What Do I Need to Register a Car in Virginia?

To register a car in Virginia, you need the vehicle’s title, proof of identity, proof of Virginia residency, proof of Virginia-compliant insurance, a passing Virginia safety inspection (and an emissions inspection if you live in certain Northern Virginia localities), a completed Application for Certificate of Title and Registration (Form VSA 17A), and payment for the title fee, annual registration fee, and 4.15% motor vehicle sales and use tax.1Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Register Your Vehicle New residents have 30 days from the date they establish residency to get all of this done.2Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. New to Virginia

Documents to Bring

Four documents form the core of your registration packet:

  • Vehicle title. From a private seller, the title must be signed over to you with the seller’s signature and the odometer reading filled in. From a dealer, you’ll get a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin for a new vehicle or an assigned title for a used one.
  • Proof of identity. A valid Virginia driver’s license or state-issued ID card. If you’re a new resident who hasn’t obtained a Virginia license yet, bring your current out-of-state license plus proof of your Social Security number.
  • Proof of Virginia residency. A utility bill, lease agreement, or mortgage statement showing your Virginia address.
  • Proof of insurance. Documentation showing coverage that meets Virginia’s minimum liability limits.

You’ll use these to fill out Form VSA 17A, which asks for the vehicle identification number, make, model, year, and your personal information including your Social Security number.3Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. VSA 17A

If you’re buying a used car privately, confirm the seller has completed the odometer disclosure on the title before you leave. A missing or incomplete odometer statement can stall your registration at the counter.4eCFR. Part 580 – Odometer Disclosure Requirements

Insurance You Must Carry

The DMV will not sell you plates or registration decals until you certify that the vehicle carries at least Virginia’s minimum liability insurance. For policies effective on or after January 1, 2025, the minimums are:

  • $50,000 for bodily injury or death of one person
  • $100,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people
  • $25,000 for property damage

These limits went up sharply from the prior thresholds of $30,000/$60,000/$20,000 that applied through December 31, 2024. If your policy was written before 2025, check it against the new numbers before you show up at the DMV.5Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Insurance Requirements

Inspections You Need First

Safety Inspection

Every vehicle registered in Virginia must pass an annual safety inspection at a station certified by the Virginia State Police. Inspectors check brakes, lights, tires, steering, suspension, and other components affecting safe operation. When the car passes, the station applies a windshield sticker with a color-coded expiration year. You need a valid sticker before the DMV will register the vehicle.1Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Register Your Vehicle

Emissions Inspection

An emissions test is required only if the vehicle is garaged in one of these localities: the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and Stafford, or the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park.6Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Emissions Inspections Garaged elsewhere in the state, you can skip this step. Many stations in the affected areas run both inspections in one visit.

Fees and Taxes

Registration involves several separate charges. The exact amounts depend on the vehicle’s weight, type, and purchase price.

Annual Registration Fee

For a passenger car or motor home weighing 4,000 pounds or less, the annual fee is $23. Over 4,000 pounds, it’s $28.7Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 46.2-694 Registration renews annually.

Title Fee

An original certificate of title costs $15.8Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. DMV Fees If there’s a lienholder, recording a supplemental lien and issuing a new title adds $6.9Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 46.2-627

Sales and Use Tax

Virginia collects a 4.15% motor vehicle sales and use tax at titling, based on the gross sales price or $75, whichever is greater. The tax applies whether you bought the car in Virginia or out of state. If you purchased out of state and used the vehicle there for six months or more before bringing it in, the tax is based on current market value rather than the original purchase price.10Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax

Highway Use Fee for Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles pay an annual Highway Use Fee at registration in place of the fuel tax. For the period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, the fee is $131.88 for all EVs, collected on top of the standard registration fee.11Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. 2025 Estimated Highway Use Fee Chart

Where and How to Submit

Once your paperwork, inspections, and payment are in order, you have three options:

  • In person. Visit any Virginia DMV customer service center or DMV Select location. You can make an appointment online, reserve an e-ticket during office hours, or walk in. First-time registrations and titles for newly purchased vehicles generally require an in-person visit.12Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Plan Your Visit
  • Online. The Virginia DMV website handles many registration renewals and certain other transactions electronically.
  • By mail. Send the completed application, supporting documents, and payment to the DMV. Most customers get their materials within five days, though the DMV asks you to allow up to 15 days before following up.13Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Renew Your Vehicle Registration by Mail

After processing, the DMV mails your license plates, decals, and registration card. Keep the registration card in the vehicle whenever you drive it.1Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Register Your Vehicle

If You’re a New Resident

Moving to Virginia with a vehicle registered in another state, you have 30 days from the date you establish Virginia residency to title, insure, and register it here.2Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. New to Virginia You’ll need your out-of-state title (or proof the previous state holds it electronically), a passing Virginia safety inspection, Virginia-compliant insurance, and the same identity and residency documents any other applicant brings.

The 4.15% sales and use tax applies to you too. If you owned the vehicle for six months or more before the move, the DMV bases the tax on current market value; otherwise, on the original purchase price.10Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax

The 30-day window is easy to miss during a move. Driving on expired out-of-state registration past that point is a traffic infraction that can bring fines, and the vehicle can be flagged as unregistered if you’re stopped or in an accident.