Change Information on Vehicle Registration in West Virginia

Vehicle and title records in West Virginia are maintained by the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), part of the state Department of Transportation. Updates to registration information become necessary when an owner relocates, changes a legal name, discovers an error on a registration or title document, acquires or disposes of a vehicle, or brings a vehicle into the state.

West Virginia Vehicle Registration Changes that Commonly Require Action

The DMV should be notified when any of the following situations arise:

A physical or mailing address changes and must be revised on the registration record.
A legal name changes, requiring the ownership information on both the registration and the certificate of title to be brought into agreement.
The registration card, decal, or certificate of title contains incorrect information that must be corrected.
A vehicle is purchased or otherwise acquired, in which case the new owner must secure registration and a new certificate of title.
An owner moves into West Virginia with a vehicle titled in another state.
A registration is transferred from one vehicle to a newly acquired vehicle, or lost, damaged, or stolen plates, decals, and registration cards must be replaced.

Where to File a West Virginia Vehicle Registration Change

Registration and title transactions are filed with the DMV through several channels. Owners may visit any of the DMV Regional Offices located throughout the state or complete eligible transactions online through the DMV self-service portal. Registration renewals may also be handled at participating county sheriff's offices, which process passenger vehicle (Class A) and motorcycle (Class G) renewals in counties that offer the service, or through the self-service kiosks installed at selected locations.

Title applications require more documentation than routine renewals. The standard title application, Form DMV-1-TR, is submitted with the prior certificate of origin or an assigned certificate of title, and many matters may also be handled through authorized private license services. Records may be submitted by mail to the main DMV office in Charleston or in person at a regional office.

West Virginia Address Changes on Vehicle Registration

An address change on a vehicle record is processed by the DMV and does not require a new driving credential. Registrants may update the address through the DMV self-service portal or by completing the Duplicate Registration/Decal/Plate and Change of Address form (DMV-32-TR), which also serves as the application for replacement registration documents. The completed form is returned to a DMV regional office or mailed to the DMV Vehicle Services section in Charleston.

Keeping the current address on file matters because renewal reminder postcards are mailed roughly 30 days before a registration expires, and failure to receive a reminder does not relieve the owner of the duty to renew. The renewal may be completed by mail or at a regional office when the reminder was not received.

West Virginia Name Changes and Title-Linked Corrections

A legal name change affects the owner's information shown on the certificate of title and the registration record because the title names the owner of record. The owner must present documentation of the name change, such as a court order, marriage certificate, or divorce decree, together with a completed title application when the ownership records are revised. When a name on title paperwork differs from the name on supporting documentation, the DMV provides the Certification of One and the Same Person form (DMV-39-TR), which is used to reconcile the discrepancy.

Issues of this kind are treated as title matters because a certificate of title is the legal document establishing vehicle ownership. Correcting the owner's name accordingly may require issuance of a new certificate of title, and the DMV does not accept title documents that have been altered in a manner that conflicts with the application.

Correcting Incorrect Information on a West Virginia Registration Record

The correction path depends on which record contains the error. When the mistake appears on the certificate of title, the owner completes the Owner's Affidavit of Correction form (DMV-34-TR), which must explain the mistake, state the correct information, and be notarized. Dealers use the corresponding dealer's affidavit of correction when a title discrepancy is found in their records.

When the problem concerns the registration card, decal, or license plate, the replacement is obtained with the DMV-32-TR form described above. Duplicate titles obtained after a certificate is lost, stolen, or destroyed are applied for with the Affidavit of Duplicate Title form (DMV-4-TR) and the duplicate title fee.

West Virginia Deadlines for Vehicle Registration Changes

The following time limits apply to registration and title transactions in West Virginia:

30 days — New residents must have their vehicles titled and registered within 30 days of establishing residency, as set out on the DMV's moving to West Virginia guidance.
Before operation — A person who acquires a vehicle must obtain registration and a certificate of title before operating the vehicle on a highway. The vehicle may be operated under the previous owner's registration for up to 10 days after acquisition under WV Code 17A-4-3.
10 days — New residents have 10 days from the date a vehicle is titled to obtain a West Virginia safety inspection; vehicles purchased in the state without a valid inspection sticker must be inspected within 10 days.
Renewal date — Registrations must be renewed before the expiration date shown on the plate; renewal reminders are mailed approximately 30 days before expiration.
Insurance — West Virginia law requires every registered vehicle to carry West Virginia liability insurance for the life of the registration. Dropping coverage requires the plate to be returned, and a vehicle found uninsured may have its registration suspended under the DMV's mandatory insurance program.

A $10 transfer fee is required when a titling transaction is completed, and the title application fee, titling sales tax, lien recording fee, and registration fee also apply to the transaction. The DMV's registration fees brochure lists the applicable schedule by vehicle class, and the titles section details title-related charges such as the $15 title fee, the $10 lien fee, and the $15 duplicate title fee.

How Much Does It Cost To Change Vehicle Registration Details in West Virginia?

Registration Change or Service	Fee
Address change (duplicate/replacement registration card, decal, or plate)	$10.00 for a duplicate registration card or decal; $10.50 for a duplicate plate (Registration Renewal)
Duplicate/replacement title for a lost, misplaced, or damaged title	$15.00 (Titles Overview)
Vehicle purchase	$15.00 title fee + 6% titling sales tax on the net purchase price (or a flat $30.00 if under $500), plus registration fees that vary by vehicle class, plus a $10.00 lien fee if applicable (Titles Overview)
New state residency	$15.00 title fee + $51.50 regular registration fee + $10.00 lien fee if applicable, due within 30 days of establishing residency, with the 6% titling tax eliminated for vehicles already titled in the applicant's name in another state (Moving to WV; Titles Overview)

Contact Information

West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles
5707 MacCorkle Avenue SE, Charleston, WV 25304
Phone: (304) 558-3900
Official Website: West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles