Last Update: August 24, 2026

Temporary Permits for Private or Commercial Vehicles in Virginia

Virginia issues temporary credentials through the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which administers registration-related permits for private vehicles and, through its Motor Carrier Services and Hauling Permits units, credentials for commercial operations. A temporary permit authorizes limited vehicle operation while the owner completes titling and registration, or, for commercial carriers, while apportioned registration, fuel tax licensing, and size and weight authority are arranged.

What Is a Temporary Vehicle Permit in Virginia?

Under the temporary permit provisions of § 46.2-650 of the Code of Virginia, the Department may provide that a vehicle for which a certificate of title and registration has been applied, either new or after a transfer, may be operated under a temporary permit issued by the Department or under a duplicate application carried in the vehicle. Virginia temporary credentials take several forms, each with its own validity period:

• Standard trip permits, valid for three consecutive days, for owners moving an unregistered vehicle from one location to another within Virginia
• Prospective purchaser trip permits, valid for three days beginning on the date of the bill of sale, for residents purchasing a vehicle to be titled and registered in Virginia; if the vehicle has not been purchased within 15 days after printing the permit, a new permit must be obtained
• Dealer-issued 30-day temporary registrations, provided at the point of sale, with a second 30-day certificate available when title documents are delayed
• Dealer-issued 5-day temporary transport tags, used to move vehicles on or off a dealer's inventory
• IRP and IFTA trip permits, valid for 10 days, for commercial vehicles not registered under those programs
• Hauling permits and temporary registrations for oversize, overweight, or over-dimensional vehicles, issued through the EZ Haul automated permitting system

Who May Need a Temporary Permit

A temporary permit may be required in the following situations:

• A vehicle has been purchased, and its certificate of title or certificate of origin cannot be delivered at the time of sale
• An owner of an unregistered motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer must move it from one location to another within Virginia
• A Virginia resident intends to purchase a vehicle that will be titled and registered in the Commonwealth
• A commercial vehicle subject to the IRP or the IFTA enters Virginia without apportioned credentials
• A vehicle configuration exceeds Virginia's legal size or weight limits and cannot be licensed

Private Vehicle Temporary Tags in Virginia

For private vehicles, a dealer licensed by the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board may issue temporary license plates and a certificate of temporary registration on the day of sale under § 46.2-1542. Issuance requires that the dealer hold the title or certificate of origin for the vehicle or that delivery is delayed because the document is lost or detained beyond the dealer's control. The temporary registration certificate must show its date of issuance, the purchaser's name and address, the vehicle identification number, the temporary registration number, and the state in which the vehicle is to be registered. A copy of the certificate and a bona fide buyer's order must remain in the purchaser's possession whenever the vehicle is operated.

A dealer-issued temporary registration expires when the certificate of title is issued in the purchaser's name, but in no event is it effective for more than 30 days from issuance. If the dealer cannot produce the title documents within that period, the Department may authorize a second 30-day certificate upon receipt of the title application, bill of sale, required fees, and a written statement describing the dealer's efforts to secure the title. Where the title remains unavailable after 60 days, the Department may extend temporary registration once for an additional period of up to 90 days.

Since 2009, dealers have participated in the Print-on-Demand temporary tag program, printing 30-day temporary tags and 5-day transport tags from their own printers on synthetic paper supplied by the DMV. The program links each tag number and VIN to the purchaser in DMV records, and law enforcement agencies may verify tags through the Virginia Criminal Information Network. A dealer that fails to comply with the issuance requirements may have its authority to issue temporary certificates of registration suspended after a hearing.

Commercial Vehicle Temporary Permits in Virginia

Commercial vehicles not registered under the IRP or IFTA may obtain 10-day trip permits from the DMV's Motor Carrier Services office. An IRP trip permit authorizes travel by a vehicle subject to the International Registration Plan, and an IFTA trip permit authorizes travel by a vehicle subject to the International Fuel Tax Agreement; both may be purchased as a single combination permit. Applications are submitted on the Application for Virginia IRP and/or Fuel Trip Permit (MCTS-271), and permits may be purchased through an approved permit service, in which case service fees apply in addition to the state fee.

Vehicles that cannot be licensed because of size exceedance may obtain a temporary registration or permit under § 46.2-652, which authorizes movement from one point to another within the Commonwealth, into the Commonwealth, or out of the Commonwealth. The permit must show the registration or permit number, date of issue, date of expiration, the vehicle to which it refers, and the route to be traveled and must be carried in the vehicle.

Oversize and overweight movement is governed by the hauling permit program administered through EZ Haul, the Commonwealth's automated permitting system. A hauling permit is required when a vehicle configuration reduced to its smallest practical dimensions still exceeds the statutory limits: 13 feet 6 inches in height, 8 feet 6 inches in width, 40 feet in length for motorized vehicles, 48 feet for trailers (with 53-foot trailers allowed on the Interstate System), 65 feet for vehicle-trailer combinations, 20,000 pounds on a single axle, and 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle. Permit types include single-trip permits, blanket permits for multiple moves over a defined period, superload permits for configurations requiring engineering research and analysis, and exempt permits for specified commodities or services.

When a Temporary Permit Is Required

A private vehicle may require a temporary permit in the following circumstances:

• After purchase, when the certificate of title or certificate of origin cannot be delivered to the purchaser at the time of sale
• When an unregistered vehicle owned by a Virginia resident must be moved between locations within the Commonwealth
• When a resident intends to purchase a vehicle and requires authority to transport it to a repair, inspection, or registration location

A commercial vehicle may require a temporary permit when:

• The vehicle is subject to the IRP or the IFTA and is not registered under those programs
• The vehicle or load must move over Virginia highways at dimensions or weights exceeding legal limits
• The vehicle is configured to a size that cannot be licensed in Virginia

How to Get a Temporary Permit in Virginia

Where To Apply

Private vehicle temporary credentials may be obtained through several channels:

• DMV customer service centers, where standard trip permits may be applied for in person
• The DMV's online services portal, where eligible applicants may purchase and print trip permits
• Licensed dealers, which issue temporary registrations and Print-on-Demand temporary tags at the point of sale
• Motor Carrier Services, by mail to P.O. Box 27412, Richmond, Virginia 23269-0001; by fax at (804) 367-1073
• The EZ Haul system, for hauling permits, after registering for a self-service account

Documents Commonly Required

The documentation required to obtain temporary credentials varies with the transaction and may include:

• A completed registration application, with titling and registration fees paid at the time of application
• Proof of ownership, such as the certificate of title or manufacturer's certificate of origin
• The original bill of sale, which must accompany a prospective purchaser's trip permit and remain with the permit in the vehicle
• Proof of insurance, with a certification of coverage submitted for trip permit applications
• A point of origin and point of destination with dates of travel, for trip permits
• The vehicle identification number, year, and make of the vehicle, if known
• A written statement of facts describing efforts to secure the certificate of title, where a second dealer-issued temporary registration is sought

Temporary Permit Fees in Virginia

The following table summarizes the principal permit fees published by the DMV and the Code of Virginia.

Fees paid through a permit service include additional service fees, and vehicles that are both overweight and oversize are charged under the fee schedule applicable to combined configurations.

Can a Virginia Temporary Permit Be Used Across State Lines?

A standard trip permit is valid only within Virginia, and the DMV advises contacting other states when a travel route extends outside the Commonwealth. The oversize temporary registration authorized under § 46.2-652 expressly contemplates movement from the Commonwealth to a point outside it, or from outside the Commonwealth into it, and the in-transit movement of vehicles sold for registration in another state is conducted using dealer-issued temporary authority under § 46.2-1542, which requires that the certificate state the jurisdiction in which the vehicle is to be registered.

Commercial IRP and IFTA trip permits authorize travel only within Virginia. A carrier operating beyond the Commonwealth must obtain trip permits from each additional jurisdiction entered, and vehicles with apportioned credentials remain subject to the hauling permit requirements of each state for movements exceeding legal size or weight limits.

Penalties for Driving Without the Proper Temporary Permit

Virginia imposes penalties for operating a vehicle without valid registration or the required temporary authority.

• Under § 46.2-613, a person may not operate, park, or permit the operation or parking of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer on a highway unless it is registered, titled, and displaying the plates and decals assigned for the current registration period. A first violation of the agricultural and horticultural exemption limitations is a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $250, with a $250 fine for a second or subsequent violation.
• Under the same section, a court may, in its discretion, dismiss a summons where proof of compliance with registration requirements is provided on or before the court date.
• A dealer that issues temporary registrations without complying with § 46.2-1542, including failure to transmit the titling application within the statutory period, may have its authority to issue temporary certificates of registration suspended after a hearing.
• Operating with an expired temporary registration leaves the vehicle without valid registration, subjecting the operator to the registration violation provisions of § 46.2-613 and to enforcement action by law enforcement agencies.

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