PA Form MV-1: Application for Certificate of Title
The form Pennsylvania uses to issue a new title. You cannot download it. An authorized agent completes it for you, and that is what we do all day.
PennDOT marks the MV-1 "for authorized agents use only." It is not posted online. Bring your documents to any of our offices and we complete the form with you at the counter.
PennDOT MV-1 instructions fact sheet (PDF)When You Need the MV-1
- You bought a vehicle with an out-of-state title and need to title it in Pennsylvania
- You moved to Pennsylvania and are titling your vehicle here for the first time
- You are titling a reconstructed, specially constructed, or recovered-theft vehicle
- Certain repossession situations (the lienholder route, paired with form MV-217)
What the MV-1 Does
The MV-1 is Pennsylvania's application for a new certificate of title. PennDOT uses it whenever a vehicle is not already titled in the state: an out-of-state purchase, a new resident's car, or a reconstructed vehicle getting its first PA title.
If your vehicle already has a Pennsylvania title and is changing owners, you need the MV-4ST instead.
Why You Cannot Download It
PennDOT restricts the MV-1 to authorized agents. The fact sheet for the form says "for PennDOT authorized agents use only" right at the top. Dealers, notaries, and messenger services like Commonwealth Auto Tags hold the form stock and complete it as part of processing your title application.
In practice this works in your favor. You bring the documents, we fill in the form, check it against your paperwork, and submit everything through PennDOT's system in one visit. Errors on a self-prepared application are not a risk because there is no self-prepared application.
What It Costs
The PennDOT title fee is $72. If the vehicle is changing hands, Pennsylvania sales tax applies: 6% of the purchase price in most counties, 7% in Allegheny County, and 8% in Philadelphia. Registration fees are separate if you need plates. See our fees page for the full schedule.
What to Bring
The exact list depends on where the vehicle is coming from. For an out-of-state title, our out-of-state title transfer page walks through the requirements, including the VIN verification step. At minimum, expect to bring your photo ID, the existing ownership document, and proof of Pennsylvania insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I download PA form MV-1?
You cannot. PennDOT does not post the MV-1 online and marks it for authorized agent use only. An authorized agent such as Commonwealth Auto Tags completes the form for you when you apply for a title.
Can I fill out the MV-1 at home before I come in?
No, and you do not need to. We complete the MV-1 with you at the counter as part of your title application, then submit it through PennDOT's system the same visit.
What is the difference between MV-1 and MV-4ST?
MV-1 is for vehicles that have never been titled in Pennsylvania, such as an out-of-state purchase or a new resident's car. MV-4ST is for transferring a vehicle that already has a PA title. Bring your ownership document and we will use the right one.
How much does an MV-1 title application cost?
The PennDOT title fee is $72. Sales tax applies if ownership is changing: 6% in most of Pennsylvania, 7% in Allegheny County, 8% in Philadelphia. Registration and plates are extra if you need them.
Skip the Paperwork
Bring your documents to any of our six offices in Berks, Montgomery, and Bucks County. We complete the MV-1 and process it electronically while you wait.
See All Locations