West Virginia: titling an imported car
West Virginia Code §17A-3A-3 sets the documents for titling an imported vehicle and, for countries that cancel registration on export, proof of Clean Air Act and Safety Act compliance.
Sources checked 2026-10-17. Not legal advice; rules change.
At a glance
- Import ease (where verified): Process documented; 25-year treatment not stated in the sources read. Statute lists ownership documents with notarized translations and, for some countries, proof of Clean Air Act and Motor Vehicle Safety Act compliance.
- Kei / mini-truck: No kei or mini-truck rule found in the sources read. No kei or mini-truck rule found in the official pages read.
What the official sources say
- W. Va. Code §17A-3A-3(a): before an imported vehicle not previously titled or registered in the U.S. can be titled, the applicant must submit (1) an MCO from the actual manufacturer with a notarized translation, or (2) documents constituting valid proof of ownership by an individual owner or exporter evidencing the change of ownership to the applicant, with a notarized translation, or (3) for countries that cancel registration and title for export, the post-cancellation documents with a notarized translation and proof satisfactory to the division that the vehicle complies with the U.S. Clean Air Act and the Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
Source: West Virginia Code §17A-3A-3 - §17A-3A-3(b): if those documents do not name the applicant as owner, reliable proof of a chain of title is also required; for countries using registration documents rather than titles, the change-of-ownership certificate serves as proof.
Source: West Virginia Code §17A-3A-3
Not verified (do not rely on ImportClock for these)
- Only the statute was read; no WV DMV page on customs forms, HS-7, the 25-year exemption, kei vehicles, VIN inspection or fees was read.
- Whether the 'proof satisfactory' in option (3) is waived for 25-year-old vehicles was not found.