{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/46.2-618.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/46.2-618.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/46.2-618.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/46.2-618.html"}],"law_id":60178,"edition_id":1,"section_id":60178,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-618","catch_line":"When unlawful to have in possession certificate of title issued to another; remedy of purchaser against persons in possession of title of vehicle purchased from dealer","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 46-81; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7 46.1-80; 1966, c. 558; 1972, c. 208; 1982, c. 205; 1989, c. 727; 2012, c. 119; 2015, c. 615.","full_text":"A\n\nIt shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person in the Commonwealth to possess a certificate of title issued by the Commissioner to a person other than the holder thereof, unless the certificate of title has been assigned to the holder as provided in this title. This section, however, shall apply neither to secured parties who legally hold certificates of title as provided in this title nor to the spouse of the person to whom the certificate of title was issued.B\n\nWhen a purchaser of a motor vehicle is unable to obtain the title for such vehicle because the motor vehicle dealer who sold the vehicle to the purchaser is no longer engaged in business in the Commonwealth as a dealer as defined in § 46.2-1500 and the purchaser must petition a court of competent jurisdiction to direct that a person other than the dealer holding the title to release the title to the purchaser, the Court may order the title be released to the buyer if the court finds that the purchaser has a right to the title superior to that of the person holding the title under the laws of the Commonwealth. The court may also, upon finding that the person holding the title must release it, award reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and costs incurred by the purchaser in making the petition to the court.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":220162,"text":"It shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person in the Commonwealth to possess a certificate of title issued by the Commissioner to a person other than the holder thereof, unless the certificate of title has been assigned to the holder as provided in this title. This section, however, shall apply neither to secured parties who legally hold certificates of title as provided in this title nor to the spouse of the person to whom the certificate of title was issued.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":220163,"text":"When a purchaser of a motor vehicle is unable to obtain the title for such vehicle because the motor vehicle dealer who sold the vehicle to the purchaser is no longer engaged in business in the Commonwealth as a dealer as defined in § 46.2-1500 and the purchaser must petition a court of competent jurisdiction to direct that a person other than the dealer holding the title to release the title to the purchaser, the Court may order the title be released to the buyer if the court finds that the purchaser has a right to the title superior to that of the person holding the title under the laws of the Commonwealth. The court may also, upon finding that the person holding the title must release it, award reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and costs incurred by the purchaser in making the petition to the court.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":12956,"edition_id":1,"name":"Titling Vehicles","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12879,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","permalink":{"id":227953,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12956,"identifier":"2","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2","url":"\/46.2\/II\/6\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12879,"edition_id":1,"name":"Titling and Registration of Motor Vehicles","identifier":"6","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12771,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":226923,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12879,"identifier":"6","token":"46.2\/II\/6","url":"\/46.2\/II\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12771,"edition_id":1,"name":"Titling, Registration and Licensure","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12770,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":225627,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12771,"identifier":"II","token":"46.2\/II","url":"\/46.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12770,"edition_id":1,"name":"Motor Vehicles","identifier":"46.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":225289,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12770,"identifier":"46.2","token":"46.2","url":"\/46.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":83979,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-616","catch_line":"Acquiring vehicle from vendor who does not have certificate of title","url":"\/46.2-616\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-616","metadata":false},{"id":86372,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-617","catch_line":"Sale of vehicle without certificate of title","url":"\/46.2-617\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-617","metadata":false},{"id":60178,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-618","catch_line":"When unlawful to have in possession certificate of title issued to another; remedy of purchaser against persons in possession of title of vehicle purchased from dealer","url":"\/46.2-618\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-618","metadata":false},{"id":72463,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-619","catch_line":"New indicia of title; procedure as to leased vehicles","url":"\/46.2-619\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-619","metadata":false},{"id":59012,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-620","catch_line":"Period of validity of certificate of title","url":"\/46.2-620\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-620","metadata":false},{"id":79969,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-621","catch_line":"Application for certificate of title","url":"\/46.2-621\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-621","metadata":false},{"id":65083,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-621.1","catch_line":"Correcting errors in titling","url":"\/46.2-621.1\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-621.1","metadata":false},{"id":61253,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-622","catch_line":"Issuance of certificate of title in names of joint owners","url":"\/46.2-622\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-622","metadata":false},{"id":74428,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-623","catch_line":"Statements in application","url":"\/46.2-623\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-623","metadata":false},{"id":67974,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-624","catch_line":"Information required on vehicles damaged by water","url":"\/46.2-624\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-624","metadata":false},{"id":69007,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-625","catch_line":"Specially constructed, reconstructed, replica, converted electric, or foreign vehicles","url":"\/46.2-625\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-625","metadata":false},{"id":64146,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-626","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/46.2-626\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-626","metadata":false},{"id":75060,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-626.1","catch_line":"Motorcycle purchased by manufacturer for parts; documentation required for sale of parts","url":"\/46.2-626.1\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-626.1","metadata":false},{"id":85078,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-627","catch_line":"Fee for certificate of title; use in special fund","url":"\/46.2-627\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-627","metadata":false},{"id":71729,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-628","catch_line":"How certificate of title transferred","url":"\/46.2-628\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-628","metadata":false},{"id":69663,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-629","catch_line":"Odometer reading to be reported on certificate of title, application, or power of attorney","url":"\/46.2-629\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-629","metadata":false},{"id":56148,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-630","catch_line":"Transfer and application for certificate of title forwarded to Department","url":"\/46.2-630\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-630","metadata":false},{"id":62224,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-631","catch_line":"When transferred certificate of title need not be forwarded","url":"\/46.2-631\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-631","metadata":false},{"id":66534,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-631.1","catch_line":"Electronic sales by dealers; titling","url":"\/46.2-631.1\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-631.1","metadata":false},{"id":63795,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-632","catch_line":"Transfer when certificate of title lost","url":"\/46.2-632\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-632","metadata":false},{"id":72419,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-633","catch_line":"Transfer of title by operation of law","url":"\/46.2-633\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-633","metadata":false},{"id":59621,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-633.1","catch_line":"Sale in Virginia of vehicle repossessed in another state","url":"\/46.2-633.1\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-633.1","metadata":false},{"id":71623,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-633.2","catch_line":"Transfer of title on death","url":"\/46.2-633.2\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-633.2","metadata":false},{"id":71249,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-634","catch_line":"Transfer of title when no qualification on estate","url":"\/46.2-634\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-634","metadata":false},{"id":80251,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-635","catch_line":"Surrender of certificates for vehicles to be demolished; securing new title certificates","url":"\/46.2-635\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-635","metadata":false},{"id":86490,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-636","catch_line":"Certificate to show security interests","url":"\/46.2-636\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-636","metadata":false},{"id":60463,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-636.1","catch_line":"Security interests in farm tractors and special construction and forestry equipment","url":"\/46.2-636.1\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-636.1","metadata":false},{"id":55770,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-637","catch_line":"Security interests subsequently created","url":"\/46.2-637\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-637","metadata":false},{"id":59161,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-638","catch_line":"Certificate as notice of security interest","url":"\/46.2-638\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-638","metadata":false},{"id":64135,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-639","catch_line":"Security interest may be filed within thirty days after purchase","url":"\/46.2-639\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-639","metadata":false},{"id":66722,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-640","catch_line":"Priority of security interests shown on certificates of title","url":"\/46.2-640\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-640","metadata":false},{"id":85614,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-640.1","catch_line":"Vehicle leases that are not sales or security interests","url":"\/46.2-640.1\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-640.1","metadata":false},{"id":78295,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-641","catch_line":"Who to hold certificate of title subject to security interest","url":"\/46.2-641\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-641","metadata":false},{"id":61531,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-642","catch_line":"Release of security interest shown on certificate of title","url":"\/46.2-642\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-642","metadata":false},{"id":54050,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-643","catch_line":"Surrender of certificate of title required when security interest paid","url":"\/46.2-643\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-643","metadata":false},{"id":82679,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-644","catch_line":"Levy of execution","url":"\/46.2-644\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-644","metadata":false},{"id":71754,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-644.01","catch_line":"Lien of keeper of vehicles","url":"\/46.2-644.01\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-644.01","metadata":false},{"id":78093,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-644.02","catch_line":"Lien of mechanic for repairs","url":"\/46.2-644.02\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-644.02","metadata":false},{"id":56129,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-644.03","catch_line":"Enforcement of liens acquired under \u00a7\u00a7 46.2-644.01 and 46.2-644.02","url":"\/46.2-644.03\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-644.03","metadata":false},{"id":67489,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-644.04","catch_line":"Relinquishment of liens acquired under \u00a7\u00a7 46.2-644.01 and 46.2-644.02","url":"\/46.2-644.04\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-644.04","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":86372,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-617","catch_line":"Sale of vehicle without certificate of title","url":"\/46.2-617\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-617","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":72463,"structure_id":12956,"section_number":"46.2-619","catch_line":"New indicia of title; procedure as to leased vehicles","url":"\/46.2-619\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-619","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-618\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 7 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1958, chapter 541; in 1966, chapter 558; in 1972, chapter 208; in 1982, chapter 205; in 1989, chapter 727; in 2012, chapter 119<\/a>; in 2015, chapter 615<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":84929,"section_number":"46.2-1500","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1500\/"}],"permalink":{"id":227963,"object_type":"law","relational_id":60178,"identifier":"46.2-618","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-618","url":"\/46.2-618\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-618\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/2\/46.2-618","dublin_core":{"Title":"When unlawful to have in possession certificate of title issued to another; remedy of purchaser against persons in possession of title of vehicle purchased from dealer","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-618","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> It shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span> for any person in the Commonwealth to possess a certificate of title issued by the Commissioner<\/span> to a person other than the holder thereof, unless the certificate of title has been assigned to the holder as provided in this title. This section, however, shall apply neither to secured parties who legally hold certificates of title as provided in this title nor to the spouse of the person to whom the certificate of title was issued. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> When a purchaser of a motor vehicle<\/span> is unable to obtain the title for such vehicle because the motor vehicle<\/span> dealer who sold the vehicle to the purchaser is no longer engaged in business in the Commonwealth as a dealer as defined in § 46.2-1500<\/a> and the purchaser must petition<\/span> a court<\/span> of competent jurisdiction<\/span> to direct that a person other than the dealer holding the title to release the title to the purchaser, the Court<\/span> may order<\/span> the title be released to the buyer if the court<\/span> finds that the purchaser has a right to the title superior to that of the person holding the title under the laws<\/span> of the Commonwealth. The court<\/span> may also, upon finding<\/span> that the person holding the title must release it, award reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and costs incurred by the purchaser in making the petition<\/span> to the court<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nWHEN UNLAWFUL TO HAVE IN POSSESSION CERTIFICATE OF TITLE ISSUED TO ANOTHER;\nREMEDY OF PURCHASER AGAINST PERSONS IN POSSESSION OF TITLE OF VEHICLE PURCHASED\nFROM DEALER (\u00a7 46.2-618)\n\nA. It shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person in the Commonwealth\nto possess a certificate of title issued by the Commissioner to a person other\nthan the holder thereof, unless the certificate of title has been assigned to\nthe holder as provided in this title. This section, however, shall apply neither\nto secured parties who legally hold certificates of title as provided in this\ntitle nor to the spouse of the person to whom the certificate of title was\nissued.\n\nB. When a purchaser of a motor vehicle is unable to obtain the title for such\nvehicle because the motor vehicle dealer who sold the vehicle to the purchaser\nis no longer engaged in business in the Commonwealth as a dealer as defined in\n§ 46.2-1500 and the purchaser must petition a court of competent\njurisdiction to direct that a person other than the dealer holding the title to\nrelease the title to the purchaser, the Court may order the title be released to\nthe buyer if the court finds that the purchaser has a right to the title\nsuperior to that of the person holding the title under the laws of the\nCommonwealth. The court may also, upon finding that the person holding the title\nmust release it, award reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and costs incurred by\nthe purchaser in making the petition to the court.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 46-81; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7 46.1-80; 1966, c. 558; 1972, c.\n208; 1982, c. 205; 1989, c. 727; 2012, c. 119; 2015, c. 615.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}