof of identity and vehicle information.
Step 5: Get License Plates for Your Vehicle
After you have completed the title transfer process and received your new title, you can apply for license plates. You will need to visit a DMV office in person with your current registration card and proof of insurance (if required) to apply for new plates. If you are transferring ownership from one family member to another within the same household, there is no charge for this service; otherwise, it costs $20 per set of plates.
If your car was previously registered in West Virginia but has been out of state for more than 90 days, it may be eligible for special plates that indicate its previous registration status or military service. These types of special plates cost $10 extra when purchased along with regular ones; however, if purchased separately from regular ones they will cost $25 per set plus any additional fees associated with getting them made up specifically for your vehicle
Step 6: Have Your Vehicle Inspected for Safety
If your vehicle is titled in West Virginia and it does not have a current, valid safety inspection sticker, you must have a safety inspection performed within 3 days after registering your vehicle. If the inspection sticker on your vehicle is current, they will continue to be legal until the expiration date on the sticker, regardless of a change of ownership. Make sure you know when the safety inspection expires so you do not let it lapse.
If your vehicle was titled outside the state of West Virginia you’ll need to bring your new car in for an inspection by an authorized DMV employee. When a vehicle passes the inspection, a sticker valid for twelve (12) months will be placed on the inside of the windshield. It is illegal to drive a vehicle without a valid inspection sticker. You'll need proof of ownership and either a completed Affidavit for Transferring Title Without Certificate or an Application for Vehicle Registration (Form DMV-1).
Step 7: Keep Your Registration and License Plates Updated
Once you've gotten your car registered, it's important to keep the registration up-to-date. You can do this by visiting the DMV in person and paying the fee (see below). If you don't renew your registration within 30 days of its expiration date, then you'll be charged a late fee of $50 plus any additional costs associated with re-registering your vehicle.
If there's no way around going into an office for this process, try to find out what time has been determined as having the shortest wait time by checking out their website before heading over there. The DMV also offers online services for some transactions--you can find more info about those options here: https://wwwdolmvonlinecom/wv_dmv_online_services
Conclusion
Congratulations on your new car! We hope this guide has been helpful in answering any questions you may have had about registering a vehicle purchased from a private owner sale. If you have any more questions, please visit the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles website at https://transportation.wv.gov/DMV/Vehicle-Services/Registrations/Pages/default.aspx for more information.
This article was written by Armando Martinez. Armando Martinez is among the nation’s experts on automotive titling, registration, DMV services and document operations. With nearly two decades of experience across a broad range of financial services functions and some of the largest names in auto, from Wells Fargo to Uber, Armando combines vision and ingenuity with a wealth of information so auto shoppers and sellers can learn from his experience.
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