Titling a Car in Virginia After Moving From Another State
Last verified: October 2026 against Virginia DMV sources
If you move to Virginia with a car titled in another state, you have 30 days to title it here, then register it.
Here is what to do and what to bring.
Step by step
- 1
Mark the 30-day deadline
You must title your vehicle within 30 days of moving to Virginia. Titling comes first, then registration.
- 2
Get Virginia liability insurance
You must keep at least Virginia’s minimum liability coverage from the time you register. Registering without insurance carries a $600 noncompliance fee, and your license and registration are suspended until you pay a $145 reinstatement fee.
- 3
Title the car
Apply online or with the paper Application for Title and Registration (Form VSA 17A). Bring proof of address and your previous state’s title or registration card. If you bought the car within the last 12 months, also bring proof of the purchase price.
- 4
Check whether you owe sales and use tax
If you hold a valid title or registration in your name from another state or a U.S. Armed Forces branch, you are generally exempt from Virginia’s Sales and Use Tax.
If you bought the car within the last 12 months, you must show that sales and use tax was paid elsewhere to qualify.
- 5
Register and get inspected
Register at a DMV customer service center within 30 days of moving. The car must pass an annual safety inspection and display a valid sticker.
If the car is kept in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, or Stafford County, or the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, or Manassas Park, it must also pass an emissions inspection before it can be registered, unless it has a valid emissions certificate from the last 12 months.
- 6
Buy a local decal if your locality requires one
Some localities require new residents to buy a local sticker or decal within 30 days of moving. These come from your local Commissioner of the Revenue, Treasurer, or Director of Finance, not the DMV.
What to bring
- Application for Title and Registration (Form VSA 17A), or the online application
- Proof of your Virginia address
- Your previous state’s title or registration card in your name
- Proof of the purchase price, and of sales tax paid elsewhere, if you bought the car within the last 12 months
- Proof of Virginia liability insurance
- Emissions inspection, if required in your locality
- Payment for the $15 title fee and the registration fee