What is issued when the vehicle title is not available at the time of sale in Virginia?

When a vehicle title is not available at the time of sale in Virginia, a temporary certificate of ownership is issued. This document serves as a substitute that allows the new owner to prove ownership of the vehicle temporarily until the official title can be provided. The temporary certificate includes important details about the vehicle and the parties involved in the transaction.

This process is important for a few reasons. It ensures that the buyer has a legal document to demonstrate ownership, which can be essential for insurance purposes, registration, or future sales. Additionally, it helps to prevent potential disputes about ownership while waiting for the official title to be issued.

In contrast, the other options serve different purposes. A temporary license plate is used to allow a vehicle to be legally driven on public roads before receiving permanent plates and is not related to the title status. A provisional registration generally refers to a temporary form of vehicle registration that might not necessarily apply when the title is missing. Lastly, a vehicle inspection waiver is unrelated to ownership and pertains to the vehicle's compliance with safety or emissions testing requirements.