Who gets the leased title to Virginia?

The lessor is the titled owner and is responsible for the title fee and sales and use tax at titling, though Virginia DMV says the leasing agreement may sometimes require the lessee to make these payments. The lessor's power of attorney gives the named lessee authority to handle the vehicle paperwork when the lessee is not on the title record.

What should I ask the lessor for first?

Check whether the lessee appears on Virginia's title record. If not, ask the lessor for a power of attorney that covers both title and registration paperwork.

What does NewState Drive do for free?

Keep the route, lessor instructions, follow-up dates, handoff milestones, official links, and final proof together. Complete account and identity steps in the lessor or agency channel, then return to the saved route.

Leased car moving to Virginia

Virginia lets the lessee handle the transaction with a lessor power of attorney

Virginia titles a leased vehicle in the lessor's name. If the lessee is not on the title record, Virginia says the lessee may handle titling and registration with a power of attorney from the lessor.

Build my Virginia lessor request Find my lessor

Save the lessor handoff

Virginia timingPower of attorney before a lessee signs for the lessor

Virginia says leased vehicles may not appear in the lessee's online DMV record, so keep the registration and authorization copies together.

At a glance

Who does what in Virginia

Who files: You, with a lessor power of attorney if you are not on the title record.
What the lessor signs: A power of attorney from the lessor, if you are not on the title record.
Do this first: Check whether you appear on Virginia's title record. If not, ask the lessor for a power of attorney.

Do not end the old insurance or plates before the new registration is done.

The handoff

The handoff, step by step

Start with the ownership document before the registration visit.

01Ask the lessor
Check whether the lessee appears on Virginia's title record. If not, ask the lessor for a power of attorney that covers both title and registration paperwork.
02Follow the state path
The lessor is the titled owner and is responsible for the title fee and sales and use tax at titling, though Virginia DMV says the leasing agreement may sometimes require the lessee to make these payments. The lessor's power of attorney gives the named lessee authority to handle the vehicle paperwork when the lessee is not on the title record.

State packet

What to line up

These are the lease-specific items in the reviewed state source.

Title in the lessor's name

Lessor power of attorney when the lessee is not on the title record

Virginia title and registration materials for a new resident

Proof retained outside the online DMV record when the leased vehicle does not appear there

Request builder

Match the lessor to Virginia

Add the state you are leaving and choose a supported lessor if it is listed. No VIN or lease account number is collected.

Moving fromLessor (optional)

Choose your lessor

Match a supported lessor to Virginia

Each path joins the provider channel to this state packet.

Official sources

Official sources for Virginia

Checked Oct 7, 2026. The state pages below control if a requirement changes.

Virginia DMV: leasing a vehicleChecked 2026-10-07 ↗
Title / lienRegistrationTax / fees
Virginia DMV: register your vehicleChecked 2026-08-01 ↗
Title / lienRegistration

Moving a leased car to Virginia

Can I register a leased car after moving to Virginia?: Virginia titles a leased vehicle in the lessor's name. If the lessee is not on the title record, Virginia says the lessee may handle titling and registration with a power of attorney from the lessor.
Who gets the leased title to Virginia?: The lessor is the titled owner and is responsible for the title fee and sales and use tax at titling, though Virginia DMV says the leasing agreement may sometimes require the lessee to make these payments. The lessor's power of attorney gives the named lessee authority to handle the vehicle paperwork when the lessee is not on the title record.
What should I ask the lessor for first?: Check whether the lessee appears on Virginia's title record. If not, ask the lessor for a power of attorney that covers both title and registration paperwork.
What does NewState Drive do for free?: Keep the route, lessor instructions, follow-up dates, handoff milestones, official links, and final proof together. Complete account and identity steps in the lessor or agency channel, then return to the saved route.

Every step above stays free.

If the lessor is slow, or the new state keeps rejecting the request

Supported follow-up through the handoff milestones
Tracking of title delivery and the state's acknowledgement
A private case with the final proof check
You step in for account sign-in, authorizations, signatures, payments, inspections and in-person visits

One-time $89. We show the work, terms, exclusions, price, and delivery date before payment.

Virginia lessor handoff

Prepare the packet and track the handoff

The saved checklist connects the route, lessor request, title, authorization, destination receipt, and final proof.

Keep your place and return later

Track your progress, dates, title requests, and receipts to keep. We will email a private return link.

Starting stateDestination or filing state

Who has the title?What do you need most?

Transaction details

Use these fields when the vehicle was bought, sold, gifted, inherited, rejected, or delayed.

Why are you handling the vehicle?Current status

Other partyWhat is stopping you?

Email for your private link

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We use your email for the saved route. The two checkboxes are optional.