Transferring a vehicle title should be straightforward, yet small oversights can stall the process, cost extra money, or even trigger citations. Below are the five errors the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) flags most often, plus the simple steps Xpress Tags n Title in Accokeek takes to keep you on the fast track.
1. Waiting More Than 60 Days After Moving to Maryland
The mistake: New residents who keep out-of-state tags longer than 60 days lose any credit for taxes already paid elsewhere—and risk a ticket for an unregistered vehicle.
mva.maryland.gov
The fix: Schedule your transfer as soon as you have a Maryland address. Xpress Tags n Title can title and register the car in one visit, preserving any eligible tax credit and preventing citations.
2. Using an Un-Notarized Bill of Sale When One Is Required
The mistake: For vehicles seven years old or newer—sold for less than book value—the MVA requires a notarized bill of sale. Skipping the notary means an automatic rejection.
mva.maryland.gov
The fix: Bring either
the fully-assigned Maryland Certificate of Title or
a notarized VR-181 bill of sale (out-of-state titles or low-price deals).
Our staff double-checks the paperwork and provides notary guidance so nothing comes back unsigned.
mva.maryland.gov
3. Forgetting the Lien Release (or Bringing an Incomplete One)
The mistake: If a lienholder hasn’t electronically released the lien—or you forget the signed release letter—the MVA will not issue a clear Maryland title.
mva.maryland.gov
The fix: Secure the lienholder’s signed release (or electronic release confirmation) before you arrive. Xpress Tags n Title verifies lien status online and helps you request a VR-056 letter if the paper title is still at the bank.
mva.maryland.gov
4. Incorrect or Missing Data on the Title Application
The mistake: Simple data-entry errors—wrong VIN, typing “TITLE” in the title-number box, leaving the issue-date blank—throw your case into the MVA’s NMVTIS review queue, adding days or weeks to processing.
mva.maryland.gov
The fix: Let a professional prepare or proofread Form VR-005. Our agents catch the small typos that cause big delays and file everything electronically for same-day approval.
5. Miscalculating the 6 % Maryland Excise Tax
The mistake: Tax is owed on the higher of purchase price or fair-market value. Low-balling the figure—or forgetting that under-value vehicles still trigger a minimum tax—results in underpayment notices and penalties.
mva.maryland.gov
The fix: We pull the official book value during your visit, calculate the exact tax, and explain any minimums upfront so you pay once—accurately—and leave with valid tags.
How Xpress Tags n Title Keeps You Error-Free
Document Check: We review titles, bills of sale, inspection certificates, insurance cards, and IDs before submission.
Form Completion: VR-005 and any lien or estate forms are prepared line-by-line for you.
On-the-Spot Corrections: If something’s missing, we tell you immediately—no wasted trip to the MVA.
Same-Day Tags: Most customers receive plates and registration in 15–30 minutes.
Ready to Transfer Your Title the Right Way?
Visit Xpress Tags n Title at 17515 Indian Head Hwy, Accokeek, MD, or call (240) 377-8626. Avoid costly mistakes, skip the MVA wait, and leave road-ready today.
