Va. Code » Title 46.2. Motor Vehicles » Subtitle II. Titling, Registration and Licensure » Chapter 6. Titling and Registration of Motor Vehicles » Article 1. Titling and Registration, Generally
Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-604 (2026)

Contents of registration card and certificate; vehicle color data; notation of certain disabled owners

✓ current as of May 2026
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The registration card and the certificate of title shall each contain the date issued, the registration number assigned to the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, the name and address of the owner, a description of the registered motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, and other statement of facts as may be determined by the Department. Every applicant for registration or renewal of registration shall indicate on his application the color that best describes the predominant color of the vehicle. In so doing, the applicant shall select a color from a list of standard, primary colors, developed by the Commissioner. Such color information shall be maintained in the Department's records and made available to law-enforcement agencies for their official use and may, in the discretion of the Commissioner, be indicated on the registration card and the certificate of title.

Whenever disabled parking license plates are issued under § 46.2-731 to the parent or legal guardian of a person with a disability that limits or impairs his ability to walk or that creates a concern for his safety while walking, the registration card for such vehicle shall so note.

Whenever (i) disabled parking license plates are issued under § 46.2-731 or DV disabled parking license plates are issued under subsection B of § 46.2-739 and (ii) the vehicle for which such license plates are issued is registered in the name of more than one owner, the registration card for such vehicle shall include a notation indicating which owner or owners of the vehicle is a "person with a disability that limits or impairs his ability to walk" as defined in § 46.2-1240. However, no vehicle owned and used by an organization for the transportation of disabled persons shall be subject to the notation requirement imposed by this paragraph.

The registration card shall contain forms for providing notice to the Department of a transfer of the ownership of the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer. Whenever a Virginia-registered motor vehicle is sold or its ownership otherwise transferred, the seller or transferor shall notify the Department of the sale or transfer by completing the appropriate portion of the registration card. Section 46.2-113 shall not apply to failures to provide such notification.

The certificate of title shall contain a statement of the owner's title and of all liens or encumbrances on the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer described in the certificate and whether possession is held by the owner under a lease, contract, or conditional sale or other like agreement. The certificate of title shall also contain forms of assignment of title or interest and warranty of title with space for notation of liens and encumbrances on the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer at the time of a transfer.

Code 1950, § 46-79; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-79; 1988, c. 363; 1989, c. 727; 1990, c. 79; 1998, cc. 285, 302; 2000, c. 667; 2004, c. 692.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases, 2002–2020 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Mason, 78 Va. Cir. 474 (Hanover Cir. Ct. 2009).
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Commonwealth v. Mason, 78 Va. Cir. 474 (Hanover Cir. Ct. 2009). · cites it 14× “The Commonwealth argues that a suspected violation of Va. Code § 46.2-604 was not even necessary because the disparity in color provided Deputy Snook with a reasonable articulable suspicion that the van and/or its license plates may have been stolen.”
Bank of New York v. Leake (In Re Wuerzberger), 284 B.R. 814 (Bankr. W.D. Va. 2002). · cites it 2× “5 Virginia Code § 46.2-604 requires that the certificate of title contain “a statement .”
Fagg v. Progressive Gulf Ins. Co., No. 7:19-cv-00161 (W.D. Va. Jan. 8, 2020). · cites it 2× “” Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-604 . The day after he bought the Suzuki, and while driving it, Fagg had the misfortune of being struck by an uninsured motorist.”
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