Residents can submit Virginia car registration applications at Department of Motor Vehicles Customer Service Centers, DMV Select offices or any mobile DMV location. Before motorists can request a vehicle registration, however, they must have their vehicles inspected for safety and emissions compliance. They must also prove that they carry appropriate insurance to avoid paying Uninsured Motorist fees.
While the process of registering a car in Virginia is relatively straightforward, there are a number of factors which can serve to complicate it for some motorists. For example, leased vehicles can need additional documents at the time of registration. Vehicles with prohibited modifications or equipment may fail to pass safety inspections and need corrective action to make them eligible for DMV registration. Finally, some localities within Virginia have their own registration requirements that do not apply statewide. As a result, motorists benefit from thoroughly reviewing the process and requirements before attempting to register their vehicles.
Residents cannot apply for a Virginia car registration online. While vehicle registration renewal is available online, motorists must apply for all first time registrations in person. Vehicle owners new to the state have 30 days to apply for registration.
In addition to a completed Application for Registration form, to register a car applicants will need:
Vehicles with unauthorized equipment or modifications such as excessive window tinting or unapproved lights will not pass safety inspections. Leased vehicles may require additional documentation from the lessor authorizing the lessee to register the vehicle. Applicants registering vehicles on behalf of others will need legal Power of Attorney documents authoring them to do so.
Carrying appropriate insurance is one of the key car registration requirements in Virginia. State law mandates that motorists have at least:
The state partners with insurance industry leaders to electronically track the auto insurance status of all vehicles registered in Virginia. Motorists whose insurers do not participate in the program will need to provide hard copies of their policies as verification.
Uninsured motorists may register a car if they pay the Virginia Uninsured Motor Vehicle (UMV) fee at the time of registration. The UMV fee is not a substitute for insurance and is charged annually at vehicle registration renewal.
To qualify for Virginia new car registration, all vehicles must pass the state’s standard safety inspection.
Emissions inspections are not universally required to get a vehicle registration. However, motorists who live or will garage their vehicles in any of the following localities are required to pass an emissions test to register their vehicles:
Vehicles being transferred into Virginia that have passed emissions inspections within the previous 12 months are not required to get re-inspected for DMV registration. Motorists with questions may contact the state Department of Environment Quality toll free at 1-800-275-3844.
VIN inspections are not generally necessary in Virginia.
Residents exploring how to register a car in Virginia will find that the process varies depending on the types of vehicles and registrations needed. Newly manufactured vehicles generally do not require inspections and are typically registered by the dealers selling them.
Used vehicles must be registered by their owners and pass one or more inspections. Vehicles previously titled in other states can often simply be transferred in.
Residents rarely, if ever, need to worry about registering a car in Virginia. It is industry standard for dealers to offer car registration services at the time of sale. Buyers simply need to provide their IDs and insurance information to their dealers, who will handle the rest.
Virginia used vehicle registration requires motorists to complete a series of steps, as follows. Not all steps will apply to all motorists, depending on where they live and their vehicle ownership status.
Residents who are new to Virginia have 30 days to transfer their DMV registrations into the state. These motorists need to use the Application for Certificate of Title and Registration form instead of the standard Vehicle Registration form unless they already have Virginia titles for their vehicles. To register their vehicles, they must:
United States Armed Forced servicemembers who have been deployed or stationed outside the U.S. have a 90-day grace period from when they return to apply for Virginia vehicle registration renewal. Servicemembers must have military documents showing their deployment. Otherwise, military servicemembers are held to the same policies, fees and other requirements as civilians in Virginia.
Virginia offers temporary registration documents or trip permits to motorists who need to move an unregistered vehicle from one point to another.
Motorists can apply for $5 temporary registrations online through the DMV. Standard trip permits are valid for three days and only within Virginia. They can be “stacked” for longer trips. Motorists must be properly insured or pay a 1/12 of the Uninsured Motor Vehicle (UMV) fee when applying. Applicants must be prepared to list:
Alternatively, motorists may buy $5 Prospective Purchaser’s Trip Permits intended for newly purchased vehicles that will be titled and registered in the state. Tags are valid for three days and must be used within 15 days of receipt. To apply, motorists will need:
Upon completion of a new car registration application in Virginia, motorists receive two license plates, plate decals indicating their registrations’ expiration dates and a registration card. Cards must be kept with the vehicles when they are in operation. If motorists order specialty plates, temporary plates will be issued and the final plates will be mailed later.
How much car registration costs in Virginia varies. Multi-year registrations are typically slightly discounted as compared to single year registrations. Not all motorists or vehicles will qualify for multi-year registrations.
Local registration fees may also apply and will vary.
Note: DMV forms change regularly. The forms provided above are current based on the date of writing.
Last updated on Monday, March 9 2020.