House 4518

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2026 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 4518

By Delegates Brooks, Pritt, Martin, and Green

[Introduced January 19, 2026; referred to the Committee on Government Organization]

A BILL to amend and reenact §17-16D-15 and §17A-4-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to single fee discount plans; and requiring the Division of Motor Vehicle to update Parkways Authority when a person who uses the single fee discount plan updates their vehicle information.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 16D. ELECTRONIC TOLL COLLECTION.

§17-16D-15. New vehicle

(a) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and the Parkways Authority shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a §29A-3-1 et seq. of the code to implement this article.

(b) The Authority and the Division shall create a procedure where the Division shall provide the Authority updated information when any person utilizing the single fee discount plan updates their vehicle's information.

ARTICLE 4. TRANSFERS OF TITLE OR INTEREST.

§17A-4-1.  Registration expires on transfer by owner; transfer, surrender or retention of plates.

(a) Whenever the owner of a registered vehicle transfers or assigns his or her title, or interest thereto, the registration of such vehicle shall expire: Provided, That such owner, if he or she has made application to the department within sixty 60 days from the date of purchase to have said registration plates transferred to be used on another vehicle owned by said owner, may then operate the other vehicle for a period of sixty 60 days, but in no event longer than sixty 60 days from the date of original transfer. Upon such transfer, it shall be the duty of the original owner to retain the registration plates issued therefor and to immediately notify the commissioner of such transfer upon such form as may be provided therefor and to deliver to him or her the certificate of registration, whereupon the commissioner shall, upon the payment of a fee of $10, issue a new certificate showing the use to be made of such plates. The Division of Motor Vehicles may adjust the fee for each new certificate every five years on September 1, based on the U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics most current Consumer Price Index: Provided, That an increase in such fee may not exceed ten percent of the total fee amount in a single year.  Such plates may then be used by such owner on another vehicle of the same class as the vehicle for which they were originally issued if such other vehicle does not require a greater license fee than was required for such original vehicle. If such other vehicle requires a greater license fee than such original vehicle, then such plates may be used by paying such difference to the commissioner. When such transfer of ownership is made to a licensed dealer in motor vehicles it shall be the duty of such dealer to immediately execute notification of transfer, in triplicate, and to have this notification properly signed by the owner making the transfer. The dealer shall immediately forward to the department the original copy of the notification of transfer. One copy of the notification of transfer shall be given to the owner and one shall be retained by the dealer. The owner shall immediately send to the department the transfer fee of $10 with any additional fee that may be required under the terms of this chapter. The owner’s copy, properly signed by the dealer, will be the owner’s identification until he or she receives a new registration card from the department.

(b) The owner of a set of registration plates may surrender them to the commissioner together with the registration card and, upon the payment of $10 as an exchange fee and upon the payment of such additional fees as are necessary to equalize the value of the plates surrendered with the value of registration plates desired, receive in exchange a set of plates and registration card for a vehicle of a different class.

(c) The Authority and the Division shall create a procedure where the Division shall provide the Authority updated information when any person utilizing the single fee discount plan updates their vehicle's information.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to streamline the process of updating a driver's information when getting a new vehicle and using EZ-Pass.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.