Form VR-103 at a glance
What it is: Form VR-103 is the Application for Maryland Gift Certification.
Who signs: The giver(s) of the vehicle and the recipient(s) of the vehicle each complete a certification. They certify under penalty of perjury that all statements made herein are true and correct to the best of their knowledge, information and belief. They further certify that no money or other valuable consideration is involved in this transfer. The transfer is not being made contrary to Maryland Vehicle Laws.
If you are not a member of the immediate family as noted on the form, this form cannot be used. The family members listed on the form are Spouse, Father, Son, Daughter, Sister, Grandmother, Mother, Stepfather, Adopted Son, Adopted Daughter, Half Sister, Grandchild, Stepmother, Father-in-Law, Stepson, Stepdaughter, Brother, Uncle, Mother-in-Law, Grandfather, Son-in-Law, Daughter-in-Law, Half-Brother and Aunt. Uncle and Aunt are marked *.
No monetary or other valuable consideration may be involved in the transfer.
A filled-in Form VR-103 example: a mother gifts her car to her son
How to fill out Form VR-103, box by box
Vehicle Title Information
Under Vehicle Title Information, enter the Vehicle Year, Make, Title Number and Vehicle Identification Number.
Giver, receiver and relationship
Enter the Giver Full Name(s). Enter the Receiver Full Name(s) and the Relationship to Giver.
Odometer Reading
Federal and State law requires that you state the mileage in connection with this transaction.
Enter the Odometer Reading (no tenths).
Unless one of the following statements is checked, you certify to the best of your knowledge that the odometer reading is the actual mileage of the vehicle.
Check box 1 if the mileage stated is in excess of its mechanical limits.
Check box 2 if the odometer reading is not the actual mileage. Warning Odometer Discrepancy.
Signatures of the giver and the receiver
The giver signs in Signature of Giver and enters the Date. If there is a co-giver, the co-giver signs in Signature of Co-Giver and enters the Date.
The receiver signs in Signature of Receiver and enters the Date. The co-receiver signs in Signature of Co-Receiver and enters the Date.
If your situation is different
The title shows a lien
Vehicle (financed): if the title shows a lien, proof that the lien has been satisfied can be shown by the submission of a notice of security interest filing or by a termination statement, on the lienholder's letterhead, stating that the lien has been released. Included with this statement should be a description of the vehicle by year, make, and the vehicle's identification number.
If the lienholder's name is on the face of the title and the lien has not been satisfied, a statement from the lienholder, authorizing the lien transfer, must accompany the transaction.
Lien release letters must be accompanied by photo identification (State issued driver's license or I.D. card) of the person presenting the document to the MVA.
Adding a name to a title
To add a name to the title, complete the assignment section on the title's reverse side with both names where "buyer/receiver" is indicated.
The owner's signature must be written in the space provided for "seller/giver."
The buyer's application for the new certificate of title section must be completed in the space designated for the names and signatures of both buyers.
Deleting a name from a title
To delete a name from a title, complete the assignment section on the title's reverse side with the name of the person receiving the vehicle in the space provided for "buyer/receiver."
Both persons giving the vehicle as a gift must complete the assignment section by providing their signatures in the space provided for "seller/giver."
The buyer's application for new certificate of title section must be completed by the person receiving the vehicle.
If the vehicle is transferred from a joint ownership to another joint ownership, for example, from mother and father to son and daughter-in-law, follow the procedure for deleting a name from a title.
Transferring a title from an individual to another individual
To transfer the title of a vehicle from one individual, complete the assignment section on the title's reverse side, by providing the name of the person receiving the vehicle in the space provided for "buyer/receiver."
In the same section, the person giving the vehicle must provide his/her signature in the space provided for "seller/giver."
The person receiving the vehicle must complete the buyer's application for a new certificate of title and write his/her signature in the space provided for "buyer/receiver."
Transferring plates
Plates may be transferred if the vehicle is titled: (1) in the joint names of the spouses and is being transferred to the name of either spouse; (2) in the name of either spouse and is being transferred to the joint names of the spouses; (3) in the joint name of a parent and child and is transferred to the individual name of either party; (4) in the name of the individual and is transferred to the joint names of that individual and the individual's parent or child; (5) in the name of an individual and is transferred to the name of a spouse, a child or a parent of that individual.
For all other gift transfers concerning family members, excluding spouses, parent and child, new plates must be purchased.
If you are transferring plates and less than 12 months remain in the registration year, the registration will be renewed for an additional year (for a fee) when the vehicle is titled.
Inspection
Generally, any transfer between spouses or between a parent and child are exempt from inspection.
All other transactions require a Maryland safety inspection.
Allowable transfer of a vehicle from an Aunt or Uncle to a Niece and/or Nephew
On transfer of a vehicle titled in this State the vehicle is exempt from the excise tax if the recipient is a niece and/or nephew of the transferor who is at least 65 years of age.
If proof of relationship is not available, complete Form VR-299 Gift Title Transfer from Aunt/Uncle to Niece and/or Nephew.
Before you go
If the vehicle transfer qualifies as a bona fide gift, this form must be completed and submitted with the properly assigned Maryland title.
This Gift Certification (VR-103) must be presented along with the Maryland Certificate of Title (VR-2) completed on the Certificate of Title's reverse or a completed Application for a Maryland Title (VR-5).
If last names are not the same, proof of relationship must be submitted with this form.
Common questions about Form VR-103
How do I transfer a gift title to a family member in Maryland?
This Gift Certification (VR-103) must be presented along with the Maryland Certificate of Title (VR-2) completed on the Certificate of Title's reverse or a completed Application for a Maryland Title (VR-5).
Are there fees?
A copy of your current registration card along with the $15.00 transfer fee will complete the transaction for the transfer of plates (checked October 19, 2026).
Is there a penalty?
Failure to complete or providing a false statement may result in fines and/or imprisonment.
When is this form not the right one?
This form may be used only for vehicles titled in this state.
Sources
[1] Form VR-103 (04-26), Application for Maryland Gift Certification, Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (the Official source link on this page).