A field-by-field walkthrough of the Maryland Form VR-005 (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 July 2026.
This guide is informational and does not replace the official Maryland instructions. Always confirm the current form and procedure with Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) before you file.
DealerVLO fills the official Maryland Form VR-005 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 VR-005 is how a vehicle gets its Maryland title. On a dealer sale the dealer prepares it, collects the excise tax and fees, and submits the package to the MVA. Maryland taxes vehicles through a 6% titling excise tax rather than a sales tax, and it's collected when the title is issued.
Two Maryland numbers surprise dealers from other states: the title fee is a flat $100, and the excise tax carries a $100 minimum — so even a cheap unit owes at least $100 in excise. On a licensed-dealer sale the excise base is the agreed price (including any dealer processing charge) minus the trade-in allowance. For a vehicle titled elsewhere, Maryland can base the 6% on the vehicle's book value instead of the price. This guide walks every section a dealer fills.
VR-005 is the Maryland MVA's application for a certificate of title. Maryland doesn't charge a 'sales tax' on vehicles — it charges a 6% titling excise tax, and two Maryland-specific numbers make it costly: the title fee is $100 (one of the highest in the country), and the excise tax has a $100 minimum. On a licensed-dealer sale the excise base is the price (including the dealer processing charge) less the trade-in allowance; on out-of-state or private vehicles it can be based on the vehicle's book value instead.
Gather these before you complete the Form VR-005. A missing attachment is the number-one reason the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) bounces a title application back.
The buyer — the new owner. Enter the legal name, Maryland address, and MVA/driver license number exactly as they appear on the buyer's credentials. A co-owner goes in the second-owner fields with the chosen ownership conjunction.
| Field | Who fills it |
|---|---|
Owner's full legal name From the buyer's license — match it exactly. | You (dealer) |
Maryland residence address | You (dealer) |
MVA / driver license number and date of birth | Buyer |
Co-owner and ownership designation (if any) | You (dealer) |
Identifies the vehicle. The VIN on the VR-005 must match the assigned title and the vehicle's VIN plate. Year/make/model matter for the excise calculation when book value applies.
| Field | Who fills it |
|---|---|
VIN Must match the title and the VIN plate. | You (dealer) |
Year, make, model, body type | You (dealer) |
Odometer reading and status Must match the disclosure on the assigned title. | You (dealer) |
Maryland's 6% titling excise tax is the tax on the sale — there's no separate sales tax. On a licensed-dealer sale the base is the agreed price, including any dealer processing charge, minus the trade-in allowance, and the tax is never less than the $100 minimum. For a vehicle previously titled in another state, Maryland can compute the 6% on the vehicle's book value (NADA clean retail) instead of the price. Enter the price and trade-in so the excise computes correctly.
| Field | Who fills it |
|---|---|
Purchase price (incl. dealer processing charge) Match the buyer's order. | You (dealer) |
Trade-in allowance Subtracted before the 6% on a dealer sale. | You (dealer) |
Excise tax due (6%, $100 minimum) Book value may apply to out-of-state vehicles. | You (dealer) |
Cash deal? Leave it blank. Financed? Record the lender's name and address so the lien is recorded on the new title. Maryland uses electronic lien and title for participating lenders.
| Field | Who fills it |
|---|---|
Lienholder name Blank for a cash sale. | You (dealer) |
Lienholder address | You (dealer) |
The buyer signs as the owner/applicant. The dealer's information ties the application to the sale.
| Field | Who fills it |
|---|---|
Owner signature and date | Buyer |
Co-owner signature (if any) | Buyer |
Selling dealer name and dealer number | You (dealer) |
Maryland's title fee is $100 — far higher than most states. Quote it in the deal recap so the out-the-door number isn't a surprise.
The 6% excise tax is never less than $100. On a cheap unit where 6% computes below $100, the buyer still owes the $100 floor. Collect the minimum, not the computed amount, when the computation comes in under it.
On a Maryland dealer sale the excise base includes the dealer processing charge. Excluding it understates the tax and surfaces at the MVA.
For a vehicle previously titled in another state, Maryland can base the 6% excise on the vehicle's book value rather than the sale price. Check which basis applies before quoting the tax.
Maryland requires a valid safety inspection certificate to title and register most used vehicles. Get the inspection done so the title package doesn't stall.
VR-005 is the Maryland MVA's Application for Certificate of Title — the form filed to establish Maryland ownership after a sale or an out-of-state move. Dealers prepare it on every retail sale.
$100 — one of the highest title fees in the country. On top of it, the 6% titling excise tax (with a $100 minimum) and registration fees apply.
Maryland charges a 6% titling excise tax instead of a sales tax. On a licensed-dealer sale the base is the agreed price (including any dealer processing charge) minus the trade-in allowance, and the tax is never less than $100. For a vehicle previously titled out of state, the 6% can be based on the vehicle's book value.
Yes — on a licensed-dealer sale the trade-in allowance is subtracted from the price before the 6% excise is computed, so the buyer is taxed on the difference (subject to the $100 minimum).
Yes. Maryland requires a valid safety inspection certificate to title and register most used vehicles. It's part of the standard dealer delivery in Maryland.
The dealer. The dealer completes the application, collects the $100 title fee and the 6% excise tax, and submits the title work to the MVA.
DealerVLO fills the official MD Form VR-005 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.