New Title Only

You have purchased or have been given a motor vehicle or trailer.  You do not want to put tags on the vehicle at this time.  The MVA will collect excise tax and new certificate of title fee.  We de-coded the information provided on the MVA website below for your convenience.

MARYLAND DRIVERS LICENSE/ID: To title, re-title, register and/or get tags for your motor vehicle or trailer in Maryland, you must have a Maryland driver’s license or Maryland identification card.  Your Maryland driver’s license and identification card has a Soundex number on it; that is your MVA identification number.  It is very important that you make sure the information on your driver’s license or identification card is up-to-date.

Excise Tax: Excise tax is collected by the MVA when transferring ownership of your newly purchased motor vehicles or trailers of any size; unless they are exempt from paying excise tax [exemptions listed below]. To determine the excise tax paid for your newly purchased motor vehicle or trailer, the MVA will multiply the purchase price by 6%.

A notarized bill of sale is required by the MVA if:

1. the vehicle is less than 7-years old; and
2. the purchase price is at least $500.00 below the NADA “Clean Retail Value; and
3. the new owner wants to base the excise tax they pay based on the sale price rather than the NADA “Clean Retail Value.

Certificate of Title: To apply for a new certificate of title in your name for your new or used motor vehicle or trailer, you must provide the MVA with the most current certificate of title properly signed over to you by the previous owner.  However, if the vehicle is from a state that does not issue a certificate of title as proof of ownership, a transferrable registration and a bill of sale must be submitted as proof of ownership when applying for a new certificate of title in Maryland.

Lien release: If the current certificate of title to your newly purchased motor vehicle or trailer has a lien on it, a lien release or an original lien release letter from the lien holder must be submitted at the time of requesting a new certificate of title and tags.  If the motor vehicle or trailer is titled in another state than Maryland, there may be a place on that certificate of title for the lien holder to sign to release the lien on the certificate of title.

LIEN RELEASE LETTER:  In lieu of a lien release, the MVA will accept an original lien release letter provided by the lienholder to release the loan from the certificate of title.  The lien holder must provide you with an original letter containing the items listed below to ensure that the motor vehicle or trailer is specifically identified and the lien can be properly released and removed from the certificate of title.

1. Name of Lien Holder
2. Amount of Original Loan
3. Account Number
4. Date Lien Released
5. Year of Motor Vehicle or Trailer
6. Make of Motor Vehicle or Trailer
7. VIN of Motor Vehicle or Trailer
8. Signature of Party Releasing Lien
9. Printed Name of Party Releasing Lien
10. Capacity of Party Releasing Lien
11. Telephone Number of Party Releasing Lien

MARYLAND SAFETY INSPECTION:  The motor vehicle or trailer is not required to be safety inspected at the time of titling the motor vehicle or trailer.  If it has been or you choose to; be sure to have it placed on record with the MVA.

New Lien information:  If you borrowed money to buy your new or used motor vehicle or trailer, the lien holder information must be placed onto the certificate of title to ensure that the loan/lien is paid off before transferring the motor vehicle or trailer to a new owner.  If a second lien is to be placed onto the certificate of title, the MD MVA form VR-217; Security Interest Filing must be used to add the second lien.

Lease agreement and proof of monthly lease payments (leased vehicles only) – If you have paid or are paying excise tax to another state through your lease payments, the documents may be needed to determine the amount of excise tax credit you may receive.

INSURANCE INFORMATION: The motor vehicle or trailer is not required to carry insurance when no tags are being issued to the motor vehicle or trailer.

Registration/Tag Fee:  There will be no registration fee when no tags are being issued to the motor vehicle or trailer.

EXCISE TAX EXEMPTIONS [Can this be a drop down to save room]?

1. A mobile home over 35 feet long;
2. A vehicle owned by the United Sates and used in the investigation of any violation of suspected violation of the law of the United States;
3. A vehicle owned by this Sate or a political subdivision of this States;
4. A fire engine or other Fire Department emergency apparatus, including any vehicle operated by or in connection with any Fire Department;
5. By a non-profit rescue squad;
6. A vehicle owned and operated by the Civil Air Patrol;
7. An ambulance, rescue or other vehicle owned and operated for the benefit of the public A vehicle owned and held for the use of the public by a unit of a national veteran’s organization;
8. A vehicle owned and operated by a Maryland chapter of the American Red Cross;
9. A vehicle acquired by an insurance company as a result of a comprehensive or collision claim;
10. A vehicle registered in a jurisdiction the laws of which do not require titling and acquired for resale by a licensed dealer;
11. A vehicle that is involuntarily transferred to a licensed dealer and for which a certificate of title is not available;
12. A school bus owned by a religious organization or a private school which is exempt from federal income tax under 501 c (3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
13. A privately-owned bus used only for operating the transportation system of any political subdivision in this State, if the bus is used for the transportation of the public on regular schedules and between fixed terminals;
14. A vehicle that is otherwise exempt for the excise tax by any other applicable law;
15. A vehicle which is used regularly for the transportation of individuals with disabilities and owned by a nonprofit organization providing direct care services to individuals with disabilities which is licensed by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and is wholly or partially funded by the State;
16. A mobile hearing and vision-screening vehicle owned and operated for the benefit of the public by a nonprofit civic organization;
17. A Class F tractor or truck tractor, however a farm tractor is taxable;
18. A Class P charter bus or a Class P for hire bus;
19. A salvage vehicle acquired by a licensed dealer that has been restored by the licensed dealer and that has been inspected under 13-507 (a) (ii) of this certificate of title;
20. A vehicle acquired for resale by a licensed dealer if the dealer reassignment sections contained on the certificate of title are exhausted;
21. A Class M motor home or Class G travel trailer that is transferred or retitled in the dealership’s name under 15-305 (d) (2) of this article;
22. A special purpose vehicle owned by a coal company if the vehicle is used: (i) For transportation of workers, coal, or equipment used in the coal production process; and (ii) Exclusively in or on coal mining property;
23. A vehicle which is used exclusively in the transportation of disabled or elderly persons, owned by a nonprofit organization, and in which the Maryland Transit Administration retains a security interest;
24. A vehicle acquired by a religious, charitable, or volunteer organization exempt from taxation under 501 c (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the Department of Human Resources, or a local Department of Social Services for the purpose of transferring the vehicle to a Family Investment Program recipient or an individual certified by the Department of Human Resources or a local Department of Social Services as 52 eligible for the transfer;
25. A rental vehicle; or
26. A gift.

IMPORTANT: Before you come in to see us, please go to our “What Do I Need” page to make sure that you have everything you need to get what you need the first time.