How to Complete Pennsylvania Form MV-1: Application for Certificate of Title

Pennsylvania Form MV-1 is the Application for Certificate of Title, and you cannot download it or fill it out at home. It’s a secure, multi-part carbon document that only PennDOT-authorized agents, licensed dealers, and messenger services can issue. To complete it, you bring your ownership documents, Pennsylvania ID, proof of insurance, and payment to one of those agents, who fills out the form with you in person and submits it to PennDOT.¹

When You Need Form MV-1

MV-1 is for vehicles that don’t already have a Pennsylvania title to reassign. A standard in-state transfer uses Form MV-4ST instead. You’ll need MV-1 if you’re:

A new Pennsylvania resident titling a vehicle currently titled in another state or country. This must be done within 20 days of establishing residency.¹
Titling a brand-new vehicle for the first time from a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO).
Titling a specially constructed or reconstructed vehicle, such as a kit car or a vehicle rebuilt from salvage.
Retitling a recovered theft vehicle where the original title was surrendered.
Taking ownership through a court order where a standard title reassignment isn’t possible.²

Where to Get the Form

Because MV-1 is a secure carbon document, PennDOT does not post it online. You have to visit a PennDOT-authorized agent in person. Most notaries, car dealerships, and messenger services hold this authorization. Some agents are connected to PennDOT’s online system and can process your title and registration on the spot; others collect the paperwork and forward it to Harrisburg.

PennDOT has an online locator where you can search for authorized agents, online messengers, and other providers by location.³ Messenger services add their own service fee on top of the state fees, so it’s worth calling ahead to compare total costs.

What to Bring

The carbon-copy form doesn’t tolerate mistakes well. An error usually means starting fresh on a new form, so bring everything before you go.

Proof of ownership. Your original out-of-state title issued in your name, a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin for a new vehicle, or other proof such as a court order. The assignment section on the back of the MCO or out-of-state title must be filled in, including odometer disclosure and notary information where applicable.²
Valid Pennsylvania identification. A Pennsylvania photo driver’s license, a photo ID card, a photo exempt driver’s license or ID, a 15-day temporary internet renewal credential paired with an expired license, a camera card with an expired Pennsylvania ID, or a U.S. Armed Forces Common Access Card.¹
Proof of Pennsylvania insurance. A valid insurance identification card, a declaration page, a copy of a binder, or a copy of an application to the Pennsylvania Assigned Risk Plan. The document must show both effective and expiration dates.¹
Payment. Enough to cover the title fee, any lien-recording fee, registration, and sales tax. Amounts are below.

For out-of-state titles, you’ll also need a VIN plate tracing (a pencil rubbing of the VIN plate) attached to the back of the white copy of the form.¹ If someone else is signing on your behalf, Pennsylvania uses Form MV-POA to authorize that.⁴

What Information the Form Asks For

The agent writes on the physical form, but you supply the information. Knowing what each section needs keeps the appointment short.

Section A: Vehicle Description

Make, model year, body type, fuel type, gross vehicle weight rating, and the full Vehicle Identification Number. The VIN on the form has to match both the VIN plate on the vehicle and the VIN on your proof of ownership. PennDOT’s instructions ask you to visually verify and compare the numbers, because a mismatch stalls the application.²

Section B: Applicant Information

Your full legal name and address exactly as they appear on your Pennsylvania ID. If more than one person is going on the title, decide how ownership is held before you sign:

Joint tenants with right of survivorship. When one owner dies, ownership passes automatically to the surviving owner.
Tenants in common. When one owner dies, their share passes to their heirs or estate, not to the co-owner.

Married couples who title a vehicle together get a special form of survivorship called tenancy by the entireties.⁵ Tell the agent which structure you want. Correcting it later means applying for a new title.

Section C: Lienholder Information

If you’re financing the vehicle, this is where the lender’s name and address go. When a lien is recorded at the same time as the title, the combined fee is $108 rather than the $72 title fee alone.⁶ PennDOT mails the title to the lienholder, not to you, until the loan is paid off.

Section D: Agent Certification

The authorized agent or dealer fills this in themselves, certifying the transaction and verifying your ID. You don’t complete this part, but you will sign the form in front of the agent.²

Fees

The title fee is $72. If a lien is recorded at the same time, the combined fee is $108.⁶ Registration is a separate fee that depends on the registration period you pick. Authorized agents and messenger services may add their own processing fee, which varies by provider.

Sales Tax

Pennsylvania charges sales tax on the purchase price or fair market value of the vehicle, whichever is higher. The base state rate is 6%. Allegheny County residents pay 7%, and Philadelphia County residents pay 8%.⁷

If PennDOT’s records suggest you paid less than fair market value, the Department of Revenue may flag the transaction under its Motor Vehicle Understated Value Program. You’ll need documentation, such as a bill of sale, a vehicle condition report, or an independent appraisal, to justify the lower price. Without adequate proof, you’ll be taxed on fair market value.⁸

Gift Transfers

If the vehicle is a genuine gift with no exchange of money, goods, or services, you can claim a sales tax exemption by submitting Form MV-13ST (Affidavit of Gift) with your MV-1. Both the giver and the recipient complete the affidavit, which asks about the relationship between the parties. The exemption isn’t restricted to family, but PennDOT scrutinizes these claims, and the transfer must truly involve no compensation.⁹

After You Submit

The three carbon copies split up once the form is done. The white copy goes to PennDOT, the yellow copy stays with the agent or dealer, and the pink copy is yours as a receipt.² The agent submits the paperwork to Harrisburg, often through a messenger service.

At the appointment, the agent can issue a temporary Pennsylvania registration so you can legally drive while the permanent title is processed. A temporary registration plate can only be issued when the out-of-state title is submitted with the MV-1. Without your original title, the agent won’t issue one.¹

PennDOT reviews the application and, if everything checks out, mails the certificate of title. If a lien is recorded, the title goes to the lender. Otherwise it goes to the address on the application. Keep your pink copy until the permanent title arrives; it’s your proof of filing if anything gets lost in transit.

1
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Motor Vehicle Information for New Residents
2
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Instructions for Completing Form MV-1 Application for Certificate of Title
3
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Find a Location – Driver and Vehicle Services
4
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Secure Power of Attorney (MV-POA) Fact Sheet
5
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Vehicle Transfer after Death of Owner
6
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Payments and Fees – Driver and Vehicle Services
7
Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. What Is the Motor Vehicle Sales Tax?
8
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Motor Vehicle Understated Value Program
9
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Affidavit of Gift (MV-13ST)