West Virginia Code Chapter 17A. Motor Vehicle Administration, Registration, Certificate of Title and Antitheft Provisions § 17A-4-3. New owner must secure registration and certificate of title

The transferee before operating or permitting the operation of such vehicle upon a highway shall apply for and obtain the registration thereof, as upon an original registration, except as otherwise permitted in sections thirteen and fifteen, article six, or by any other provisions of this chapter: Provided, That such transferee may operate such vehicle under the registration of its previous owner for a period of not more than ten days as provided in section one, article three of this chapter.

A transferee shall at the same time present the certificate of title endorsed and assigned as hereinbefore provided to the department and make application for and obtain a new certificate of title for such vehicle, except as otherwise permitted in sections four and five of this article.