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.
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.
DealerVLO fills the official Pennsylvania Form MV-1 straight from your deal — VIN-decoded vehicle, buyer, co-buyer, and sale price already in place. $99/month, free to try — no credit card.
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.
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.
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) |
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) |
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 |
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) |
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) |
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) |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
DealerVLO fills the official PA Form MV-1 straight from your deal jacket — VIN-decoded vehicle, buyer, co-buyer, lienholder, and sale price already in place. Print, sign, and file in about 90 seconds. $99/month. No credit card to start.