West Virginia Vehicle Power of Attorney

Introduction

Key Things to Know

1. 1

   Form DMV-9-TR, titled Limited/Restricted Power of Attorney (POA), is the single page on which a West Virginia buyer, seller or legal owner appoints an agent to sign the certificate of title for one described vehicle, trailer or boat. The posted revision is DMV-9-TR Rev. 10/22.

2. 2

   The form prints no notary acknowledgment block and no penalty of perjury certification. It is closed by an IN WITNESS THEREOF line, the owner signature and the date, so there is no notary appointment to arrange before signing.

3. 3

   It is restricted to one vehicle. The DMV states that it can be used for an individual or entity to complete paperwork required for a specific vehicle, and cannot be used for multiple vehicles or any other business.

4. 4

   The authority runs to three named errands: signing a certificate of title to effect a transfer, applying for a duplicate title, and applying for a new title for that vehicle.

5. 5

   Trailers and boats are in scope. The description block is headed Motor Vehicle, Trailer, or Boat Information and takes a vehicle identification, hull or serial number, with make, year built and body style.

6. 6

   A buyer can grant it, not only a seller. The signer line is labelled for the buyer, seller or legal owner, so an incoming owner who cannot attend can appoint someone to complete the titling.

7. 7

   The form carries a reliance clause: any person, including the agent, may rely upon the validity of this power of attorney unless that person knows it has been terminated or is invalid. That is a reason to tell the agent in writing when you revoke it.

West Virginia Requirements for Vehicle Power of Attorney

• DMV Form DMV-9-TR, Limited/Restricted Power of Attorney

  West Virginia uses form DMV-9-TR, titled Limited/Restricted Power of Attorney (POA), issued by the Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles. The posted revision line reads DMV-9-TR Rev. 10/22. It appoints an agent to sign the certificate of title for one described item.

• No Notary Block Printed on the Form

  DMV-9-TR prints no notary acknowledgment block and no penalty of perjury certification. Execution is the line IN WITNESS THEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument this day of, followed by a signature line marked with an X for the owner and a date field, so no notary appointment is needed to complete the form as published.

• One Specific Vehicle, Nothing Else

  The DMV describes the form as a limited or restricted power of attorney that can be used for an individual or entity to complete paperwork required for a specific vehicle, and states that it cannot be used for multiple vehicles or any other business. Two items means two forms.

• Three Named Acts in the Grant of Authority

  The agent may sign any certificate of title covering the vehicle described in whatever manner necessary to effect the transfer of such title, to apply for a duplicate title, or to apply for a new title. The authority gives the agent no ownership interest and does not reach beyond those acts.

• Trailers and Boats Use the Same Form

  The description block is headed Motor Vehicle, Trailer, or Boat Information and asks for a vehicle identification, hull or serial number, the make, the year built and the body style. A camper, a utility trailer or a boat is covered by the same sheet as a car, provided you give its identifying number.

• A Buyer, a Seller or a Legal Owner May Grant It

  The label under the first blank reads BUYER, SELLER, OR LEGAL OWNER NAME, so the person appointing an agent does not have to be the name on the outgoing title. An incoming owner who cannot attend can appoint someone to complete the titling. The block asks for street address, city, state, ZIP and phone number.

• Reliance Clause and Revocation

  The form states that any person, including the agent, may rely upon the validity of this power of attorney unless that person knows it has been terminated or is invalid. Because of that, tell your agent in writing when you revoke the authority rather than relying on time passing.

• Submit It With the Title Paperwork

  DMV-9-TR is not filed on its own. It travels with the title application or assignment the agent signs, to the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles, whose titling office address is 5707 MacCorkle Avenue SE, Charleston, WV 25304. Send the original and keep a copy of the completed form.