The procedures and approach for selling a car online vary by state. Discover how to sell your used car or truck in West Virginia confidentially.
If you reside in the Mid-Ohio Valley, Metro Valley, Mountain Lakes, Potomac Highlands, or New River/Greenbrier regions of West Virginia and want to sell your old vehicle or truck privately, you've come to the perfect spot. With an estimated 700,000 registered trucks and vehicles in West Virginia, it's no surprise that cashforcarsinc.com has helped thousands of individual vehicle sellers in the Mountain State sell their cars. We've listed the five stages and needed documents for how to sell a car in West Virginia below, so you may sell your automobile fast and for the maximum amount of money.
Remember that most states regard the car title as a legal document, so use the legal names (no nicknames) of both individuals involved as well as legible handwriting in black or blue ink. Mistakes, typos, and the use of white-out may render the document null and worthless, so be cautious and take your time filling it out.
Step 1: Allow the buyer to have a third party assess the vehicle
Many private automobile buyers pay for a pre-purchase vehicle check performed by a skilled and certified auto technician of their choice. Although the buyer pays for the inspection, the seller and buyer must agree on the date and location of the inspection. If the inspection reveals any problems with the vehicle, you should save the report for your records as the seller. West Virginia does not require this inspection, and there are no documents to fill out, but it is a good idea for the buyer to have it completed prior to the purchase.
Step 2: Organize and collect all vehicle papers
Find all maintenance records, the owner's manual, and other vehicle-related papers. If you can offer the buyer extensive and thorough maintenance documents, it will give the buyer confidence that the automobile has been properly and regularly maintained. You should also think about providing a car history record from a provider like CarFax or AutoCheck.
The title certificate is the most critical document to have when selling an automobile. If a lien exists on the title, the lienholder must release interest in the vehicle before it may be sold. This can be accomplished by either the seller paying off the vehicle or the lienholder obtaining a letter of lien release. If you are unable to pay off the automobile, you must submit to the DMV a lien release declaration from your lienholder that includes the vehicle's VIN.
Step 3: Create a Bill of Sale
For private car acquisitions in West Virginia, both the buyer and seller must complete a bill of sale. The official form for this is DMV-7-TR, which records information such as the vehicle's purchase price, odometer reading, and VIN. This document must be signed in the presence of a notary public by both the buyer and the seller. After it's filled out and signed, the seller should create a duplicate and keep it as confirmation that the automobile has legally changed hands.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) odometer disclosure standards, which affect some private car purchases in West Virginia, were revised in December 2020. Any vehicle of the model year 2011 or newer (2012, 2013, etc.) that is transferred between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2030, will require an odometer disclosure. Beginning January 1, 2031, every vehicle less than 20 model years old will be required to have an odometer disclosure. Previously, the NHTSA only mandated disclosure for the first ten years. Cars manufactured before 2010 are exempt from odometer disclosures. This odometer disclosure form (DMV-TM-1) is available on the West Virginia DMV's website.
Step 4: Change the title
If the vehicle's title has been lost, stolen, or severely damaged, you can get a replacement or duplicate West Virginia title by completing form DMV-4-TR, Affidavit of Duplicate Title for a Vehicle. You may receive a duplicate title by completing the paperwork with the DMV and paying the $15 fee.
When selling an automobile privately in West Virginia, both the buyer and seller must fill out the appropriate areas on the back of the title. This information contains the buyer's and seller's legal names, addresses, and signatures, as well as the date of the transaction, the odometer reading, and the purchase price. If there is more than one seller listed on the title and their names are separated by "and," both sellers must sign the car title before it can be transferred to the buyer. If the title lists more than one seller and their names are separated by "or" or "and/or," either seller can sign the title before it is transferred to the buyer. If nothing separates the names of the owners, both must sign. The same is true for many purchasers.
If you want to give an automobile to a relative, you must fill out the Affidavit of Transfer of Ownership Without Consideration (form DMV-5-TR), unless the vehicle is being given to a kid by a parent, a child by a parent, or a spouse by a spouse. Regardless of the relationship, without the declaration, the seller will be taxed on the blue book value. To inherit an automobile, you must complete a Legal Heir Affidavit (form DMV-185-TR). In the event of the death of a vehicle owner, the survivor should remove the deceased registrant's name from the car's title. For further information, see the "When a Registrant Dies" section at the bottom of this page.
Step 5: Take off your license plates and cancel your insurance
Before passing over the car to the buyer, the seller must remove the license plates. If you do not, you may be held accountable for any infractions that occur after the buyer takes ownership of the car. After the sale, you can submit a "Sold Vehicle Notice" with the state using form DMV-1-S, although it is not required. To avoid paying for insurance on a car you no longer own, cancel your insurance as soon as you remove your plates.
Visit the West Virginia DMV website for additional information.
The Easier Way to Sell Your Car
Now that you've learned everything there is to know about selling a car in West Virginia, it's time to determine where to list it. Cashforcarsinc.com makes it simple to sell your car. With ready-to-sign state documentation, encrypted chat, and more, our platform provides all the tools and recommendations you need to make the transaction a breeze.
The Easier Way to Sell Your Car
Now that you've learned everything there is to know about selling a car in Virginia, it's time to determine where to list it. Cashforcarsinc.com makes it simple to sell your car. With ready-to-sign state documentation, encrypted chat, and more, our platform provides all the tools and recommendations you need to make the transaction a breeze.
