Last Update: September 17, 2026

Change Information on Vehicle Registration in Virginia

Virginia vehicle registration records are managed by the Department of Motor Vehicles. The filing method depends on the item to be updated, because some changes can be handled as record updates, while others require a title-and-registration application.

Virginia Vehicle Registration Changes that Commonly Require Action

Virginia DMV records commonly require action after the following events:

• A change to a residence, mailing, or vehicle registration mailing address, which may be updated through the DMV’s address change transaction.
• A legal name change, which the DMV handles under its personal information update process.
• A lost, damaged, or additional registration card, which may be requested through the registration card replacement service.
• A vehicle purchase or transfer, because Virginia law requires a title application within 30 days under § 46.2-600.
• A move into Virginia, which triggers title, registration, insurance, and plate requirements described on the DMV’s new resident page.
• A plate transfer from one vehicle to another, which DMV addresses through its plate transfer procedures.
• A change affecting title ownership or title data, which must be handled through a title filing instead of a registration-card replacement.

Where to File a Virginia Vehicle Registration Change

Routine registration changes may be completed through Virginia DMV online services, by mail, or in person at a DMV customer service center. Virginia also authorizes certain vehicle transactions at DMV Select offices, including titling and registration work.

If the registration change is tied to the title record, the filing shifts from a simple record update to a title transaction. DMV uses the Application for Certificate of Title and Registration (VSA 17A) for title and registration filings involving passenger vehicles, motorcycles, trucks, motor homes, and trailers.

Virginia Address Changes on Vehicle Registration

Virginia permits an address update through the online address change transaction, which can be used to revise a residence address, a mailing address, or a vehicle registration mailing address. DMV also explains that the vehicle’s garage jurisdiction must be reported accurately when the vehicle is kept at a different location.

Additional filing options are listed in the DMV’s personal information update process:

• Telephone service through DMV
• An in-person filing at a DMV office
• A mailed Address Change Request Form

Virginia law requires notice of a registration holder’s address change within 30 days under § 46.2-606. DMV also provides access to a revised vehicle registration card after the record has been updated.

Virginia Name Changes and Title-Linked Corrections

A legal name change should be reviewed across DMV records because the name on registration documents and the name on title records may both need to be revised. Virginia DMV directs name changes through its personal information update process, which begins online or by application and is completed at a DMV customer service center with the required supporting document, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order.

When the revised name also affects the vehicle title record, the matter becomes a title filing rather than a registration-only correction. In that situation, the DMV’s title-and-registration form, VSA 17A, is the official application for updating the ownership record.

Correcting Incorrect Information on a Virginia Registration Record

Virginia separates registration-card replacement from title-related correction work.

If the issue is limited to the registration card, the DMV provides the registration card replacement service for a lost, stolen, damaged, mutilated, or additional card. An address correction can also be handled through the address-change process and followed by the issuance of a revised registration card.

If incorrect information appears in the underlying title record, a title application is required rather than a duplicate registration card. DMV uses VSA 17A for title-and-registration filings, and those transactions are handled through DMV service locations that process titling work. The same distinction applies when ownership information changes after a purchase, transfer, or similar event.

Virginia also distinguishes plate transfer transactions from ordinary replacements. DMV states that a plate transfer is completed through the plate transfer procedure, and its new resident guidance notes that a dealer may issue a temporary plate transfer or temporary registration for 30 days.

Virginia Deadlines for Vehicle Registration Changes

Virginia’s official sources identify the following deadlines and related consequences:

• A person who purchases or receives a vehicle by transfer must apply for title within 30 days under § 46.2-600.
• A registration holder must notify DMV of an address change within 30 days under § 46.2-606.
• A new Virginia resident must title a vehicle within 30 days after moving to the Commonwealth, and the DMV's new resident page states that registration and plates must also be obtained within that 30-day period.
• From the time a vehicle is registered until the registration period ends, liability insurance must be maintained under the DMV’s insurance requirements and § 46.2-706.

The Virginia DMV also confirms the consequences of an insurance lapse during the registration period. If coverage ends, the vehicle must be reinsured, or the plates must be deactivated or surrendered. DMV states that uninsured vehicle owners face suspension of driving and registration privileges, a $600 non-compliance fee, an SR-22 filing requirement for 3 years, and reinstatement fees, where applicable.

How Much Does It Cost To Change Vehicle Registration Details in Virginia?

Contact Information

Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
2300 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23269
Phone: (804) 497-7100
Official Website: Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles