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Virginia title transfer fees
How much is the title fee in Virginia?
$15
In plain English
The Virginia DMV's titling page lists a $15 titling fee.
“$15 titling fee”
Worked example
Example: a $12,000 used car bought from a private seller in Virginia. Title fee: $15. Tax at the quoted 4.15% of $12,000: $498, before any trade-in, credit or exemption in the quoted lines. Not included: registration and plates, a lien fee, an out-of-state inspection, county or office add-ons, and late fees.
A made-up price; every other figure is from the quotes on this page. It is an illustration, not a bill.
What are the steps in Virginia, and by when?
In plain English
Before a vehicle is operated in Virginia, it must pass an annual safety inspection and display a valid safety inspection sticker.
The official words
“Before operating a vehicle in Virginia, it must pass an annual safety inspection and display a valid safety inspection sticker.”
The registration renewal fee is determined by the type of vehicle and its empty weight or gross weight.
The official words
“Your renewal fee is determined by the type of vehicle and its empty weight or gross weight.”
What if the car comes from another state?
New residents have
30 days
“Before you can register your vehicle and get license plates, you must first title your vehicle within 30 days of moving to Virginia.”
In plain English
A person moving to Virginia must title the vehicle within 30 days of the move, and titling comes before registering and getting license plates.
The official words
“Before you can register your vehicle and get license plates, you must first title your vehicle within 30 days of moving to Virginia.”
Someone titling a vehicle in Virginia for the first time who holds a valid title or registration in their name from another state or a branch of the United States Armed Forces does not pay the Sales and Use Tax. If the vehicle was bought within the last 12 months, proof that the tax was paid elsewhere is needed for the exemption.
The official words
“If you are titling your vehicle in Virginia for the first time and you hold a valid title or registration in your name by another state or a branch of the United States Armed Forces, you will not have to pay the SUT. However, if you purchased the vehicle within the last 12 months, you must provide proof that the SUT was paid elsewhere in order to be exempt in Virginia.”
What about tax on the purchase in Virginia?
In plain English
Virginia collects a 4.15% Sales and Use Tax at the time of titling whenever a vehicle is sold or its ownership changes. The amount is based on the vehicle's gross sales price, or $75, whichever is greater, and the DMV fee chart states the same thing as 4.15% of sales price with a minimum charge of $75.00.
The official words
“Virginia is required to collect a 4.15% Sales and Use Tax (SUT) at the time of titling whenever a vehicle is sold, and/or the ownership of the vehicle changes. The amount due is based on the vehicle's gross sales price, or $75, whichever is greater.”
“Vehicle sales and use tax 4.15% of sales price, minimum charge $75.00.”
The tool below multiplies the quoted percentage by a price typed in, as an illustration. Trade-ins, credits and exemptions are not applied.
What does a gift or family transfer change in Virginia?
Nothing on this in the official pages we read for Virginia. That is about our reading, not about Virginia’s rules.
What happens if the transfer is late in Virginia?
Nothing on this in the official pages we read for Virginia. That is about our reading, not about Virginia’s rules.
What the pages we read do not cover
The quotes we hold do not give a deadline for a buyer to title a vehicle after a purchase, or a penalty for doing it late.
The pages we read do not give a fee for recording a lender's claim on the title.
The quotes say nothing about gifts or transfers within a family.
How Virginia compares
The title fee quoted for Virginia is $15. Of the other 37 states with a figure, 15 states quote less, 16 states quote more and 6 states quote the same. A title fee is one line, not the whole cost.
LowerHigher
The states whose flat title fee sits closest to Virginia’s. Each figure is copied from the quote at the top of that state’s page, with its source and read date. A title fee is one line, not the whole cost.
Every state in one table · How a title transfer works
Add it up for Virginia
Reference only, not legal or tax advice. Confirm with the agency. Full statement
Sources
7 quoted lines from 6 official sources, each matched word for word on November 12, 2026. The state’s own titling page is dmv.virginia.gov.
- Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, Title Your Vehicle or Trailer · dmv.virginia.gov
- Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax · dmv.virginia.gov
- Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, New to Virginia · dmv.virginia.gov
- Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, Register Your Vehicle · dmv.virginia.gov
- Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, DMV Fees (DMV 201) (PDF) · dmv.virginia.gov
- Code of Virginia, Section 58.1-2403, Exemptions · law.lis.virginia.gov