West Virginia car bill of sale Do you need one? And what else does West Virginia require?

Do you need a separate bill of sale?

It is a tax document here, and it must be notarized

West Virginia's bill of sale exists to settle TAX rather than to prove the sale. If the price is below 50% of NADA Clean Loan Book value, a NOTARIZED bill of sale signed by both parties must accompany the application — otherwise 6% tax is assessed on full book value regardless of what was actually paid. It will not help at all on a vehicle two years old or newer: those are taxed on book value whatever the bill of sale says. Any notarized bill of sale, or DMV form DMV-7-TR, must be accompanied by a legible copy of BOTH parties' driver's licences.

Source: WV DMV, Titles — tax valuations for private sales; form DMV-7-TR

Does the title need a notary or witnesses?

Neither on the title — but see the bill of sale

Both the seller and the buyer must sign the back of a West Virginia title, and no notary is required for that. The notary requirement here attaches to the BILL OF SALE instead, and only in the tax cases described under the bill of sale. On an out-of-state title the previous owner signs as seller and the new owner's name and address must be clearly written on the face.

Source: WV DMV, Titles — titling a used vehicle, checked Oct 12 2026

What happens to the plates?

They come off — the seller keeps them

West Virginia law says that on a sale the original owner keeps the registration plates. You can move them to another vehicle of the same class that you own, if you apply within 60 days of the sale. They do not go to the buyer.

Source: W. Va. Code § 17A-4-1; form DMV-1-TR

Do you have to tell the state you sold it?

Yes — the Sold Vehicle Notice, about 60 days after the sale

West Virginia's Sold Vehicle or Watercraft Notice, form DMV-1-S, changes the vehicle to SOLD on the DMV's records. The DMV says it typically asks sellers to wait 60 days after the sale before submitting it, to give the buyer time to title the vehicle. No fee is printed on the form, and every line must be filled in. State law separately says the seller should notify the DMV immediately on a transfer — if you are unsure which applies to you, ring the DMV.

Source: WV DMV, Forms — DMV-1-S Rev 11/2021; W. Va. Code § 17A-4-1

Where does the odometer reading go?

In the assignment — write it in even if exempt

The seller records the exact mileage in the assignment section of the title. Form DMV-TM-1 is for a West Virginia title issued before 1 January 1991, which has no odometer section. West Virginia law exempts a vehicle ten years old or older, and DMV-TM-1 says model year 2010 and before is exempt. The DMV's own odometer page lists its exemptions by vehicle class instead, so write the mileage in anyway — it costs nothing.

Source: W. Va. Code § 17A-3-12a(c); WV DMV, Odometer Disclosure Statements; form DMV-TM-1; 49 CFR 580.5(c)

The forms West Virginia publishes

• Sold Vehicle or Watercraft Notice (DMV-1-S) — Yours to file. No fee printed. The DMV asks you to wait about 60 days after the sale. Every line must be filled in. Where: dmv.wv.gov/forms. Revision: Rev 11/2021.
• Bill of Sale (DMV-7-TR) — Notarized, with both driving licences copied. Needed to be taxed on the price, not book value. Where: dmv.wv.gov/forms. Revision: Revised 12/16.
• Odometer Certification (DMV-TM-1) — Only for a West Virginia title issued before 1 January 1991, which has no odometer section. Where: dmv.wv.gov/forms. Revision: Rev 05/21.

Selling here, registering somewhere else

These are the rules where you are selling, not where the buyer is taking it. The title is signed under West Virginia’s rules, and the plate and the notice are yours to handle here.

Registering it and paying tax falls under the buyer’s own state’s rules.

How West Virginia compares

Counted from the same answers, for all fifty states.

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