Overview
That honesty requirement is also the trap. A $1 'sale' to make the paperwork feel casual isn't a gift under Pennsylvania law - it's consideration, and it's precisely the kind of understated transaction the Department of Revenue's fair-market-value program is built to catch. File the affidavit straight instead: it's cheaper and cleaner than any token payment.
The only real cost of gifting a car here is the $72 title fee, since Pennsylvania doesn't charge a separate flat gift tax the way some states do. Remember the plate rule too - Pennsylvania plates stay with the giver, not the vehicle, so the recipient needs their own registration plate at the same visit.
01 - Official fees
Pennsylvania gift a car fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sales tax on a bona fide gift | $0.00 | |
| Certificate of title | $72.00 | |
| New registration plate for recipient | $48.00/yr | passenger, first year |
| Nominal 'sale' (e.g., $1) instead of a true gift | 6%–8% of fair market value |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with an authorized PennDOT agent, notary, or online messenger service (PennDOT itself has no walk-in tag counters) - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How to gift a car in Pennsylvania
- 1
Confirm nothing of value is changing hands - cash, services, a trade, or debt forgiveness all disqualify it as a gift.
- 2
Giver signs the title over to the recipient, writing 'Gift' where a sale price would normally go.
- 3
Both parties complete and sign Form MV-13ST, Affidavit of Gift, certifying no consideration was received.
- 4
Giver removes their own license plate before handing over the vehicle - it doesn't transfer with the car.
- 5
Recipient files the title, MV-1 or MV-4ST, the MV-13ST affidavit, and proof of their own PA insurance with an authorized agent within 20 days, and gets their own plate issued.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Pennsylvania vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Pennsylvania gift a car FAQ
Does the recipient have to be family to gift a car tax-free in Pennsylvania?
No - Pennsylvania's gift exemption (Exemption 13, via Form MV-13ST) applies to any recipient, not just close relatives. What matters is that nothing of value was exchanged, not the relationship between the two parties.
What exactly do we have to certify on Form MV-13ST?
Both the person giving and the person receiving the vehicle swear, under penalty of perjury, that no cash, property, services, or forgiven debt was exchanged for the car - a straight, no-strings gift. Falsifying it can mean criminal charges and losing your driving privileges.
Can I 'sell' the car to my kid for $1 to make it simple?
That backfires. A $1 payment is still consideration, which disqualifies it from the gift exemption - and it's the classic transaction the Department of Revenue's understated-value program is designed to flag, taxing you on the vehicle's fair market value instead. File the honest $0 gift affidavit; it costs nothing and avoids the scrutiny.
Is there a separate Pennsylvania gift tax on vehicles, like some states charge?
No flat gift tax - Pennsylvania either taxes the transaction as a sale (6% to 8%) or exempts it entirely as a bona fide gift ($0). There's no in-between flat fee; the only unavoidable cost is the $72 title.
Do I need to do anything with my license plate when I gift my car?
Yes - remove it first. Pennsylvania plates are issued to the owner, not tied to the vehicle, so your plate doesn't go with the gift. Transfer it to another vehicle you own or return it to PennDOT; the recipient registers the gifted car under their own new plate.
Does the recipient still need PA insurance to complete the gift transfer?
Yes - proof of their own Pennsylvania liability insurance is required to title and register the vehicle in their name, exactly as it would be for any purchase.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.