Short answer: yes, you can gift a car in Maryland, and when the gift is between family members listed on the MVA’s gift form, the excise (titling) tax is waived. You sign the title over with “GIFT” as the price, complete a Gift Certification (VR-103) with the receiver, and the receiver titles the car in their name. The catch is that not every gift qualifies: it has to be a car already titled in Maryland, no money can change hands, and the two people have to be relatives on the VR-103 list.
We help Reisterstown, Owings Mills and Baltimore County families with title work. Below is what the MVA says, step by step. We are an MVA-authorized tag and title agent, not the MVA, and this guide is for general information only.
Need help with your tag or title?
Visit Maryland Express Services in Reisterstown, open 7 days a week. Call, text or WhatsApp (443) 826-7843.
How do you gift a car in Maryland?
A vehicle counts as a gift, per the MVA gift page, when no money is exchanged and the transfer is between eligible individuals under Maryland law. The Application for Maryland Gift Certification (VR-103, current revision 04-26) adds that the giver certifies no money or other valuable consideration is involved. These are the steps the MVA lays out:
- Check the title. It must be a valid Certificate of Title in the giver’s name, match the vehicle’s VIN, and show no liens or include a lien release. It must be signed exactly as the giver’s name appears on it.
- Complete the assignment on the title. Enter the recipient’s name as the buyer, write “GIFT” in the sale price field (do not leave it blank), record the odometer reading (required by federal law), and sign and date it. Do not cross out or alter anything.
- Complete the gift certification. Both the giver and the receiver sign the VR-103, which also asks for the odometer reading.
- Handle the plates. The MVA gift page tells the giver to remove their license plates before handing over the vehicle and not to give them to the recipient. The VR-103 separately explains when plates may transfer to the new title (spouse and parent-child, see below). If you are not sure whether your plates should stay with the car, ask before you take them off.
- Receiver titles and registers it. The recipient must title and register the vehicle in their name, pay required fees unless exempt, obtain Maryland vehicle insurance, and complete any required inspection. The MVA says the recipient may need a vehicle titling appointment at an MVA location.
- Giver returns the plates and cancels coverage. The MVA says to return the plates promptly to avoid insurance penalties or registration issues, then contact your insurance company to cancel coverage.
Our guides on returning license plates in Maryland and what to do after you give up a car walk through the giver’s side.
Who can you gift a car to in Maryland?
The VR-103 says that if you are not a member of the immediate family it lists, the form cannot be used. The relatives listed on the form are:
- Spouse
- Mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, mother-in-law and father-in-law
- Grandmother and grandfather
- Son, daughter, adopted son, adopted daughter, stepson and stepdaughter
- Son-in-law and daughter-in-law
- Sister, brother, half-sister and half-brother
- Grandchild
- Aunt and uncle (the form has extra rules on the back, see below)
If the last names are not the same, such as siblings or children who do not share a last name, the VR-103 says proof of relationship must be submitted with it. The MVA manual gives a birth certificate or marriage certificate as examples.
Aunts and uncles: per the VR-103, a vehicle given to a niece or nephew is exempt from excise tax if the recipient is at least 65 years old. If proof of the relationship is not available, the form points to Form VR-299 (Gift Title Transfer from Aunt/Uncle to Niece and/or Nephew). No money or other valuable consideration may be involved.
Is there excise tax when you gift a car in Maryland?
Not for a qualifying family gift. The MVA gift page says a gift transfer may be exempt from excise tax, but only if all requirements are met and proper documentation is provided, and that tax exemptions are not automatic. The MVA Title and Registration Manual lists the exemption for vehicles currently titled in Maryland that go to a spouse, child, grandchild, parent, sibling, grandparent, or an in-law on the form’s list, with no money or other valuable consideration involved.
If the transfer does not qualify, the recipient may owe the regular titling tax, which the MVA fees page lists at 6.5% of fair market value (minimum $41.60). This is the MVA’s excise tax at titling. Whether any income or gift tax questions apply to you is outside what we can advise on, so ask a tax professional. See our excise tax calculation guide for how the 6.5% works.
What do I need to gift a car in Maryland?
Here is the paperwork checklist, based on the MVA gift page, the VR-103 and the MVA manual’s section on gifted vehicles between immediate family members within Maryland:
- The current Maryland title, properly assigned by the person giving the vehicle (recipient’s name as buyer, “GIFT” as price, odometer, signed and dated)
- Title application: the application on the back of the Maryland title, or the VR-005 completed by the person receiving the vehicle
- The VR-103, completed and signed by all givers and receivers
- Proof of relationship if last names are different, for example a birth or marriage certificate
- Maryland insurance on the vehicle, from a company licensed to insure vehicles in Maryland
- A lien release or the lienholder’s written authorization, if the title shows a lien
- The current registration card, if tags are transferring (spouse and parent-child only)
- A safety inspection certificate, if the receiver is any relative other than a spouse or a parent or child
If there is still a loan on the car. The title must show no liens or include a lien release, and if the lien has not been paid off, the VR-103 says the lienholder’s statement authorizing the transfer must come with the paperwork. The MVA manual adds that a gift between spouses with an open lien is still excise tax exempt, but needs the lender’s letter of permission. For a parent and child with an open lien, it asks for a letter signed by both saying who made the down payment, paid the taxes and made the payments, and warns that if the receiver did not, the transaction is taxable. Gifts with open liens between other relatives must pay excise tax. Call us before you sign if the car has a loan, and see our lien payoff and title transfer guide.
How to gift a car to your child in Maryland (and what about a spouse?)
Spouse and parent-child gifts are the simplest. The VR-103 says transfers between spouses or between a parent and child are generally exempt from the safety inspection, and the MVA Title and Registration Manual says Maryland safety inspection is not needed for these transfers. The excise tax is waived for a qualifying gift with the VR-103.
Plates can also move with these gifts. The VR-103 lists the cases where plates may be transferred, including a vehicle in one person’s name going to that person’s spouse, child or parent. The transfer fee is $15, you bring a copy of the current registration card, and if less than 12 months remain on the registration, it is renewed for another year (for a fee) when the vehicle is titled. It applies to a vehicle that is already titled in Maryland. We also have a post on gifting a vehicle to a child and the safety inspection.
Can you gift a car to a grandchild, sibling or other relative in Maryland?
Yes, if the relative is on the VR-103 list and the car is titled in Maryland. The excise tax is still waived for a qualifying gift, but the rules are different from spouse and parent-child gifts:
- A Maryland safety inspection is required. The VR-103 says that all transactions other than spouse or parent-child require one.
- New plates must be purchased. The VR-103 says that for gift transfers to family members other than spouses and parent-child, new plates must be purchased. Registration is priced by vehicle class and weight.
- Proof of relationship is needed if the last names are different.
See our guides to the Maryland safety inspection requirements and exemptions for what an inspection involves. If you are adding a name rather than handing the car over, read how to add someone to a car title; for the opposite, see how to remove a co-owner from a title.
How much does it cost to gift a car in Maryland?
These are state amounts from the MVA fees page, checked October 16, 2026. Agent service fees are separate and set by each agency.
| Item | State amount |
|---|---|
| Title certificate (new/used) | $200 |
| Security interest (lien) filing, if a lien is recorded | $40 |
| Excise (titling) tax, qualifying family gift with VR-103 | $0 |
| Excise tax if the transfer does not qualify | 6.5% of fair market value (minimum $41.60) |
| Registration / tag transfer (spouse or parent-child) | $15 |
| New plates (other relatives) | Registration fee by vehicle class and weight |
See our state fees breakdown for the full list.
How to gift a car in Maryland to a non-family member or friend
A friend, partner or other person who is not on the VR-103 list cannot use the gift form, so the family excise tax exemption is not available. The MVA gift page warns that the recipient may need to pay excise tax if the transfer does not meet MVA requirements. We have not found a published MVA rule that spells out exactly how tax is figured on a no-money transfer between unrelated people, so we will not guess: confirm with MVA Dealer Services at 410-424-3625 before you sign. If money is paid, it is a sale, not a gift. See our bill of sale guide.
Gifting a car in Maryland from out of state
The VR-103 says it may be used only for vehicles titled in Maryland, and the MVA Title and Registration Manual says gifts of vehicles not previously titled in Maryland between family members are subject to excise tax and a Maryland safety inspection. So if the car is currently titled in another state, do not count on the tax waiver or the spouse and parent-child inspection exemption. What counts is where the car is titled. Call MVA Dealer Services at 410-424-3625 or call us before you plan around it.
Get help gifting a car in Maryland
We process gift title transfers at our Reisterstown office, walk-ins welcome 7 days. Call or text us with how you are related, whether the car has a loan, and where it is titled, and we will tell you what to bring. Start with our tag and title services or the tag and title checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Can you gift a car in Maryland?
Yes. A car is a gift when no money is exchanged and the transfer is between eligible individuals under Maryland law. The giver signs the title over with “GIFT” as the price, and the receiver titles the car in their name.
Can I gift a car to my son or daughter in Maryland?
Yes. A parent and child are on the VR-103 list. The excise tax is waived for a qualifying gift, the safety inspection is generally not required, and plates may transfer for a $15 fee. If last names differ, bring proof of relationship.
How much does it cost to gift a car in Maryland?
The state title fee is $200, plus $40 if a lien is recorded. Excise tax is $0 for a qualifying family gift with a VR-103; otherwise the MVA lists 6.5% of fair market value (minimum $41.60). Plates transfer for $15 for a spouse or parent-child; other relatives buy new plates. Agent service fees are separate.
Does Maryland have a gift tax on cars?
The MVA charges excise (titling) tax when a vehicle is titled and exempts qualifying family gifts. That is separate from any income or gift tax questions, which we cannot advise on. Ask a tax professional.
Do I need a safety inspection to gift a car in Maryland?
Generally not between spouses or between a parent and child. For all other relatives, the VR-103 says a Maryland safety inspection is required.
Can you gift a car to a friend in Maryland?
You can hand over a car with no money exchanged, but a friend is not on the VR-103 list, so the family excise tax exemption does not apply. Confirm how tax will be figured with MVA Dealer Services at 410-424-3625 before you sign.
What do I write on the title when gifting a car?
Enter the recipient’s name as the buyer, write GIFT in the sale price field (do not leave it blank), record the odometer reading, and sign and date it. Do not cross out or alter anything.
Can I gift a car titled in another state to a family member in Maryland?
The VR-103 may be used only for vehicles titled in Maryland, and the MVA manual says gifts of vehicles not previously titled in Maryland are subject to excise tax and a Maryland safety inspection. Confirm with MVA Dealer Services at 410-424-3625 before you rely on a waiver.
Disclaimer
Maryland Express Services LLC is an MVA-authorized tag and title agent, not the MVA. This article is for general guidance and information only and is not legal or tax advice. Information is based on the MVA gift page, the VR-103 (rev. 04-26), the MVA Title and Registration Manual and the MVA fees page, re-checked on October 16, 2026. Rules and fees can change, so confirm on mva.maryland.gov or with MVA Dealer Services at 410-424-3625. Call, text, or WhatsApp (443) 826-7843 for help in Reisterstown.
