PennDOT MV-38A Form – Dealer Auction Title Release – Pennsylvania licensed dealers participating in dealer auctions often need a fast way to obtain a paper certificate of title when a vehicle carries an electronic lien. PennDOT Form MV-38A provides that specialized authorization. This page explains exactly what the form is, when it may be used, who is permitted to complete it, and how the process works under current Pennsylvania Department of Transportation rules.
What Is PennDOT Form MV-38A?
Form MV-38A is the official Pennsylvania Bureau of Motor Vehicles document titled “Authorization to Print Title and Release to Dealer/Owner at Dealer Auction.” Its sole purpose is to allow an authorized agent to print a paper certificate of title and release it directly to the Pennsylvania dealer named as owner on the title record while the vehicle is located at a Pennsylvania dealer auction for resale.
Use of the form is strictly limited. It applies only to the release of an electronic lien (ELT) and only when the vehicle is owned by a licensed Pennsylvania dealer offering that vehicle for sale at a Pennsylvania dealer auction.
The current revision is MV-38A (2-25). You can download the official form directly from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania website:
Download Official PennDOT Form MV-38A (PDF)
Who May Complete Form MV-38A?
Only an authorized agent employed by a Pennsylvania online dealer auction, the Pennsylvania Independent Automobile Dealers Association (PIADA), or the Pennsylvania Automotive Association (PAA) may complete and process Form MV-38A.
The form is not available for general public use or for ordinary title transactions outside the dealer-auction setting.
When May Form MV-38A Be Used?
PennDOT permits use of Form MV-38A only when every one of the following conditions is met:
- The vehicle owner is a licensed Pennsylvania dealer and is listed as the owner on the Pennsylvania vehicle record.
- The vehicle is financed and a lien is recorded on the Pennsylvania vehicle record.
- The current Pennsylvania Certificate of Title is an Electronic Lien and Title (ELT).
- The vehicle is being offered for sale at a Pennsylvania dealer auction.
If any of these conditions is missing, a different title procedure must be followed.
Key Sections of Form MV-38A
The form contains six main sections that must all be completed with no blanks:
- Section A – Vehicle Information: Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and Title Number.
- Section B – PA Dealer Information: Dealer name and Dealer/Business Partner Identification Number. The dealer listed must be the same dealer named as owner on the Pennsylvania title record.
- Section C – Lienholder Information: Lienholder name, Financial Institution Number, and Date Lien Satisfied.
- Section D – Lienholder Unsworn Declaration: The lienholder representative signs under penalty of perjury, authorizing the printing of a paper title for the named dealer’s resale at the listed auction.
- Section E – Auction Information: Dealer Auction Name and the auction’s Dealer/Business Partner Identification Number.
- Section F – Certification: The auction representative or authorized title provider certifies that the title will be printed and provided to the dealer for resale.
How to Complete and Process Form MV-38A?
All sections must be filled out completely. Partial completion and later mailing, faxing, or emailing of the form is not allowed.
The lienholder representative must sign the form in the physical presence of the agent who will issue the title. The signer must present:
- Written authorization from the lienholder specifically naming the individual who may release liens on the lienholder’s behalf.
- Valid proof of identification.
If an employee of the online dealer auction, PIADA, or PAA is acting as agent for the lienholder under a Power of Attorney, a photocopy of that Power of Attorney must be attached to the form. The same person may not sign both as the lienholder’s agent under POA and as the processing agent.
Once the form is properly completed and signed, the agent prints the title online immediately and hands it directly to the authorized representative of the dealer named as owner on the title. That dealer representative must also present written authorization from the dealership and valid identification.
Required Documentation to Be Retained by the Agent
Agents must keep the following records together with a copy of the completed Form MV-38A in their on-site files:
- Copy of the lienholder’s authorization letter
- Copy of the dealer/owner’s authorization letter
- Copy of identification presented by the lienholder’s representative
- Copy of identification presented by the dealership’s representative
- Copy of the Power of Attorney (if applicable)
Important Restrictions and Warnings
Form MV-38A may be used only by online dealer auction staff and authorized title providers. It cannot be used for ordinary lien releases, private sales, or non-auction dealer transactions.
False statements on the form are subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 (unsworn falsification to authorities), which can include criminal prosecution, imprisonment, and fines of at least $1,000.
For the most current information and additional motor-vehicle forms, visit the official Pennsylvania Driver and Vehicle Services website at www.pa.gov/dmv or call 717-412-5300 (TTY: 711).