The Repossession of Vehicle Titled Out-of-State (VSA 98) is the form a lienholder, or that lienholder’s authorized agent, uses to put a repossessed out-of-state vehicle into the lienholder’s own name on a Virginia title. You file it with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) when you have taken back a car, truck, motorcycle, or trailer that was titled in another state and you want the legal right to resell it here.
This form matters because Virginia will not let you sell a repossessed vehicle until the title sits in your name, and one wrong box on the State of Title/Requirements table can send your whole packet back. The DMV collects a flat $15 titling fee on every original title, and a missing repossession document is one of the most common reasons these applications get rejected at the counter. The current version is dated 06/15/2021, so confirm that revision date in the bottom corner before you write anything on it.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 How to complete every box on the VSA 98, line by line, in plain words.
- 🚗 How to read and check the State of Title/Requirements table for all 50 states.
- 💵 How to figure the 4.15% Sales and Use Tax and when you owe it.
- 🧾 How to pair the VSA 98 with the Application for Certificate of Title (VSA 17A).
- ⚠️ How to dodge the ten mistakes that get repossession titles bounced.
What the VSA 98 Is and Who Must File It
The VSA 98 is a sworn application that tells Virginia DMV you repossessed a vehicle, that the vehicle was titled in another state, and that you now want a Virginia title in your name as the lienholder. A lienholder is the business, bank, credit union, or person who loaned money against the vehicle and held a security interest in it. When the borrower stops paying, the lienholder takes the vehicle back, and this form is how that lienholder becomes the new owner of record in Virginia.
The people who file this form are lenders and their agents, not regular car buyers. You might be a bank, a buy-here-pay-here auto dealer that financed its own sale, a licensed repossession agent acting for a lender, or a private individual who personally loaned money and held the lien. Each of these filers uses the same VSA 98, but the tax outcome can differ, which the guide covers below.
There is one rule that trips up many filers. The VSA 98 is only for vehicles titled out-of-state. If the repossessed vehicle was already titled in Virginia, you skip the VSA 98 entirely and apply for the repossession title using just the VSA 17A and the Virginia title. The DMV’s own procedure manual, VLIC-3.125, spells this out, and it draws its authority from Va. Code §§ 46.2-633, 46.2-633.1, and 58.1-2403.
A common misconception is that a repossession agent who tows the car can title it. That is false. Only the lienholder named on the loan, or an agent the lienholder authorizes in writing, may apply, and the name must match the lien records.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything before you open the form, because the DMV reviews the whole packet as one unit and a single gap stops the process. Here is the pre-filing checklist:
- The out-of-state certificate of title. The DMV checks that the lienholder on the title matches the lienholder applying; without it, you must first file a replacement title and wait, which can add weeks.
- The completed VSA 17A title application. The VSA 98 is never filed alone; if it is missing, the clerk cannot create a title record at all.
- The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Every document is cross-checked against this 17-character number, and a mismatch triggers a hold.
- The state where the vehicle was titled. This tells you which row of the State of Title/Requirements table to use and which extra forms you need.
- The state-specific repossession documents. Each state demands different proof, such as an Affidavit of Repossession or a certified Certificate of Repossession; missing the right one is the top reason for rejection.
- The date of the lien. You write this on the form, and an inconsistent date against the title raises a fraud flag.
- Your FEIN or DMV customer number. Businesses use a Federal Employer Identification Number; without it the DMV cannot link the title to your account.
- The copy of the security agreement, if your state’s row requires it. Some states ask for it and some do not, so check the box only when you truly submit it.
- Payment for the $15 titling fee and any Sales and Use Tax. Without correct payment, the DMV will not process the packet.
- Proof of address, if you are an individual. Lienholders that are businesses are exempt from this, but an individual lienholder must prove a Virginia address.
If any item is missing, the DMV either rejects the packet or places it on hold, and you start over with a fresh trip or mailing.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
You download the official VSA 98 straight from the Virginia DMV forms library as a free PDF you can print and fill by hand or type into on screen. You can also pick up a paper copy at any DMV Customer Service Center across the Commonwealth. Always pull the form fresh rather than reusing an old saved copy, because an outdated revision can be refused.
The companion VSA 17A title application lives in the same forms library, and you need both PDFs in hand before you start. The DMV’s full step-by-step policy sits in the Title a Repossessed Vehicle page, which links the procedure manual and the document table.
Print the form single-sided is not required, but you must complete both the front (lienholder and vehicle data) and page 2 (the State of Title/Requirements table). Use black ink and capital letters so the data-entry clerk can read every character. A faint or pencil-written entry can be misread, and a misread VIN can attach your title to the wrong vehicle.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the VSA 98 Line by Line
The VSA 98 has four data areas on the front — Current Lienholder Information, Vehicle Information, Supplemental Lien Information, and Certification — plus the State of Title/Requirements table on page 2. Work top to bottom, then flip to page 2. Use the exact field names printed on the form.
1. Lienholder Name (Current Lienholder Information)
This field asks for the full legal name of the lender that holds the lien on the repossessed vehicle. Write the name in capital letters exactly as it appears on the loan paperwork and the out-of-state title, such as FIRST HARBOR CREDIT UNION or, for a person, DAVID R. CHEN. If you are a business, use your registered business name, not a trade name or “doing business as” nickname.
The DMV cross-checks this name against the lienholder shown on the certificate of title, so it must match letter for letter. If you have a P.O. Box mailing setup, that goes in the address field below, not here. The most common mistake is writing the repossession agent’s company name instead of the actual lienholder’s name, and that mismatch gets the application denied because the agent is not the lender of record. People often believe the name can be “close enough,” but the DMV treats any difference as a red flag for fraud.
2. FEIN/DMV Customer Number
This field asks for your Federal Employer Identification Number if you are a business, or your assigned DMV customer number. Enter the nine-digit FEIN with no dashes, such as 541234567, or your DMV customer number as printed on prior DMV correspondence. An individual lienholder without a FEIN uses the DMV customer number tied to their record.
If you have never had a DMV customer number, the DMV will assign one when you file, so leave it blank only if you truly have neither. The common error is transposing two digits, which links your title to the wrong account and delays mailing of the finished title. Many filers wrongly think this box is optional; it is the key the DMV uses to find and bill your account.
3. Mailing Address, City, State, ZIP Code
This field asks where the DMV should send the finished title and any notices. Write the street address or P.O. Box, then the city, the two-letter state code, and the five-digit ZIP, for example 900 COMMERCE WAY, NORFOLK, VA, 23510. A business lienholder uses its corporate mailing address.
If your mailing address is in another state because you are an out-of-state lender, that is allowed; the vehicle’s prior title state and your address can differ. The frequent mistake is listing an old or closed branch address, which sends your title into mail limbo. People assume the DMV will email the title; it mails the paper title or stores it electronically, so the address must be current.
4. Lienholder Code and Date of Lien (mm/dd/yyyy)
This pair of fields asks for your DMV-assigned lienholder code, if you have one, and the date the lien was first recorded. Enter the lienholder code if the DMV issued you one as a frequent filer, and write the lien date as 03/14/2024 using two-digit month, two-digit day, and four-digit year. Leave the lienholder code blank if you have never been assigned one.
The date of lien must match the date on the security agreement and the title’s lien record. A wrong or guessed date is the kind of error that, under the form’s perjury clause, can be treated as a false statement. Filers often confuse the date of lien with the date of repossession; the date of lien is when the loan’s security interest began, not when you took the car back.
5. Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
This field asks for the vehicle’s unique 17-character identifier. Copy the VIN exactly from the title and the dashboard, in capital letters, with no spaces, such as 1HGCM82633A004352. Double-check each character, because the letter O and the number 0 are easy to confuse.
If the VIN on the title does not match the VIN on the vehicle, stop and resolve it before filing, because the DMV will reject any mismatch outright. The biggest mistake here is a single wrong character, which can attach your repossession title to a completely different vehicle. Some filers think the VIN on the title is always right; physically read the VIN plate to confirm it.
6. Title Number, Plate Number, Vehicle Make, Model Year, Body Type, Weight
These fields ask for the prior out-of-state title number, the most recent plate number, and the vehicle’s basic specs. Copy the title number and plate number from the out-of-state documents, then enter the make as TOYOTA, the model year as 2019, the body type as 4-DOOR SEDAN, and the shipping weight in pounds as 3,340. Use the make and body type wording from the title, not your own description.
If the plate has already expired or been surrendered, enter the last known plate number or write NONE rather than leaving it blank. The common error is guessing the weight; pull it from the title or a VIN decode, because weight can affect fees on some vehicle classes. People often skip the title number thinking the VIN is enough, but the DMV uses the title number to retire the old record.
7. Supplemental Lien Information
This section asks whether any second or third lienholder also held a security interest in the vehicle. If there is only one lienholder — you — leave this section blank. If a junior lienholder exists, enter that lienholder’s name, code, lien date, and full address in the same format used above, for example SECOND VALLEY FINANCE, lien date 07/02/2023.
Most repossessions involve a single lien, so this section stays empty in the majority of cases. If a second lien existed and you ignore it, the DMV may hold the title until the priority of liens is sorted out. A frequent misconception is that you must list the previous owner here; you do not, because this section is for additional lenders, never for the borrower.
8. Certification (Lienholder Name, Signature, Date)
This field is the sworn statement that everything on the form is true and that you have met every requirement of the state of title. Print the lienholder name, sign as the authorized lienholder or agent, and date it as 05/30/2026. An authorized agent signs their own name and must have written authority from the lienholder.
The signature carries weight: the form states that knowingly making a false statement may be prosecuted as a felony under Virginia law. The common mistake is an unsigned or undated form, which is an automatic rejection because an unsigned affidavit is legally empty. People wrongly assume a typed name counts as a signature; the DMV wants an actual handwritten or valid electronic signature.
9. State of Title/Requirements Table (Page 2)
This page asks you to identify the state where the vehicle was last titled and to check off every document that state requires for repossession. Find your state’s row, note whether a title is required, whether a copy of the security agreement is required, and which state-specific form or “Other Required Documentation” applies, then check the box to confirm you submitted each item. For example, a Maryland vehicle requires a Notice of Security Interest Filing, a North Carolina vehicle requires form MVR-3, and a Tennessee vehicle requires forms RV-F1312101 and RV-F1315201.
Read the row carefully, because some entries demand a certified document, and for those a fax or photocopy will not be accepted. The single biggest mistake on the entire form happens here — checking a box without actually attaching the matching state document, which guarantees rejection. A widespread misconception is that Virginia’s own rules govern; in fact, you must satisfy the state of title’s repossession laws, exactly as listed in this table.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common filers walked through the VSA 98 from top to bottom. Each table shows what that person enters in the major sections of the form.
Scenario A — First Harbor Credit Union repossesses a car titled in Maryland. The credit union financed a 2019 Toyota Camry, the borrower defaulted, and the bank wants to resell it in Virginia.
| Form Section | What First Harbor Credit Union Enters |
|---|---|
| Lienholder Name | FIRST HARBOR CREDIT UNION |
| FEIN/DMV Customer Number | 541234567 |
| Mailing Address / City / State / ZIP | 900 COMMERCE WAY / NORFOLK / VA / 23510 |
| Date of Lien | 03/14/2024 |
| VIN | 1HGCM82633A004352 |
| Vehicle Make / Model Year / Body Type | TOYOTA / 2019 / 4-DOOR SEDAN |
| Supplemental Lien Information | (left blank — single lien) |
| State of Title / Requirements (Maryland) | Title: YES; Other: Notice of Security Interest Filing |
| Certification | Signed by authorized officer, dated 05/30/2026 |
Scenario B — Blue Ridge Auto Sales, an independent dealer, repossesses a truck titled in North Carolina. The buy-here-pay-here dealer financed its own sale and wants the title in the dealership’s name.
| Form Section | What Blue Ridge Auto Sales Enters |
|---|---|
| Lienholder Name | BLUE RIDGE AUTO SALES LLC |
| FEIN/DMV Customer Number | 208765432 |
| Mailing Address / City / State / ZIP | 145 MOUNTAIN RD / ROANOKE / VA / 24011 |
| Date of Lien | 11/02/2023 |
| VIN | 1FTFW1ET5DFA12345 |
| Vehicle Make / Model Year / Body Type | FORD / 2018 / PICKUP |
| Supplemental Lien Information | (left blank — single lien) |
| State of Title / Requirements (North Carolina) | Title: YES; Other: form MVR-3 |
| Certification | Signed by dealer principal, dated 05/30/2026 |
Scenario C — David R. Chen, an individual lienholder, repossesses a motorcycle titled in Tennessee. David personally loaned money to a friend, held the lien, and took the bike back after default.
| Form Section | What David R. Chen Enters |
|---|---|
| Lienholder Name | DAVID R. CHEN |
| FEIN/DMV Customer Number | (DMV customer number assigned at filing) |
| Mailing Address / City / State / ZIP | 22 ELM STREET / RICHMOND / VA / 23220 |
| Date of Lien | 01/20/2024 |
| VIN | JH2RC5006KK700123 |
| Vehicle Make / Model Year / Body Type | HONDA / 2019 / MOTORCYCLE |
| Supplemental Lien Information | (left blank — single lien) |
| State of Title / Requirements (Tennessee) | Title: YES; Other: forms RV-F1312101 and RV-F1315201 |
| Certification | Signed personally and dated 05/30/2026; proof of address attached |
Note that David, as an individual, must attach proof of address, while First Harbor and Blue Ridge, as businesses, are exempt under VLIC-3.125.
How to File the Completed Form
You can file the VSA 98 packet by mail or in person, and each channel has its own steps. The packet always includes the signed VSA 98, the completed VSA 17A, the out-of-state title (or a replacement), every state-required repossession document, and payment.
By mail. Send the full packet to the Titling Work Center: Virginia DMV, Attn: Titles and Registration Work Center, P.O. Box 27412, Richmond, VA 23269. Pay by check or money order made payable to DMV, since mail-in cannot take cash. Keep a copy of everything and your mailing receipt as proof of filing, and expect processing to begin within about five business days of receipt.
In person. Bring the packet to any DMV Customer Service Center, where a clerk reviews and processes it at the counter. In-person centers accept check, money order, and card, and you walk out with a receipt. The DMV also offers a title drop-off service that turns the title around in three to five days, but drop-off and mail cannot accept cash.
For every channel, the fees are the $15 titling fee plus any Sales and Use Tax you owe. Keep your stamped receipt or mailing confirmation as your proof of filing until the title arrives.
What Happens After You File
After the DMV accepts your packet, it retires the old out-of-state title record and issues a new Virginia title in the lienholder’s name. The vehicle’s prior owner’s private information stays off the new title, which protects that data when you later resell the vehicle. Processing usually starts within five business days of receipt for mailed and drop-off applications.
Once the repossession title is in your name, any later sale to a buyer is a normal title transfer, and your buyer does not have to submit any repossession documents. That is the whole point of titling in the lienholder’s name first — it cleans up the chain of ownership so the next sale is simple. The DMV mails the paper title to the address you listed, or holds it electronically if you chose the electronic title option on the VSA 17A.
If the DMV finds a gap — a missing document, a name mismatch, or an unchecked box on page 2 — it places the application on hold or rejects it and notifies you. You then fix the issue and resubmit, which restarts the clock.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the VSA 98
Each error below has a direct consequence at the DMV counter or in the mail room.
- Filing the VSA 98 for a Virginia-titled vehicle; the DMV rejects it because this form is only for out-of-state titles.
- Naming the repossession agent instead of the lienholder; the application is denied because the agent is not the lender of record.
- Checking a box on page 2 without attaching that document; the packet is rejected for incomplete requirements.
- Submitting a photocopy where the table demands a certified document; the DMV refuses the uncertified version.
- Mismatching the lienholder name to the title; the clerk holds the title for a possible fraud review.
- Entering a wrong VIN character; the title can attach to the wrong vehicle or be rejected outright.
- Confusing the date of lien with the date of repossession; the inconsistent date can be treated as a false statement.
- Leaving the certification unsigned or undated; an unsigned affidavit is legally void and auto-rejected.
- Forgetting to include the VSA 17A; the DMV cannot create a title record without it.
- Skipping proof of address as an individual lienholder; your application stalls until you provide it.
- Underpaying the Sales and Use Tax when you also register the vehicle; the DMV will not finalize the title.
- Using an outdated form revision; a clerk can refuse a version older than the current 06/15/2021 form.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do pull a fresh VSA 98 from the DMV forms page so you have the current revision.
- Do match the lienholder name to the title exactly, because the DMV cross-checks it.
- Do read your state’s full row on page 2, since one missed document stops everything.
- Do submit certified copies where the table demands them, as faxes will not pass.
- Do keep your stamped receipt or mailing confirmation as proof of filing.
- Do file the VSA 17A in the same packet, because the VSA 98 cannot stand alone.
Don’t:
- Don’t use the VSA 98 for a Virginia-titled vehicle, because it will be rejected.
- Don’t guess the date of lien or VIN, since errors can be treated as false statements.
- Don’t sign without authority if you are an agent, because the DMV verifies authorization.
- Don’t mail cash, because mail-in and drop-off channels cannot accept it.
- Don’t check page 2 boxes for documents you have not attached, as that guarantees rejection.
- Don’t reuse an old saved PDF, because an outdated revision can be refused.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Lienholders can file the VSA 98 themselves or hire a titling service such as the VIADA DMV Titling Center. Weigh the trade-offs:
Pros of filing on your own:
- You save the service fee, because you pay only the DMV’s $15 and any tax.
- You control the timeline and can file the moment your documents are ready.
- You learn the process, which helps on future repossessions.
- You avoid sharing sensitive loan records with a third party.
- You can use the free drop-off service for a fast turnaround.
Cons of filing on your own:
- You risk rejection if you misread the state-of-title table, costing weeks.
- You must track 50 states’ differing repossession rules yourself.
- You handle replacement-title detours alone if the original title is missing.
- You spend staff time that a service would absorb.
- You bear the full burden of the perjury certification with no expert review.
VSA 98 vs. VSA 17A: How They Work Together
These two forms are filed together but do different jobs, so it helps to see them side by side.
| Feature | VSA 98 (Repossession) |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Proves the out-of-state repossession and your right to title it |
| When required | Only when the vehicle was titled out-of-state |
| Who signs | The lienholder or authorized agent, under perjury |
| Key section | The State of Title/Requirements table on page 2 |
| Filed alone? | No — always paired with the VSA 17A |
| Feature | VSA 17A (Title Application) |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Creates the actual Virginia title and optional registration |
| When required | Always, for every titling transaction |
| Who signs | The applicant (the lienholder) |
| Key section | Owner, vehicle, lien, and odometer details |
| Filed alone? | Yes, for Virginia-titled repossessions (no VSA 98) |
A Note on the Sales and Use Tax
Whether you owe the 4.15% Sales and Use Tax depends on what you do with the vehicle. Under Va. Code § 58.1-2403, a lienholder who only titles the repossessed vehicle in their name — and does not register it — is exempt from the tax. The consequence of getting this wrong is overpaying or having your title held, so confirm your intent before you pay.
If you both title and register the vehicle in the lienholder’s name, you owe the greater of the tax on the NADA trade-in value or the minimum, which the DMV’s fee guidance sets at $75. This applies to both individual lienholders and financial institutions alike, per VLIC-3.125. A common misconception is that lienholders are always tax-free; the exemption disappears the moment you register the vehicle in your own name.
Missing the Title? Use the VSA 67 Detour
If the out-of-state title is not in hand, you usually cannot file the VSA 98 yet. The DMV requires that you first obtain the title, and for a Virginia-titled vehicle you would file the Application for Replacement and Substitute Titles (VSA 67), then wait for it to arrive before applying for the repossession title. Ignoring this step means your packet is incomplete and gets rejected.
There are narrow exceptions. If the NADA textbook shows the vehicle is from a non-title model year, or the state of title’s row on the VSA 98 says no title is required for repossession, you may proceed without the title. Many filers wrongly assume they can always title without the original document; the exception is limited and the clerk makes the final call, so do not promise yourself it will pass.
FAQs
Do I file the VSA 98 if the car was titled in Virginia?
No. The VSA 98 is only for out-of-state titles. For a Virginia-titled repossession, file just the VSA 17A and the Virginia title in the lienholder’s name.
Can a repossession agent sign the VSA 98 instead of the lender?
Yes. An authorized agent may sign, but they need written authority from the lienholder, and the lienholder’s name must still match the title records.
Do I write the lienholder name or the borrower’s name in the Lienholder Name box?
No. Never write the borrower’s name there. The Current Lienholder Information section takes the lender’s full legal name exactly as it appears on the title.
Is the date of lien the same as the repossession date in that box?
No. The date of lien is when the security interest began, not when you took the vehicle back. Mixing them up can be treated as a false statement.
Do I list the previous owner in the Supplemental Lien Information section?
No. That section is only for additional second or third lienholders. Leave it blank if you are the sole lienholder.
Must I check every box in my state’s row on page 2?
Yes. You check each box to confirm you submitted that exact document, and you must actually attach each item or the packet is rejected.
Can I send a photocopy when the table says “certified”?
No. If the State of Title/Requirements table marks a document as certified, a fax or photocopy will not be accepted.
Do businesses have to submit proof of address?
No. Lienholders that are businesses are exempt from proof of address. Individual lienholders, however, must provide it.
Do I owe Sales and Use Tax just to title the vehicle in my name?
No. A lienholder who only titles, and does not register, the vehicle is exempt under Va. Code § 58.1-2403. Registering it triggers the tax.
Can I file the VSA 98 by mail?
Yes. Mail the full packet to the Titles and Registration Work Center, P.O. Box 27412, Richmond, VA 23269, with a check or money order, not cash.
Do I need the VSA 17A even though I filled out the VSA 98?
Yes. The VSA 98 is never filed alone. The VSA 17A is the actual title application and must be in the same packet.
What if I do not have the original out-of-state title?
No, you generally cannot file without it. You must obtain the title first, often via a replacement, unless your state’s row or the NADA textbook shows no title is required.
Does my buyer have to submit repossession papers when I resell the vehicle?
No. Once the repossession title is in your name, the next sale is a standard transfer and the buyer submits no repossession documents.
Can an out-of-state lender use a mailing address in another state?
Yes. Your mailing address and the vehicle’s prior title state can differ. The DMV mails the finished title to the address you list on the form.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Virginia Form VA DMV VSA 17A (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Virginia VA DMV Salvage / Nonrepairable Certificate + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Virginia VA DMV Vehicle Lien Sale (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out a Maryland MVA Repossession Title (With Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Nevada DMV Application for Duplicate Title (VP-012) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out West Virginia DMV Application for Duplicate Title + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Delaware DMV Application for Duplicate Title (Form MV213) + FAQs