PennDOT Form MV-27 | PA Dealer Assignment Guide

PennDOT Form MV-27 | PA Dealer Assignment Guide – Pennsylvania licensed motor vehicle dealers regularly transfer vehicles among themselves while holding inventory for resale. When a Pennsylvania Certificate of Title was issued before November 1989, the official document required to record those dealer-to-dealer assignments is PennDOT Form MV-27, titled “Dealer Assignment Covering a Vehicle Acquired and Held for Resale.”

This guide explains exactly when and how to use Form MV-27, its limitations, the required companion notifications (MV-27A and MV-27B), and the statutory framework under Pennsylvania law. All information is drawn from current official PennDOT publications and the Vehicle Code.

What Is PennDOT Form MV-27?

Form MV-27 is a specialized assignment form issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Bureau of Motor Vehicles. It allows a registered Pennsylvania dealer who has acquired a vehicle solely for resale to document the transfer of ownership from the previous title holder (or previous dealer) without immediately applying for a new certificate of title in the acquiring dealer’s name.

The current revision is MV-27 (3-25). The form provides space for up to three successive dealer assignments on a single document and must remain physically attached to the original Pennsylvania Certificate of Title.

Official download: Download PennDOT Form MV-27 (PDF)

When Must Form MV-27 Be Used?

Use Form MV-27 only when all of the following conditions are met:

  • The vehicle is covered by a Pennsylvania Certificate of Title with a revision date prior to November 1989.
  • The acquiring party is a registered Pennsylvania motor vehicle dealer holding the vehicle exclusively for resale.
  • The assigned Pennsylvania title is in the physical possession of the dealer completing the form.
  • No more than three dealer assignments will occur on that title (one Form MV-27 covers up to three assignments).

Form MV-27 may not be used for:

  • Out-of-state titles or assignments
  • Titles with revision dates of 11/89 or later (those titles contain built-in assignment spaces)
  • Repossessed vehicles
  • Assignments to a person or firm registered only in the Miscellaneous Motor Vehicle Business class

Legal Authority – Pennsylvania Vehicle Code

The requirement originates in 75 Pa.C.S. § 1113 (Transfer to or from manufacturer or dealer). Under this section, a registered dealer who acquires a vehicle for resale is not required to apply for a new certificate of title immediately. Instead, the dealer must notify PennDOT of the acquisition within seven days. Notification in lieu of titling may not exceed three consecutive transactions; after the third assignment (or six months from the original assignment, whichever comes first), an application for title must be submitted.

Form MV-27 itself records the chain of dealer assignments on older titles, while the seven-day notification is accomplished with Form MV-27A or MV-27B.

How to Complete Form MV-27 – Step-by-Step

  1. Type or print all information clearly in the spaces provided.
  2. Enter vehicle identification data: name of original title holder, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), PA title number, make, body type, and odometer reading (including tenths if required).
  3. Check the appropriate odometer disclosure box (actual mileage, excess of mechanical limits, or not actual mileage / discrepancy).
  4. Complete the seller’s certification and self-certification statement for each assignment. The seller’s signature must be self-certified under penalty of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 (unsworn falsification).
  5. The acquiring dealer signs and dates the certification: “I, a registered Pennsylvania Dealer, hereby certify that I have acquired and hold for resale the above described vehicle.” Include the dealer’s DIN/Business Partner ID and address.
  6. Attach the completed Form MV-27 securely to the assigned Pennsylvania Certificate of Title. The form must travel with the title until the vehicle is sold to a retail purchaser or a fourth dealer applies for title.

Do not complete the form unless you physically possess the assigned title.

Required Companion Forms: MV-27A and MV-27B

Every time a dealer acquires a vehicle for resale, a separate weekly notification must be filed with PennDOT within seven days of the acquisition date:

  • Form MV-27A – Weekly Notification of Dealer Acquisition Covering Vehicles Acquired for Resale from Another Dealer or Manufacturer
  • Form MV-27B – Weekly Notification of Dealer Acquisition Covering Vehicles Acquired for Resale from an Individual (Non-Dealer)

These notifications may be submitted online through the Dealer Agent Service (DAS) portal at www.dealers.penndot.gov or by mail. Online submission through DAS is strongly preferred by PennDOT and eliminates the need to mail paper forms. A fee applies for each vehicle reported (see current Form MV-70S fee schedule).

Dealers must retain a copy of each MV-27A or MV-27B for at least one year.

Important Restrictions and Common Errors

  • Maximum of three dealer assignments per title using one Form MV-27.
  • After three consecutive dealer-to-dealer transfers (or six months), the next owner must apply for a certificate of title.
  • The form must remain attached to the title and be submitted with the eventual application for transfer of title to the retail purchaser or fourth dealer.
  • Odometer disclosures are mandatory under both federal and Pennsylvania law; inaccurate statements can result in criminal penalties.
  • Self-certification language is required; traditional notarization is not needed for the signatures on MV-27 itself under current rules.

Where to Submit and Additional Resources?

When the vehicle is finally sold to a non-dealer or a fourth dealer, the original title with the attached Form MV-27 (and any required application such as MV-1 or MV-4ST) is submitted to PennDOT through an authorized messenger service, full agent, or directly as instructed on the title application.

Official resources:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Form MV-27 on a modern Pennsylvania title (post-11/89)?
No. Newer titles contain sufficient assignment spaces on the reverse side. MV-27 is restricted to pre-11/89 titles.

What happens if I exceed three dealer assignments?
The fourth dealer (or any subsequent owner) must apply for a new certificate of title. Continued use of the notification process beyond three consecutive transactions violates § 1113.

Is there a fee for Form MV-27 itself?
There is no separate fee for the assignment form. Fees apply to the weekly acquisition notifications (MV-27A/MV-27B) and to any eventual title application.

Must the form be notarized?
No. Current instructions require only self-certification under penalty of perjury.

Conclusion

PennDOT Form MV-27 remains an essential document for Pennsylvania dealers handling older-style certificates of title. Proper use—combined with timely filing of MV-27A or MV-27B—keeps dealers in compliance with 75 Pa.C.S. § 1113 and ensures a clean chain of ownership when the vehicle is ultimately retailed. Always download the latest version of the form directly from the official PennDOT website and consult the Dealer Agent Service portal for electronic submission options.

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