KARS4KIDS GUIDE TO TITLES  Car Donation Title Transfer in Virginia

1. Remove all plates
All plates must be removed from your car prior to towing.

2. Dispose or return your plates to the DMV
If you purchase a replacement vehicle, you may transfer your old plates to the replacement vehicle.If the plates are not transferred to another vehicle, you may return them to any DMV customer service center for recycling or destroy and dispose of them yourself. 

Notify DMV that you have donated the vehicle.
You must notify DMV that you have donated your vehicle. This may be accomplished by going online, visiting a customer service center or contacting the DMV by phone. 

NOTE: If you have a full six months or more remaining in your vehicle registration period, you may qualify for a refund by returning the plates to DMV.  Complete an Application for Vehicle Registration Refund Form (FMS-210) and mail it with the license plates to the address shown on the form. You may also request a refund by returning the completed FMS-210 and plates to a Customer Service Center or DMV Select.

3. Cancel your insurance
Notify the insurance company that you donated the vehicle. You must notify the insurance company when you have sold, traded or donated a vehicle. If you bought another vehicle, you may transfer insurance coverage to the new vehicle, providing the required information to the insurance company. Be sure to obtain liability insurance for the other vehicle before you register it with DMV and transfer the old plates or purchase new plates for it.

Avoid Future Problems: Insurance companies notify DMV whenever they cancel, add or write new coverage for a motor vehicle. Therefore, if your insurance company cancels liability coverage on your vehicle because you no longer own it and you don't notify DMV, our records will show that the vehicle is registered in your name but is uninsured. Since it is unlawful to have an uninsured registered vehicle, DMV may suspend your driver's license and vehicle registration privileges.

Visit http://www.dmv.virginia.gov/#/ for more information on your state car donation laws.

Yes, both owners will need to sign the title.

Yes. You can donate the car as long as someone has power of attorney for the titled owner.In VA, we will need an original proof of address.

You do not need a license to donate a car in VA

We can usually pick up a vehicle without a title in Virginia. We just need the registered owner to sign some paperwork for us.

In the following counties, you’ll just need to provide proof of ownership. Just provide a proof of ownership (such as copy of registration or insurance card): Accomack, Albemarle, Alleghany, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Arlington, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Brunswick, Buchanan, Buckingham, Campbell, Caroline, Carroll, Charles City, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Cumberland, Dickenson, Dinwiddie, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Floyd, Fluvanna, Franklin, Frederick, Giles, Gloucester, Goochland, Grayson, Greene, Greensville, Halifax, Hanover, Henrico, Henry, Highland, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Lee, Loudoun, Louisa, Lunenburg, Madison, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, Montgomery, Nelson, New Kent, Northampton, Northumberland, Nottoway, Orange, Page, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Prince William, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Richmond, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Surry, Sussex, Tazewell, Warren, Washington, Westmoreland, Wise, Wythe, York