RV & Motorhome Registration

Distinguishing between real estate, campers, recreational vehicles (RVs), trailers, and motor homes can be confusing. Fortunately, Virginia makes things clear when it comes to registering mobile and temporary living spaces.

Virginia does not have a vehicle registration requirement for manufactured homes or mobile offices. They must be titled, however. RVs are registered the same way that other motor vehicles are registered. Trailers must be registered annually, biannually, or permanently.

Definitions

A manufactured home, sometimes known as a mobile home, is transportable in one or more sections and is at least eight feet wide and 40 feet long when in traveling mode, or 320 square feet when anchored on site. It has a permanent chassis and is designed to be used as a single-family home once the utilities are connected, whether or not the foundation is permanent. A manufactured home may be transported and delivered by getting a hauling permit.

A mobile office is an industrial building not subject to federal regulations, constructed on a chassis to tow to the point of use. It can be used with or without a permanent foundation, for commercial use and not for residential use, and may be designed in two or more separately towable units that are designed to be joined together at the point of use.

The units form a single commercial structure and may be designed for removal to and installation or erection on other sites. Mobile offices must get an office trailer license plate from the DMV's Dealer Work Center.

Titling Manufactured Homes and Mobile Offices

To title either of these types of structures, complete an Application for Certificate of Title. Submit your ownership documents and proof of address to the DMV, and pay the titling fee of $10.

At the time of titling, the DMV also collects a $10 fee from manufactured home dealers for the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). This does not apply to out-of-state dealers, dealer-to-dealer sales, or manufactured homes sold by individuals.

Finally, you must pay a sales and use tax of 3% for manufactured homes and 2% for mobile offices.

Converting to Real Estate

You have the option to convert your manufactured home to real estate. To do this, surrender the Virginia title to the DMV and keep a photocopy of it. Later, if you want to convert it back to a manufactured home, you will need to present this photocopy to the DMV, along with a $10 substitute title fee and the completed Application for Substitute Title.