Vehicle Licensing Guide

PURPOSE:

To provide guidelines for completing a permit to transfer license plates in an emergency.

BACKGROUND:

A permit to transfer license plates may be granted to a dealer or garage owner and his customer when:

• The vehicle for which the license plates were issued is undergoing repairs in a licensed motor vehicle dealer's or garage owner's repair shop. AND
• The customer needs emergency transportation.

The dealer or garage owner and the person whose vehicle is being repaired complete the permit jointly. The permit allows the dealer or garage owner and the customer to transfer the license plates:

• From the customer's vehicle that is being repaired
• To the dealer-owned or garage-owned vehicle.

Emergency use of plates from another vehicle is limited to the time:

• During which the individual's vehicle is being repaired OR
• While the dealer's vehicle is loaned for demonstration. AND <<<<<REVISION
  
• Cannot exceed 5 DAYS. However, if the emergency continues, a DEALER may renew the permit for 5 more days with a second application, but Virginia law requires that only one renewal permit shall be issued to cover any one emergency, and ONLY a DEALER may renew the permit, NOT a garage owner.

PROCESSING THE VSA-39A, EMERGENCY PERMIT TO TRANSFER LICENSE PLATES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED BY A GARAGE OWNER

The VSA-39A is a pre-numbered carbon-set form used by garage owners to temporarily transfer license plates from a customer's vehicle undergoing repairs in a garage owner's shop to a garage-owned vehicle.

CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS FOR VSA-39A:

1. Complete the customer information section of VSA-39A, Emergency Permit to Transfer License Plates, and submit the form to the garage owner representative.
2. Carry the License Holder copy of the permit and the current registration card for his vehicle when operating the garage-owned vehicle.
3. Return the expired permit and the vehicle to the garage.

GARAGE REPRESENTATIVE PROCESS FOR VSA-39A:

1. Review the customer information section of the VSA-39A and complete the remainder of the form.
2. BRING THE FORM TO A CSC TO HAVE THE PERMIT (VSA-39A) VALIDATED BY A DMV REPRESENTATIVE PRIOR TO TRANSFERRING THE PLATES.
3. Give the customer the License Holder copy of the permit and advise him that:
   • The permit is proof of the authority to transfer the plates,
   • He MUST carry the License Holder copy of the permit and the current registration card for his vehicle when operating the garage-owned vehicle, and
   • The permit is only valid for 5 DAYS, and he must return the permit with the vehicle.

   NOTE: A garage owner may NOT renew a VSA-39A.

4. Temporarily file the Garage copy of the permit until the customer returns the garage-owned vehicle and the expired permit.
5. Obtain the expired License Holder copy of the permit from the customer and attach it to the Garage copy of the permit.
6. File the expired permit for 3 years from the date of entry.

DMV SERVICE PROVIDER'S PROCESS FOR VSA-39A:

1. Verify that all the information on the VSA-39A is correct.
2. Validate the VSA-39A by signing the appropriate block.
3. Distribute copies of the form:
   • LICENSE HOLDER and GARAGE OWNER copy - To the garage representative
   • DMV copy - place in the UPS Bag-Inter-Agency envelope marked DMV TITLES & REGISTRATION ROOM 320. (Refer to CSCOM-1004.)

PROCESSING THE VSA-39, EMERGENCY PERMIT TO TRANSFER LICENSE PLATES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED BY A DEALER

The VSA-39 is a pre-numbered carbon-set form used by dealers to temporarily transfer license plates from a customer's vehicle undergoing repairs in a dealer shop to a dealer-owned vehicle.

CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS FOR VSA-39:

1. Complete the customer information section of VSA-39, Emergency Permit to Transfer License Plates, and submit the form to the dealer;
2. Carry the License Holder copy of the permit and the current registration card for his vehicle when operating the garage-owned vehicle.
3. Return the expired permit and the vehicle to the dealer.

DEALER PROCESS FOR VSA-39:

1. Review the customer information section of the VSA-39 and complete the remainder of the form.
2. Validate the permit (VSA-39) prior to transferring the plates by signing the form in the appropriate place.
3. Give the customer the License Holder copy of the form and advise him that:
   • The permit is proof of the authority to transfer the plates,
   • He MUST carry the License Holder copy of the permit and the current registration card for his vehicle when operating the dealer-owned or garage-owned vehicle, and
   • The permit is only valid for 5 DAYS, and he must return the permit with the vehicle.

   NOTE: If the emergency continues for more than 5 days, a DEALER may renew the permit once, for an additional 5 days by completing a SECOND VSA-39 and attaching the License Holder copy from the FIRST VSA-39 to the SECOND VSA-39. Virginia law requires that only one renewal permit shall be issued to cover any one emergency.

4. Temporarily file the Dealer copy of the permit until the customer returns the dealer-owned vehicle and the expired permit.
5. Obtain the expired License Holder copy of the permit from the customer and attach it to the Dealer copy of the permit.
6. File all expired permits (original and renewal) for 3 years from the date of entry.

DMV SERVICE PROVIDER'S PROCESS FOR VSA-39:

• No action by a DMV Service Provider is necessary for the VSA-39.

REFERENCE:

• Code of Virginia: §§ 46.2-719, 46.2-720

CONTACT:

For additional information contact:

• Your CSC Manager/Assistant Manager
• DMV DIRECT Help Desk at (804) 367-6646

PROCEDURE PROPONENT:

VSA/Titles and Registration Services