How to Transfer a Car Title After Divorce in Pennsylvania

If your divorce decree assigns a vehicle to one spouse and it is currently titled in both names (or only in the other spouse's name), you need to transfer the title through PennDOT. Pennsylvania has specific forms for divorce-related transfers, and the process is exempt from sales tax — but you need the right paperwork to claim that exemption.

Which PennDOT Forms You Need

Form MV-4ST (Application for Certificate of Title). This is the standard title transfer form for vehicles currently titled in Pennsylvania. Both the transferor (the spouse giving up the vehicle) and the transferee (the spouse receiving it) sign this form.

Form MV-13ST (Affidavit of Gift). To claim the sales tax exemption on a divorce-related transfer, both parties must complete and sign this affidavit under penalty of perjury. It documents that the transfer is a gift between former spouses pursuant to a divorce decree, which exempts it from Pennsylvania's 6% sales tax (7% in Allegheny County, 8% in Philadelphia).

Form MV-1 (Application for Certificate of Title — Out-of-State Vehicle). If the vehicle is titled in another state, use Form MV-1 instead of MV-4ST. The transferor must provide proof that sales tax was paid in the originating state. If the original state has no reciprocity agreement with Pennsylvania, PennDOT will assess sales tax on the current fair market value.

What to Bring to the PennDOT Agent

Gather all of the following before visiting an authorized PennDOT agent or notary:

• The current vehicle title (signed on the back by the transferor)
• Completed Form MV-4ST (or MV-1 for out-of-state titles)
• Completed Form MV-13ST (signed by both parties)
• A certified copy of the final divorce decree
• Valid photo ID for both parties (if both are present) or the transferor's notarized signature on the title
• The $58 title transfer fee (check, money order, or card — policies vary by agent)

The Sales Tax Exemption

Without Form MV-13ST, PennDOT assesses sales tax on the vehicle's fair market value. On a $25,000 vehicle, that is $1,500 in most counties — $1,750 in Allegheny County or $2,000 in Philadelphia. The affidavit of gift eliminates this cost entirely for transfers between former spouses.

Both parties must sign the affidavit. If your ex-spouse is uncooperative, this becomes a compliance issue — you may need to file a contempt motion with the Court of Common Pleas to compel their signature.

Name Change on an Existing Title

If you are not transferring ownership but simply updating your name on the title after resuming your prior surname, the process is different. PennDOT Form MV-41A handles name corrections:

• Side A is for a name correction without issuing a new title card — no fee
• Side B requests a new title card with the corrected name — standard $58 fee

Bring your certified divorce decree and proof of name change (the filed Notice of Election to Resume Prior Surname) when submitting this form.

Registration Plate Transfers

Under Section 1314(a) of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, registration plates can be transferred between spouses or former spouses. The plate transfer fee is $9. If you are keeping the vehicle but your ex-spouse's name is on the registration, submit a registration update at the same time as the title transfer to avoid driving with mismatched records.

Common Issues

Ex-spouse will not sign. If your divorce decree awards the vehicle to you but your ex refuses to sign the title or the MV-13ST affidavit, file a motion to enforce the decree with the Court of Common Pleas. The court can order compliance or appoint a commissioner to execute the transfer.

Title has a lien. If there is an outstanding auto loan, the lienholder holds the title. The loan must be paid off or refinanced into the receiving spouse's name before the title can be transferred. Contact the lender for their specific release process.

Vehicle is in only one spouse's name. If the decree awards a vehicle already titled solely in one spouse's name to the other, you still need a full title transfer using MV-4ST and MV-13ST.

The Pennsylvania After-Divorce Checklist includes a vehicle title transfer tracker with each form, fee, and the complete sequence from gathering documents through registration updates.

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