Certificate of Title for a Vehicle - Virginia - American Banknote Specimen

Specimen Certificate of Title for a Vehicle in the Commonwealth of Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles.

The history of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) mirrors the rapid growth of the automobile in American society. In 1906, the Commonwealth enacted its inaugural motor vehicle regulations, initially mandating owners to register their “horseless carriages� with the Secretary of the Commonwealth for a nominal fee of two dollars. As the number of vehicles on the road increased exponentially, the state recognized the necessity of a dedicated agency. In 1924, the General Assembly formally established the Motor Vehicle Conference, which was subsequently renamed the Division of Motor Vehicles in 1926. This early phase of the DMV’s existence was primarily focused on collecting fuel taxes to finance Virginia’s burgeoning highway system and issuing the state’s inaugural uniform driver’s licenses in 1933.

Over the course of several decades, the Virginia DMV underwent a transformative metamorphosis, evolving from a rudimentary tax collection office into a sophisticated, multifaceted public service agency. During the mid-20th century, its responsibilities expanded to encompass highway safety enforcement and the management of the Virginia State Police, which subsequently became a separate entity in 1942. The latter half of the 20th century and the early 21st century witnessed a profound shift towards digital modernization, transitioning from manual ledgers to integrated computer systems and online portals. Presently, the DMV serves millions of Virginians, overseeing a wide range of functions, including organ donor registration and the implementation of federal REAL ID standards. It continues its ongoing evolution to meet the technological and security requirements of a contemporary mobile society.