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Motor Vehicle Power of Attorney Forms

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Updated on March 21st, 2022

The Motor Vehicle Power of Attorney grants someone other than the owner the legal rights to sell, register, license, or title a vehicle. The arrangement is most commonly provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or an equivalent service. It is required that the vehicle owner sign the form and, depending on the state, with witnesses or a notary public present. Afterward, the form is valid and must be presented whenever an action is to be carried out by the agent.

By State

What is a Motor Vehicle Power of Attorney?

A motor vehicle POA is a legal instrument designed to authorize another person to conduct specific actions on behalf of a vehicle owner. The owning party, referred to as the “Principal” or “Declarant“, can utilize the document to permit the receiving “Attorney-in-fact” or “Agent” to perform tasks associated with the vehicle. The agreement can be useful when the principal needs to delegate responsibilities regarding their car or truck because they are unavailable or physically unable to do it in person. The document can also assist in the lawful passage of rights to an employee, allowing them to fulfill duties in relation to a company-owned vehicle. Many state-supplied forms provide space for the declarant to indicate the issuance of one or more of the following powers to allow the agent to:

  • Transfer the Vehicle (Buy/Sell/Gift)
  • Apply for a New or Duplicate Title
  • Apply to Register the Vehicle
  • Manage Other Designated Acts for the Vehicle

Ensure that the written arrangement is endorsed correctly per your corresponding state’s mandates, as some may necessitate notarization for submission. In most cases, the executed POA form must be presented along with all necessary applications and/or required paperwork to approve the agent to carry out the request.

How to Give a Vehicle Power of Attorney

When a vehicle owner wants to endow an outside party with privileges to handle matters in connection with an identified automobile, the provided POA can aid in contracting the prescribed agency. The attorney-in-fact assignment process can be achieved by following the indicated steps below.

Step 1 – Collect Related Info on the Vehicle and Owner

First, obtain all the information associated with the selected motor vehicle. Make sure to prepare an account of the following details regarding the specified car, truck, or van:

  • Make
  • Model
  • Year
  • Style
  • Vin Number
  • Current Odometer Reading

Additionally, it will be necessary to record the name, address, and possibly the social security number of the principal, depending on which state form applies. If the vehicle is affiliated with a company, the federal ID or EIN can be marked instead of a social security number.

Step 2 – Choose an Agent and Stipulate Granted Powers

When issuing legal control(s), it is recommended to consider the candidate for attorney-in-fact carefully. The named agent will essentially gain authority to act in place of the declarant concerning the vehicle; therefore, it is critical to only instate a trustworthy individual with the established rights of agency. Once the chosen agent is identified, determine exactly which powers need to be allotted. One or several permissions can be appointed to the designee based on the need of the principal party.

Step 3 – Select the Correct Form

Once all factors involved within the arrangement have been decided, the user can seek to acquire the document supplied for their particular state. Most states each provide a distinct government form to confirm the commitment in an official capacity. Click the link corresponding to your state-specific form to redirect you to the right page. From there, the formal POA can be filled electronically, downloaded, or printed according to preference.

Step 4 – Complete and Sign the Document

After all the document’s required fields have been filled out with the requested information, it can be signed by the involved participants. Electronic signatures can be certified by visiting eSign’s website to formally record the endorsement in cases where your region does not necessitate notarization. Some states do obligate that a licensed notary public corroborates all signatures to finalize the paperwork successfully. Make a note of the unique signing requirements in conjunction with your state’s regulatory code as found by selecting from the list above.

For states that explicitly require notarization to finalize the arrangement, it can be secured in a number of ways. A notary is usually available to verify signatures in person at your local bank, post office, or UPS Store. Alternatively, a search of notaries in your area can be performed by using the American Association of Notaries’ locator tool to access contact information for a nearby licensed professional. If you prefer to notarize the document online, the following websites can assist with the process:

Step 5 – Submit to Your State’s Motor Vehicle Division

After proper finalization of the POA, the document is typically handed in along with any other necessary forms to carry out the desired task. Delivering the paperwork can be fulfilled in person at your nearest government motor vehicle authority or potentially online, depending on the state and region in which you reside. Visit your state-specific page for motor vehicle POAs found above by clicking on the name of your state for further information surrounding submission protocol and corresponding vehicle division website and physical locations.

Sample Motor Vehicle Power of Attorney

Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word (.docx)