The WV DMV-4-TR is West Virginia’s Affidavit of Duplicate Title for a Vehicle or Watercraft, and you use it to replace a certificate of title that has been lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed. To get the replacement, complete the form, have your signature notarized, and submit it to the Division of Motor Vehicles with a copy of your driver’s license and a $15 title fee.1West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles – Titles The same form covers watercraft, ATVs, UTVs, recreational vehicles, and trailers.
What to Gather First
Pull these together before you sit down with the form:
- A photocopy of your driver’s license. The name on it should match the name on the title record.
- The vehicle or watercraft’s year, make, model, body type, and full vehicle identification number. Your registration card has all of it, if you still have it.
- Your registration card, if available. It isn’t strictly required, but the DMV recommends including it.1West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles – Titles
- Lienholder contact information, if a lien was ever recorded and hasn’t been formally released through the DMV.
- The $15 title fee, plus a $10 lien fee if a lien is being recorded on the new title.1West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles – Titles
Filling Out the Form
The DMV-4-TR is an affidavit, so you are swearing under oath that what you write is true. Print clearly in blue or black ink. Illegible or incomplete forms come back.
Enter your full legal name and current address as the registered owner. Fill in the vehicle details next: year, make, model, body type, and the complete VIN. Check the VIN against your registration card or insurance documents. One transposed digit will send the application back.
State the reason you need a duplicate: lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed. Keep it factual.
Sign the form in front of a notary public. Notarization is mandatory, and an unnotarized form will not be accepted.1West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles – Titles Many banks, UPS stores, and county clerk offices offer notary services for a small fee.
Section D: Discharge of Lien Holder(s)
If the vehicle or watercraft has never had a lien against it, skip this section. If a lien was ever recorded and hasn’t been formally released through the DMV, you have to complete Section D, and the lienholder must sign it with their signature notarized, confirming that the lien has been satisfied.1West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles – Titles
Contact the lender early. If the lender has been acquired or the loan was paid off years ago, finding the right person to sign takes time. A separate written lien release from the lender can be submitted alongside the DMV-4-TR in place of a signed Section D.
Section D applies specifically to ATVs, UTVs, recreational vehicles, trailers, and watercraft. For a standard motor vehicle with a previously recorded lien, confirm with the DMV whether you need Section D completed or whether a separate lien release on file will do.
Section E: Release Affidavit
If you can’t apply yourself and someone else will submit the paperwork and receive the duplicate on your behalf, they complete Section E. When Section E is used, the packet must include a copy of the representative’s identification in addition to yours.1West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles – Titles Missing either ID will delay processing.
Where to Submit
You can submit the DMV-4-TR in person at any West Virginia DMV regional office or by mail to headquarters:
Division of Motor Vehicles
5707 MacCorkle Avenue, SE
PO Box 17710
Charleston, WV 253171West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles – Titles
Your packet should include the completed and notarized DMV-4-TR, a copy of your driver’s license, your registration card if you have it, the $15 title fee, and the $10 lien fee if a lien is being recorded on the new title.1West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles – Titles
Going in person has one real advantage: regional office staff can review your paperwork on the spot and flag anything missing before you leave. Mail submissions get no immediate feedback, so a small error can turn into weeks of correspondence.
How Long It Takes
West Virginia’s Digital Title and Registration System has brought turnaround down to less than one day for many transactions, with dealer-processed titles averaging about five days.2West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. Gov. Justice: West Virginia to Be First State in Country to Offer Certain Users a Fully Digital Clearinghouse for Vehicle Titles In-person submissions at a regional office are often processed the same day. Mail adds postal transit time in both directions, so if you’re in the middle of a private sale and the buyer is waiting, the trip is worth it.
After the Duplicate Arrives
The duplicate replaces the original and carries the same legal weight. If the missing title later turns up, destroy it. Two valid-looking titles for the same vehicle can create problems during a future sale or lien recording.
If you requested the duplicate to complete a sale, you can now sign the assignment section over to the buyer. The buyer then submits the assigned title with an Application for Certificate of Title (DMV-1-TR) to have a new title issued in their name.1West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles – Titles Under West Virginia law, the buyer must deliver the assigned title to the DMV and apply for a new certificate before operating the vehicle on public roads, though a transferee may drive under the previous owner’s registration for up to ten days.3West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 17A-4 – Transfer of Title of Vehicles