Virginia Law

Code of Virginia

Creating a Report: Check the sections you'd like to appear in the report, then use the "Create Report" button at the bottom of the page to generate your report. Once the report is generated you'll then have the option to download it as a pdf, print or email the report.

Chapter 6.
Titling and Registration of Motor Vehicles
Read Chapter

  • Article 1.
    Titling and Registration, Generally
    Read all
    • § 46.2-600
    Owner to secure registration and certificate of title or certificate of ownership
    § 46.2-600.1
    Indication of special communication needs
    § 46.2-601
    Appointment of Commissioner agent for service of process
    § 46.2-602
    Titling and registration of foreign market vehicles
    § 46.2-602.1
    Titling and registration of replica vehicles
    § 46.2-602.2
    Titling and registration of company vehicles of automotive manufacturers
    § 46.2-602.3
    Titling and registration of converted electric vehicles
    § 46.2-602.4
    Titling and registration of off-road motorcycle converted to on-road use
    § 46.2-603
    Issuance of certificate of title and registration card
    § 46.2-603.1
    Electronic titling and registration program
    § 46.2-604
    Contents of registration card and certificate; vehicle color data; notation of certain disabled owners
    § 46.2-605
    Altering or forging certificate of title, salvage/nonrepairable certificate, or registration card; penalty
    § 46.2-606
    Notice of change of address
    § 46.2-607
    Duplicates for lost or mutilated indicia of titling and registration
    § 46.2-608
    When application for registration or certificate of title rejected
    § 46.2-609
    When registration may be suspended or revoked
    § 46.2-610
    Suspension of registration on theft or embezzlement of vehicle; notices
    § 46.2-611
    Appeal
    § 46.2-612
    Failure to surrender revoked certificate of title, registration card, license plates or decals; other offenses relating to registration, licensing, and certificates of title; penalties
    § 46.2-613
    Infractions relating to registration, licensing, and certificates of title; penalties
    § 46.2-613.1
    Civil penalty for violation of license, registration, and tax requirements and vehicle size limitations
    § 46.2-613.2
    Service of process in civil penalty cases for violation of license, registration, and tax requirements and vehicle size limitations
    § 46.2-613.3
    Special processing provisions for civil penalties levied for violation of license, registration, and tax requirements and vehicle size limitations
    § 46.2-613.4
    Special seizure provisions for unpaid fees and penalties
    § 46.2-613.5
    Procedures for issuing and serving process in civil penalty cases
    § 46.2-614
    Right to recover damages not affected
    § 46.2-615
    Registration effective after death of owner
  • Article 2.
    Titling Vehicles
    Read all
    • § 46.2-616
    Acquiring vehicle from vendor who does not have certificate of title
    § 46.2-617
    Sale of vehicle without certificate of title
    § 46.2-618
    When unlawful to have in possession certificate of title issued to another; remedy of purchaser against persons in possession of title of vehicle purchased from dealer
    § 46.2-619
    New indicia of title; procedure as to leased vehicles
    § 46.2-620
    Period of validity of certificate of title
    § 46.2-621
    Application for certificate of title
    § 46.2-621.1
    Correcting errors in titling
    § 46.2-622
    Issuance of certificate of title in names of joint owners
    § 46.2-623
    Statements in application
    § 46.2-624
    Information required on vehicles damaged by water
    § 46.2-625
    Specially constructed, reconstructed, replica, converted electric, or foreign vehicles
    § 46.2-626
    Repealed
    § 46.2-626.1
    Motorcycle purchased by manufacturer for parts; documentation required for sale of parts
    § 46.2-627
    Fee for certificate of title; use in special fund
    § 46.2-628
    How certificate of title transferred
    § 46.2-629
    Odometer reading to be reported on certificate of title, application, or power of attorney
    § 46.2-630
    Transfer and application for certificate of title forwarded to Department
    § 46.2-631
    When transferred certificate of title need not be forwarded
    § 46.2-632
    Transfer when certificate of title lost
    § 46.2-633
    Transfer of title by operation of law
    § 46.2-633.1
    Sale in Virginia of vehicle repossessed in another state
    § 46.2-633.2
    Transfer of title on death
    § 46.2-634
    Transfer of title when no qualification on estate
    § 46.2-635
    Surrender of certificates for vehicles to be demolished; securing new title certificates
    § 46.2-636
    Certificate to show security interests
    § 46.2-636.1
    Security interests in farm tractors and special construction and forestry equipment
    § 46.2-637
    Security interests subsequently created
    § 46.2-638
    Certificate as notice of security interest
    § 46.2-639
    Security interest may be filed within thirty days after purchase
    § 46.2-640
    Priority of security interests shown on certificates of title
    § 46.2-640.1
    Vehicle leases that are not sales or security interests
    § 46.2-641
    Who to hold certificate of title subject to security interest
    § 46.2-642
    Release of security interest shown on certificate of title
    § 46.2-643
    Surrender of certificate of title required when security interest paid
    § 46.2-644
    Levy of execution
    § 46.2-644.01
    Lien of keeper of vehicles
    § 46.2-644.02
    Lien of mechanic for repairs
    § 46.2-644.03
    Enforcement of liens acquired under §§ 46.2-644.01 and 46.2-644.02
    § 46.2-644.04
    Relinquishment of liens acquired under §§ 46.2-644.01 and 46.2-644.02
  • Article 2.1.
    All-Terrain Vehicle and Off-Road Motorcycle Certificates of Title
    Read all
    • § 46.2-644.1
    Titling of all-terrain vehicles and off-road motorcycles
    § 46.2-644.2
    Department's records; fees; exemption
    § 46.2-644.3
    Acquisition of all-terrain vehicle or off-road motorcycle by dealer
  • Article 3.
    Registration of Vehicles
    Read all
    • § 46.2-645
    Registration of vehicles
    § 46.2-646
    (Effective until July 1, 2024) Expiration and renewal of registration
    § 46.2-646
    (Effective July 1, 2024) Expiration and renewal of registration
    § 46.2-646.2
    Registration extension for satisfaction of certain requirements
    § 46.2-646.1
    (Effective until July 1, 2024) Deactivation and reactivation of registration; fees
    § 46.2-646.1
    (Effective July 1, 2024) Deactivation and reactivation of registration; fees
    § 46.2-647
    Grace period for replacement of license plates or decals and renewal of registrations
    § 46.2-648
    Registration of logging vehicles
    § 46.2-648.1
    Optional registration of tow dolly and converter gear
    § 46.2-649
    Certain vehicles required to show evidence of payment of taxes and of registration or exemption from registration with Department of Motor Vehicles
    § 46.2-649.1
    Registration of tow trucks; fees
    § 46.2-649.1:1
    Registration of vehicles owned and used by volunteer fire departments or volunteer, commercial, or private emergency medical services agencies
    § 46.2-649.2
    Certain vehicles to comply with clean alternative fuel fleet standards prior to registration; penalty
    § 46.2-649.3
    Registration of covered farm vehicles
    § 46.2-649.4
    Covered farm vehicles; exemptions
  • Article 4.
    Temporary Registration
    Read all
    • § 46.2-650
    Temporary permits or duplicate applications
    § 46.2-651
    Trip permits; regulations; fees
    § 46.2-652
    Temporary registration or permit for oversize vehicles; fees
    § 46.2-652.1
    Temporary registration or permit for overweight vehicles; fees
    § 46.2-653
    Temporary registration or permit for transportation of manufactured homes exceeding the size permitted by law
    § 46.2-653.1
    Conversion of manufactured home to real property
    § 46.2-654
    Issuance of temporary registration certificates by motor vehicle auctions
    § 46.2-654.1
    Temporary registration issued for purchasers of motor vehicles from motor vehicle dealers who are no longer engaged in business and title is held by person other than dealer
    § 46.2-654.2
    Temporary registration of fleet vehicles; penalty
  • Article 6.
    Exemptions from Registration
    Read all
    • § 46.2-662
    Temporary exemption for new resident operating vehicle registered in another state or country
    § 46.2-663
    Backhoes
    § 46.2-664
    Vehicles used for spraying fruit trees and other plants
    § 46.2-665
    (Effective until July 1, 2024) Vehicles used for agricultural or horticultural purposes
    § 46.2-665
    (Effective July 1, 2024) Vehicles used for agricultural or horticultural purposes
    § 46.2-666
    (Effective until July 1, 2024) Vehicles used for seasonal transportation of farm produce and livestock
    § 46.2-666
    (Effective July 1, 2024) Vehicles used for seasonal transportation of farm produce and livestock
    § 46.2-667
    Farm machinery and tractors
    § 46.2-668
    Vehicles validly registered in other states and used in conjunction with harvesting operations
    § 46.2-669
    Tractors and similar vehicles owned by sawmill operators
    § 46.2-670
    (Effective until July 1, 2024) Vehicles owned by farmers and used to transport certain wood products
    § 46.2-670.1
    Vehicles owned by maritime cargo terminal operators
    § 46.2-670
    (Effective July 1, 2024) Vehicles owned by farmers and used to transport certain wood products
    § 46.2-671
    Vehicles used at mines
    § 46.2-672
    (Effective until July 1, 2024) Certain vehicles transporting fertilizer, cotton, or peanuts
    § 46.2-672
    (Effective July 1, 2024) Certain vehicles transporting fertilizer, cotton, or peanuts
    § 46.2-673
    (Effective until July 1, 2024) Return trips of exempted farm vehicles
    § 46.2-673
    (Effective July 1, 2024) Return trips of exempted farm vehicles
    § 46.2-674
    Vehicles used by commercial fishermen
    § 46.2-675
    Certain vehicles engaged in mining or quarrying operations; permit when such vehicle required to cross public highways
    § 46.2-676
    Registration certificate, license plates, or decals for any golf carts and utility vehicles; fees
    § 46.2-677
    Self-propelled wheelchairs
    § 46.2-678
    Forklift trucks
    § 46.2-679
    Snowmobiles
    § 46.2-679.1
    All-terrain vehicles
    § 46.2-679.2
    Off-road motorcycles
    § 46.2-680
    Vehicles transporting oyster shells
    § 46.2-681
    Repealed
    § 46.2-682
    Tractors, rollers, and other machinery used for highway purposes
    § 46.2-683
    Traction engines; vehicles operating on rails
    § 46.2-684
    Nocturnal use of highways by exempted vehicles
    § 46.2-684.1
    Insurance coverage and proof of insurance for exempted motor vehicles
    § 46.2-684.2
    Permanent farm use placards
  • Article 7.
    Fees for Registration
    Read all
    • § 46.2-685
    Payment of fees into special fund
    § 46.2-686
    Portion of certain fees to be paid into special fund
    § 46.2-687
    Failure to pay certain fees; penalty
    § 46.2-688
    Refund of fees paid
    § 46.2-689
    Refund of certain registration fees
    § 46.2-690
    Refund for certain for-hire vehicles
    § 46.2-691
    Credit to truck owner inducted into armed forces
    § 46.2-692
    Fee for replacement of indicia of titling and registration
    § 46.2-692.1
    Sample license plates; fee; use
    § 46.2-692.2
    Fee for exchange of license plates
    § 46.2-693
    Use of old plates and registration number on another vehicle
    § 46.2-694
    (Contingent expiration date) Fees for vehicles designed and used for transportation of passengers; weights used for computing fees; burden of proof
    § 46.2-694
    (Contingent effective date) Fees for vehicles designed and used for transportation of passengers; weights used for computing fees; burden of proof
    § 46.2-694.1
    (Contingent expiration date -- see note*) Fees for trailers and semitrailers not designed and used for transportation of passengers
    § 46.2-694.1
    (Contingent effective date -- see note*) Fees for trailers and semitrailers not designed and used for transportation of passengers
    § 46.2-695
    Small rented ridesharing vehicles
    § 46.2-696
    Repealed
    § 46.2-697
    (Contingent expiration date) Fees for vehicles not designed or used for transportation of passengers
    § 46.2-697
    (Contingent effective date — see Editor's note) Fees for vehicles not designed or used for transportation of passengers
    § 46.2-697.1
    Repealed
    § 46.2-697.2
    (Contingent expiration date — see Editor's note) Additional fees for vehicles not designed or used for transportation of passengers
    § 46.2-698
    (Contingent expiration date — see Acts 2019, cc. 837 and 846) Fees for farm vehicles
    § 46.2-698
    (Contingent effective date — see Acts 2019, cc. 837 and 846) Fees for farm vehicles
    § 46.2-699
    Repealed
    § 46.2-700
    Fees for vehicles for transporting well-drilling machinery and specialized mobile equipment
    § 46.2-701
    Combinations of tractor trucks and semitrailers; five-year registration of certain trailer fleets
    § 46.2-702
    Fees for service or wrecking vehicles
    § 46.2-702.1
    Repealed
    § 46.2-702.1:1
    Repealed
    § 46.2-702.2
    Fees for registration of vehicles specially equipped to accommodate persons with disabilities
    § 46.2-703
    Reciprocal agreement with other states; assessment and collection of fees on an apportionment or allocation basis; registration of vehicles and reporting of road tax; violations; vehicle seizures; penalties
    § 46.2-703.1
    Additional fee for fleets of vehicles registered under § 46.2-703
    § 46.2-704
    Prohibited operations; checking on weights; penalties
  • Article 8.
    Registration of Uninsured Motor Vehicles
    Read all
    • § 46.2-705
    Definitions
    § 46.2-706
    (Effective until July 1, 2024) Additional fee; proof of insurance required of applicants for registration of insured motor vehicles; verification of insurance; suspension of driver's license, registration certificates, and license plates for certain violations
    § 46.2-706.1
    Insurance and surety companies to furnish certain insurance information
    § 46.2-706
    (Effective July 1, 2024) Proof of insurance required of applicants for registration of motor vehicles; verification of insurance; suspension of driver's license, registration certificates, and license plates for certain violations
    § 46.2-707
    (Effective until July 1, 2024) Operating uninsured motor vehicle without payment of fee; verification of insurance; false evidence of insurance
    § 46.2-707
    (Effective July 1, 2024) Operation of uninsured vehicle; false evidence of insurance; penalty
    § 46.2-707.1
    (Effective until July 1, 2024) Noncompliance fee payment plan
    § 46.2-707.1
    (Effective July 1, 2024) Noncompliance fee payment plan
    § 46.2-708
    (Effective until July 1, 2024) Suspension of driver's license and registration when uninsured motor vehicle is involved in reportable accident; hearing prior to suspension
    § 46.2-708
    (Effective July 1, 2024) Suspension of driver's license and registration when uninsured motor vehicle is involved in reportable accident; hearing prior to suspension
    § 46.2-709
    Requiring other proof of financial responsibility; suspended driver's license, registration certificate and license plates to be returned to Commissioner; Commissioner may take possession thereof
    § 46.2-710
    Disposition of funds collected
  • Article 9.
    License Plates, Generally
    Read all
    • § 46.2-711
    Furnishing number and design of plates; displaying on vehicles required
    § 46.2-712
    Requirements of license plates and decals
    § 46.2-713
    License plates and decals remain property of Department
    § 46.2-714
    Permanent license plates
    § 46.2-715
    Display of license plates
    § 46.2-716
    How license plates fastened to vehicle; altering appearance of license plates
    § 46.2-717
    Repealed
    § 46.2-718
    Use of old license plates or decals after application for new
    § 46.2-719
    Permit for emergency use of license plates
    § 46.2-720
    Use of license plates from another vehicle in certain circumstances
    § 46.2-721
    Application of liability insurance policy to vehicle carrying plates from insured vehicle
    § 46.2-722
    Altered or forged license plates or decals; use as evidence of knowledge
    § 46.2-723
    License plates for transporting mobile homes used as temporary offices at construction sites
    § 46.2-724
    Operation for hire of certain vehicles registered as not-for-hire; penalty
  • Article 11.
    State and Local Motor Vehicle Registration
    Read all
    • § 46.2-750
    Vehicles of Commonwealth, its political subdivisions, and regional jail authorities
    § 46.2-750.1
    Vehicles used for police work
    § 46.2-751
    State-owned passenger vehicles
    § 46.2-752
    Taxes and license fees imposed by counties, cities, and towns; limitations on amounts; disposition of revenues; requiring evidence of payment of personal property taxes and certain fines; prohibiting display of licenses after expiration; failure to display valid local license required by other localities; penalty
    § 46.2-752.1
    Repealed
    § 46.2-753
    Additional license fees in certain localities
    § 46.2-754
    Local motor vehicle licenses in Arlington County
    § 46.2-755
    Limitations on imposition of motor vehicle license taxes and fees
    § 46.2-755.1
    Repealed
    § 46.2-756
    Collection by Department of certain license fees