If you are a resident of the Mountain State and plan on buying a vehicle from an out-of-state dealership or seller, you’ll have to visit the West Virginia DMV to apply for a title, provide proof of sale, and pay the necessary fees.
Buying a car can sometimes be a tricky proposition thanks to all the bureaucracy and paperwork, especially if the car you bought came from an out-of-state seller. Luckily, car insurance
super app Jerry
is about to take you on a full tour of the out-of-state purchasing, titling, and registration process in scenic West Virginia. Whether you’re looking for the right form to sign or simply need to know which fees to pay, Jerry can help. On top of that, we’ll even tell you how to reduce your West Virginia car insurance costs
while we’re at it! How to buy a car out of state as a West Virginia resident
Alright, you’re a West Virginia resident who has just purchased a new car from somewhere outside of the state. What’s next?
The specific process will depend on whether you bought the vehicle from a dealership or a private seller, but both involve applying for a title in your name, providing proof of purchase, and paying state fees. It’s not a difficult procedure, but in typical DMV fashion, it is a bit tedious.
Out-of-state dealership
If you purchased your vehicle from an out-of-state dealership, the first thing you should do is fill out an Application for Certificate of Title
(Form DMV-1-TR). You’ll also have to provide several proofs of purchase, including: An invoice listing the vehicle’s purchase price
The manufacturer’s certificate of origin (assigned by dealer)
Proof of sales tax paid in a different state (if applicable)
Next are the fees that you will have to pay, which include:
Titling sales tax: Either 6% for vehicles purchased over $500 or $30 flat for vehicles purchased under $500
$10 lien fee (if applicable)
If you purchased a used car that is a model year 2011 or earlier, you will also have to provide an odometer disclosure statement
. If you plan on registering your newly-purchased vehicle, then you’ll also have to show proof of a current and valid West Virginia car insurance
policy. Once you have all of your documentation, you can either bring it to your nearest West Virginia DMV office
in person or submit it through the mail using your local office’s address (in person is usually easier). Out-of-state private seller
If you bought your car from a private out-of-state seller as opposed to a dealership, the process is still pretty much the same, albeit with an extra document or two for you to fill out.
Just like before, you will need the following:
Proof of a valid West Virginia car insurance policy
Payment for West Virginia sales tax and titling fees
You will also need the vehicle’s current title signed by both you and the seller. If the vehicle you purchased was sold at less than 50% of its current estimated value, then you will also need to submit either a notarized bill of sale
or a DMV bill of sale
. You must also include copies of both the buyer’s (you) and seller’s driver’s license with the bill of sale. You should try to get all of your documentation squared away within 30 days of purchasing your new car. Once everything is properly filled out and submitted, all that’s left is to install your license plates, get a state safety inspection
sticker, and register with your city or county (if necessary). 
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers How to buy a car in West Virginia if you live out of state
What if you’re buying a car in West Virginia, but live in another state? All you really have to do is make sure you get all the necessary documents (odometer statement, certificate of origin, bill of sale, etc.) so that you can properly title and register the vehicle in your home state. West Virginia does not charge non-residents the 6% sales tax, but you’ll more than likely still have to pay the vehicle sales tax in your home state.
What if I don’t have a physical title?
If your title is ever lost, stolen, damaged, or otherwise rendered unusable, you can fill out an Affidavit of Duplicate Title for a Vehicle or Watercraft
(Form DMV-4-TR) and bring it to your nearest West Virginia DMV location along with the following: Your driver’s license (original or copy)
The registration card (if applicable)
Tips for buying a vehicle out of state
There are a variety of reasons why someone would want to purchase their next vehicle from an out-of-state source. It could be that the specific car you want isn’t available in your home state, or maybe the dealership just across the state line is having one heckuva sale. Whatever your reasons, here are a few tips for buying an out-of-state vehicle:
Always check the vehicle history report. This is doubly important if you’re buying from a private seller. You can use CARFAX
or other such services to get an in-depth report of the vehicle’s accident history, repair logs, and more. Schedule your vehicle inspection at home. Remember that your car needs to pass inspection in the state where you live, not the one where you purchased it. Take a look at the West Virginia car inspection
checklist here. Familiarize yourself with the vehicle sales tax laws for your home state. As we mentioned earlier, you’ll pay sales tax to the state where you live and your car is registered, not the state where you bought the car.
How to save on car insurance in West Virginia
No matter where you live in the wild and wonderful state of West Virginia, getting a good auto insurance policy is an important part of the car-buying process. With all the headaches involved in out-of-state purchasing, though, insurance might be the last thing on your mind right now. Enter Jerry
. Using Jerry’s trustworthy insurance comparison app
is the easiest way to shop for quotes online. Just download the app and enter your information. In less than a minute, Jerry will scan and gather personalized quotes from 55+ top-rated insurers. If you find a policy you like, our team of experts can help you finalize your new plan and cancel your old policy. The best part? Jerry customers average over $800 a year in savings on their car insurance!
“Jerry
is the future of car insurance! I downloaded the app, entered the information, picked my insurance rate, and paid my fee. I even switched insurance providers easily! Jerry saved me $182/month so quickly!” —Paulina F.
Saved $725 annually
