Selling a car in West Virginia: the paperwork
| West Virginia seller rules at a glance | What applies |
|---|---|
| License plates | Seller removes and keeps them |
| Duplicate title | DMV-4-TR Affidavit of Duplicate Title; $15 |
| Junk without a title | Allowed in some cases (Cancellation of Record, Only West Virginia Title (DMV-SV-14)) |
Title questions, duplicate titles and release of liability forms are handled by the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. Compare these rules with other states on our seller rules by state page. After the sale, cancel your insurance once the car is gone. Our after-sale checklist covers each step.
No obligation.
Where we pick up in West Virginia
We buy cars in Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg and Wheeling, and in every other town in West Virginia a tow truck can reach. Pickup is free wherever the car is, from a city driveway to a farm lot, and you're paid before it's loaded.
How it works in West Virginia
Get your offer
Tell us the year, make, model and condition, or start with your VIN. Your cash offer is good for 7 days.
Pick a pickup time
Choose when and where. Towing is free anywhere in West Virginia, and pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours.
Get paid on the spot
The driver checks the car and pays you. Then you sign the title, hand over the keys and the car is loaded.
West Virginia car selling questions
Do I need a title to sell my car in West Virginia?
For a titled vehicle, yes: the title is how ownership passes to the buyer. To replace a lost West Virginia title, apply to the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles with DMV-4-TR Affidavit of Duplicate Title. The fee is $15.
Can I junk a car without a title in West Virginia?
Sometimes. A scrap buyer can turn in a statement of cancellation signed by the seller instead of the title, using form DMV-SV-14 for West Virginia titled vehicles (W. Va. Code 17A-4-10). Otherwise you'll need the title or a duplicate. To replace a lost West Virginia title, apply to the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles with DMV-4-TR Affidavit of Duplicate Title. The fee is $15.
Do I keep my license plates when I sell a car in West Virginia?
In West Virginia, the plates belong to the seller, not the car. Seller keeps the plates and may use them on another vehicle of the same class.
Is pickup really free everywhere in West Virginia?
Yes. Towing is free anywhere in West Virginia a tow truck can reach, and nothing is deducted from your offer for it.
Sources
- West Virginia Code 17A-4-1: Retention of plates on transfer
- WV DMV: Titles
- W. Va. Code 17A-4-10 (West Virginia Legislature)
- WV DMV Form DMV-SV-14, Cancellation of Record, Only West Virginia Title
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.