How to fill out the Form MV-1 in Pennsylvania
A field-by-field walkthrough of the Pennsylvania Form MV-1 (Application for Certificate of Title) for licensed used car dealers — what goes in every section, who signs what, and the documents you attach. Verified against the official form as of June 2026.
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Filling out the PA Form MV-1 after a sale:
- What it is
- PennDOT's application for a Pennsylvania certificate of title
- Who completes it
- An authorized agent (dealer or tag service); buyer signs
- Where to file it
- PennDOT — processed by the authorized agent
- Processing time
- Agents can process at the point of sale via PennDOT online
- Cost
- PennDOT title fee + 6% sales tax (7% Allegheny, 8% Philadelphia)
This guide is informational and does not replace the official Pennsylvania instructions. Always confirm the current form and procedure with PennDOT (Driver and Vehicle Services) before you file.
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What the Form MV-1 is and why it matters
Form MV-1 is how a vehicle gets its first Pennsylvania title. It's the application an authorized PennDOT agent submits to title a vehicle that isn't currently titled in PA — an out-of-state car, a brand-new vehicle, or a repossession. As a dealer you (or your tag service) complete it for the buyer.
The MV-1 is title-only: it captures the vehicle, the owner, the lien, and the sales-tax calculation, but if you're also registering the vehicle and issuing plates in the same transaction, PennDOT uses the MV-4ST instead. Knowing which form you need — and getting the county tax rate right — is most of the job. This guide walks every section a dealer fills.
MV-1 is PennDOT's application for a Pennsylvania certificate of title, used for vehicles not currently titled in PA (out-of-state, new, or repossessed). It must be completed by an authorized PennDOT agent — most dealers either are agents or use a messenger/tag service. Don't confuse it with the MV-4ST (Vehicle Sales and Use Tax Return / Application for Registration), which is used when you're titling AND registering and collecting sales tax in the same transaction. Both capture the same core title data; this guide walks the MV-1 fields.
Documents to have before you start
Gather these before you complete the Form MV-1. A missing attachment is the number-one reason the PennDOT (Driver and Vehicle Services) bounces a title application back.
- The properly assigned title or MCO — Out-of-state title, Pennsylvania title, or Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin — assigned to the buyer with the odometer completed.
- Out-of-state VIN verification / tracing — For a vehicle coming from out of state, the VIN must be physically verified and a VIN plate tracing attached. A dealer, notary, or authorized agent can do it.
- Buyer's Pennsylvania driver license or ID — Name and address must match what goes on the application.
- Proof of Pennsylvania insurance — Required if the vehicle is being registered (issued plates), not for title-only.
- Sales tax (collected by the dealer/agent) — 6% statewide, 7% for Allegheny County residents, 8% for City of Philadelphia residents.
- Lienholder name + address, if financed — So the lien is recorded on the new Pennsylvania title.
Form MV-1, section by section
Vehicle identification
Identifies the vehicle. The VIN on the MV-1 must match the assigned title and the vehicle's VIN plate. For an out-of-state vehicle, a VIN tracing is attached to the back of the white copy.
| Field | Who fills it |
|---|---|
VIN Must match the title and the vehicle's VIN plate. | You (dealer) |
Year, Make, Body type, Model | You (dealer) |
Color, weight, number of cylinders | You (dealer) |
VIN plate tracing (out-of-state vehicles) Physically verify and attach the tracing. | You (dealer) |
Owner / applicant information
The buyer — the new owner. Enter the legal name, Pennsylvania address, date of birth, and driver-license number exactly as they appear on the buyer's license. A co-owner goes in the second-owner fields.
| Field | Who fills it |
|---|---|
Owner's full legal name From the buyer's license — match it exactly. | You (dealer) |
Pennsylvania address Determines the county sales-tax rate. | You (dealer) |
Date of birth + PA driver license/ID number | Buyer |
Co-owner / second owner (if any) | You (dealer) |
Odometer disclosure
Federal odometer disclosure at transfer. The reading must match the disclosure on the assigned title.
| Field | Who fills it |
|---|---|
Odometer reading Whole miles; must match the title disclosure. | You (dealer) |
Odometer status (actual / not actual / exceeds limits) | You (dealer) |
Odometer certification signature Both seller and buyer acknowledge the disclosure. | Buyer |
Lienholder information
Cash deal? Leave it blank. Financed? Record the lender so the lien is printed on the new Pennsylvania title.
| Field | Who fills it |
|---|---|
First lienholder name Blank for a cash sale. | You (dealer) |
Lienholder address | You (dealer) |
Date of lien Usually the sale date. | You (dealer) |
Sales and use tax (Section I)
Pennsylvania vehicle sales/use tax is 6% statewide, 7% for Allegheny County residents, and 8% for City of Philadelphia residents — based on the buyer's address, not the dealer's. A trade-in taken by the dealer reduces the taxable amount. If the sale is exempt, enter the exemption reason code (the codes are listed on the back of the form).
| Field | Who fills it |
|---|---|
Purchase price Match the buyer's order / bill of sale. | You (dealer) |
Trade-in allowance Subtracted from the price before tax. | You (dealer) |
Taxable amount + tax due 6% / 7% Allegheny / 8% Philadelphia by the buyer's county. | You (dealer) |
Sales tax exemption code (if exempt) Listed on the back of the form (Section I, line 1A/1B). | You (dealer) |
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PA vehicle tax is 6% statewide; Allegheny County residents add 1% and City of Philadelphia residents add 2% — based on the buyer's address, so enter 0, 1, or 2. Trade-in reduces the taxable amount. The PennDOT title fee and registration are additional; confirm current amounts with PennDOT.
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Agent certification and signatures
The MV-1 must be completed and certified by an authorized PennDOT agent. The applicant (buyer) signs as the new owner, and the issuing agent completes the agent certification.
| Field | Who fills it |
|---|---|
Applicant / owner signature | Buyer |
Authorized agent certification + agent number Completed by the dealer/tag service as the issuing agent. | You (dealer) |
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Common Form MV-1 mistakes that cause rejections
The MV-1 titles a vehicle. If you're also registering it and issuing plates in the same transaction, PennDOT uses the MV-4ST (Vehicle Sales and Use Tax Return / Application for Registration). Pick the form that matches what you're actually doing — titling only, or titling plus registration.
PA vehicle sales tax is 6% statewide, but 7% for Allegheny County residents and 8% for City of Philadelphia residents — based on the buyer's address. Using the flat 6% for a Philadelphia or Allegheny buyer undercharges the tax.
A vehicle coming from out of state needs its VIN physically verified and a VIN plate tracing attached to the application. Skipping it stalls the title.
When the dealer takes a trade, the trade-in allowance reduces the taxable amount. Enter it so the buyer isn't taxed on the full price.
The MV-1 must be completed and certified by an authorized PennDOT agent. If you're not an agent, run the title through a messenger/tag service that is.
Common questions
Is Form MV-1 the Pennsylvania title application?+
Yes. MV-1 is PennDOT's Application for Certificate of Title, used to title a vehicle that isn't currently titled in Pennsylvania — an out-of-state vehicle, a new vehicle, or a repossession. It must be completed by an authorized PennDOT agent.
MV-1 vs MV-4ST — which form do I use?+
Use the MV-1 to apply for a Pennsylvania title (title-only). Use the MV-4ST (Vehicle Sales and Use Tax Return / Application for Registration) when you're titling the vehicle and also registering it and collecting sales tax in the same transaction — the typical dealer retail sale with new plates. Both capture the same core title data.
What is the Pennsylvania vehicle sales tax rate?+
6% statewide, 7% for residents of Allegheny County, and 8% for residents of the City of Philadelphia. The rate is based on the buyer's address. A dealer trade-in allowance reduces the taxable amount.
Who can complete and sign the MV-1?+
The MV-1 must be completed and certified by an authorized agent of PennDOT. Most dealers are agents or use a messenger/tag service that is. The buyer signs as the applicant/owner; the agent completes the certification with their agent number.
Do I need a VIN verification for an out-of-state vehicle?+
Yes. For a vehicle coming from out of state, the VIN must be physically verified against the title and the vehicle's VIN plate, and a VIN plate tracing is attached to the application. This is one of the most common reasons an out-of-state title application is delayed.
Does a trade-in reduce the sales tax on an MV-1?+
Yes. When a Pennsylvania dealer accepts a trade-in, the trade allowance is subtracted from the purchase price before the 6% / 7% / 8% tax is calculated, so the buyer is taxed only on the difference.
Is there software that fills out the Form MV-1 automatically?+
Yes. Dealer management software like DealerVLO turns the deal you already entered into a print-ready Pennsylvania Form MV-1 worksheet — the VIN-decoded vehicle, buyer, co-buyer, lienholder, and sale price laid out and ready to copy onto the form or key into the state's system. It's $29/month flat with a 14-day free trial, and the same deal also generates your federal documents (Bill of Sale, FTC Buyers Guide, odometer disclosure) and any other state's title forms.
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