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West Virginia title transfer fees
How much is the title fee in West Virginia?
Explained below
In plain English
The West Virginia DMV's titles page lists a $15.00 title fee as a standard fee, plus a $10.00 lien recording fee if a lender's claim applies, and registration or transfer fees. The new residents pages list the same $15 title fee and $10 lien fee, along with a regular registration fee of $51.50.
“Standard fees include a $15.00 title fee , a 6% titling sales tax on vehicles with a net purchase price over $500 (or a flat $30.00 if the net price is under $500), a $10.00 lien recording fee (if applicable), and appropriate registration or transfer fees.”
The official words for the rest
“Lien Fee (if applicable) $10.00”
“The fees include a $15 title fee, a $10 lien fee if applicable, and a regular registration fee of $51.50.”
Worked example
Example: a $12,000 used car bought from a private seller in West Virginia. The title fee quoted for West Virginia is not one figure, so none is used here. Tax is left out of this example. 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 other fees come with it?
- Lien fee$10added if there is a loan
“Lien Fee (if applicable) $10.00”
What are the steps in West Virginia, and by when?
In plain English
If a vehicle is bought from an individual at a price below 50% of the current NADA Clean Loan Book value, a notarized bill of sale signed by both parties must go in with the application. Otherwise tax is automatically assessed on the full book value.
The official words
“If a vehicle is purchased from an individual at a price below 50% of the current NADA Clean Loan Book value, a notarized bill of sale signed by both parties must accompany the application. Otherwise, tax will automatically be assessed on the full NADA Clean Loan Book value.”
What if the car comes from another state?
New residents have
30 days
“New Residents must have their vehicles titled and registered within thirty (30) days of establishing residency.”
In plain English
New residents must have their vehicles titled and registered within thirty (30) days of establishing residency.
The official words
“New Residents must have their vehicles titled and registered within thirty (30) days of establishing residency.”
The 6% titling sales tax has been eliminated for new residents moving into West Virginia with a vehicle already titled in their name in another state.
The official words
“The titling sales 6% sales tax on a vehicles' value has been eliminated for new residents moving into West Virginia with a vehicle already title in their name in another state.”
If another state collects sales tax on a purchase, West Virginia does not grant credit for taxes paid to out-of-state entities.
The official words
“However, if another state collects sales tax on your purchase, West Virginia does not grant credit for taxes paid to out-of-state entities.”
What about tax on the purchase in West Virginia?
In plain English
The titles page lists a 6% titling sales tax on vehicles with a net purchase price over $500, or a flat $30.00 if the net price is under $500.
The official words
“Standard fees include a $15.00 title fee , a 6% titling sales tax on vehicles with a net purchase price over $500 (or a flat $30.00 if the net price is under $500), a $10.00 lien recording fee (if applicable), and appropriate registration or transfer fees.”
We don’t work out tax for West Virginia.
What does a gift or family transfer change in West Virginia?
In plain English
When a vehicle changes hands for no money or other consideration, the seller completes an Affidavit of Transfer of Ownership Without Consideration (Form DMV-5-TR). The affidavit is not required for a vehicle titled in West Virginia that passes strictly between parent and child or between spouses. For other relationships, without the affidavit sales tax is assessed on the vehicle's full book value.
The official words
“When ownership of a vehicle is transferred for no monetary or physical consideration, the seller must complete an Affidavit of Transfer of Ownership Without Consideration (Form DMV-5-TR) .”
“a gift affidavit is not required if a vehicle is titled in West Virginia and is being transferred strictly between parent and child, child and parent, or spouse and spouse . Relationships outside of these specific parameters require the affidavit, or sales tax will automatically be assessed against the full book value of the vehicle.”
What happens if the transfer is late in West Virginia?
Nothing on this in the official pages we read for West Virginia. That is about our reading, not about West 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 say which office takes the application.
The quotes do not mention a vehicle identification number inspection for a vehicle from another state.
How West Virginia compares
The title fee quoted for West Virginia is not a single figure, so West Virginia is not placed among the other states.
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Add it up for West Virginia
Reference only, not legal or tax advice. Confirm with the agency. Full statement
Sources
10 quoted lines from 3 official sources, each matched word for word on November 12, 2026. The state’s own titling page is dmv.wv.gov.