diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 03ca7af..9d83124 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -122,11 +122,12 @@ remotes: {}          # optional base remotes
 
 ### remotes.yaml Structure
 
+The top-level key declares the repository type — no `type:` field needed:
+
 ```yaml
-remotes:
+remote:
   remote-name:
     base_url: "https://example.com"
-    type: "remote"            # "remote", "local", or "virtual"
     package: "generic"        # generic, alpine, rpm, docker, pypi, npm, helm
     description: "..."
     immutable_patterns:       # regex — cached forever
@@ -137,6 +138,17 @@ remotes:
     cache:
       immutable_ttl: 0        # 0 = indefinitely
       mutable_ttl: 3600
+
+virtual:
+  virtual-name:
+    package: "helm"
+    members:
+      - remote-name-1
+      - remote-name-2
+
+local:
+  local-name:
+    package: "generic"
 ```
 
 ## Remote Types
@@ -146,10 +158,9 @@ remotes:
 Arbitrary HTTP file servers — GitHub releases, HashiCorp, custom servers.
 
 ```yaml
-remotes:
+remote:
   github:
     base_url: "https://github.com"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "generic"
     immutable_patterns:
       - "gruntwork-io/terragrunt/.*terragrunt_linux_amd64.*"
@@ -158,7 +169,6 @@ remotes:
 
   github-archive:
     base_url: "https://github.com"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "generic"
     immutable_patterns:
       - ".*/archive/refs/tags/.*\\.tar\\.gz$"   # tag archives never change
@@ -175,10 +185,9 @@ Access: `GET /api/v1/remote/github/owner/repo/releases/download/v1.0/binary.tar.
 ### alpine
 
 ```yaml
-remotes:
+remote:
   alpine:
     base_url: "https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "alpine"
     immutable_patterns:
       - ".*/x86_64/.*\\.apk$"
@@ -192,10 +201,9 @@ remotes:
 ### rpm
 
 ```yaml
-remotes:
+remote:
   almalinux:
     base_url: "https://mirror.example.com/almalinux"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "rpm"
     immutable_patterns:
       - ".*/x86_64/.*\\.rpm$"
@@ -210,10 +218,9 @@ remotes:
 ### docker
 
 ```yaml
-remotes:
+remote:
   dockerhub:
     base_url: "https://registry-1.docker.io"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "docker"
     # username / password optional for public images
     cache:
@@ -222,7 +229,6 @@ remotes:
 
   ghcr:
     base_url: "https://ghcr.io"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "docker"
     username: "your-github-username"
     password: "ghp_your_pat"   # read:packages scope
@@ -252,10 +258,9 @@ mirrors:
 ### pypi
 
 ```yaml
-remotes:
+remote:
   pypi:
     base_url: "https://files.pythonhosted.org"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "pypi"
     check_mutable_updates: true
     immutable_patterns:
@@ -284,10 +289,9 @@ default = true
 ### npm
 
 ```yaml
-remotes:
+remote:
   npm:
     base_url: "https://registry.npmjs.org"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "npm"
     check_mutable_updates: true
     immutable_patterns:
@@ -311,10 +315,9 @@ registry=https://artifacts.example.com/api/v1/remote/npm/
 ### helm
 
 ```yaml
-remotes:
+remote:
   hashicorp-helm:
     base_url: "https://helm.releases.hashicorp.com"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     check_mutable_updates: true
     immutable_patterns:
@@ -340,10 +343,9 @@ A virtual repository presents a single unified index built from multiple member
 All members must share the same `package` type as the virtual repo. Currently supported package types: `helm`.
 
 ```yaml
-remotes:
+remote:
   helm-hashicorp:
     base_url: "https://helm.releases.hashicorp.com"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     immutable_patterns:
       - "\\.tgz$"
@@ -353,7 +355,6 @@ remotes:
 
   helm-bitnami:
     base_url: "https://charts.bitnami.com/bitnami"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     immutable_patterns:
       - "\\.tgz$"
@@ -361,8 +362,8 @@ remotes:
       immutable_ttl: 0
       mutable_ttl: 3600
 
+virtual:
   helm-all:
-    type: "virtual"
     package: "helm"
     members:
       - helm-hashicorp   # listed first = highest priority
@@ -399,9 +400,8 @@ Chart tarball URLs in the merged `index.yaml` are rewritten to point at the indi
 ### local
 
 ```yaml
-remotes:
+local:
   local-generic:
-    type: "local"
     package: "generic"
     description: "Local file repository"
     cache:
@@ -411,6 +411,98 @@ remotes:
 
 No `base_url`. Files are uploaded via `PUT` and served via `GET`.
 
+## Migration
+
+### Splitting a single remotes file into per-type files
+
+The old format used a single `remotes:` map with an explicit `type:` field on each entry. The new format uses top-level type keys (`remote:`, `virtual:`, `local:`) and supports splitting across multiple files via `config_dir`.
+
+**Before** (`remotes.yaml`):
+```yaml
+remotes:
+  dockerhub:
+    base_url: "https://registry-1.docker.io"
+    type: "remote"
+    package: "docker"
+    cache:
+      immutable_ttl: 0
+      mutable_ttl: 300
+
+  hashicorp-helm:
+    base_url: "https://helm.releases.hashicorp.com"
+    type: "remote"
+    package: "helm"
+    immutable_patterns:
+      - "\\.tgz$"
+    cache:
+      immutable_ttl: 0
+      mutable_ttl: 3600
+
+  helm-all:
+    type: "virtual"
+    package: "helm"
+    members:
+      - hashicorp-helm
+
+  local-files:
+    type: "local"
+    package: "generic"
+```
+
+**After** — one file per type + package type, with a main config pointing at the directory:
+
+`config.yaml`:
+```yaml
+config_dir: conf.d
+```
+
+`conf.d/remote-docker.yaml`:
+```yaml
+remote:
+  dockerhub:
+    base_url: "https://registry-1.docker.io"
+    package: "docker"
+    cache:
+      immutable_ttl: 0
+      mutable_ttl: 300
+```
+
+`conf.d/remote-helm.yaml`:
+```yaml
+remote:
+  hashicorp-helm:
+    base_url: "https://helm.releases.hashicorp.com"
+    package: "helm"
+    immutable_patterns:
+      - "\\.tgz$"
+    cache:
+      immutable_ttl: 0
+      mutable_ttl: 3600
+```
+
+`conf.d/virtual-helm.yaml`:
+```yaml
+virtual:
+  helm-all:
+    package: "helm"
+    members:
+      - hashicorp-helm
+```
+
+`conf.d/local-generic.yaml`:
+```yaml
+local:
+  local-files:
+    package: "generic"
+```
+
+Set `CONFIG_PATH` to the main file:
+```
+CONFIG_PATH=/etc/artifactapi/config.yaml
+```
+
+Files in `conf.d/` are merged alphabetically; later files win on conflicts within the same remote name.
+
 ## Caching Model
 
 ### Immutable patterns
@@ -448,10 +540,9 @@ When a mutable file expires and the upstream is unreachable (connection refused,
 Set `quarantine_new: true` and `quarantine_days: N` on a remote to block immutable artifacts published within the last N days. Requests return `404` until the quarantine period expires, giving time to detect malicious packages before they are consumed.
 
 ```yaml
-remotes:
+remote:
   pypi:
     base_url: "https://files.pythonhosted.org"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "pypi"
     quarantine_new: true
     quarantine_days: 3        # block packages published in the last 3 days
diff --git a/examples/conf.d-method/alpine.yaml b/examples/conf.d-method/alpine.yaml
index a8e12f7..2e31d76 100644
--- a/examples/conf.d-method/alpine.yaml
+++ b/examples/conf.d-method/alpine.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-remotes:
+remote:
   alpine:
     base_url: "https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "alpine"
     description: "Alpine Linux APK package repository"
     immutable_patterns:
diff --git a/examples/conf.d-method/github.yaml b/examples/conf.d-method/github.yaml
index 51aa20a..dd363ba 100644
--- a/examples/conf.d-method/github.yaml
+++ b/examples/conf.d-method/github.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-remotes:
+remote:
   github:
     base_url: "https://github.com"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "generic"
     description: "GitHub releases and files"
     immutable_patterns:
diff --git a/examples/conf.d-method/pypi.yaml b/examples/conf.d-method/pypi.yaml
index 4de0058..f459962 100644
--- a/examples/conf.d-method/pypi.yaml
+++ b/examples/conf.d-method/pypi.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-remotes:
+remote:
   pypi:
     base_url: "https://files.pythonhosted.org"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "pypi"
     description: "Python Package Index"
     check_mutable_updates: true
diff --git a/examples/single-file/remotes.yaml b/examples/single-file/remotes.yaml
index 6e36b5b..7beb487 100644
--- a/examples/single-file/remotes.yaml
+++ b/examples/single-file/remotes.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 # Example remotes configuration — copy and adapt for your environment.
 #
+# Top-level keys determine the repository type:
+#   remote:  — proxy to an upstream URL, cache responses in S3
+#   virtual: — merge indexes from multiple member remotes into one
+#   local:   — store files uploaded via PUT, serve via GET
+#
 # immutable_patterns: artifacts cached forever (e.g. release binaries, versioned tags).
 # mutable_patterns:   artifacts that expire after cache.mutable_ttl seconds and are
 #                     re-fetched from upstream on next request (e.g. index files,
@@ -32,10 +37,10 @@
 #database:
 #  url: "postgresql://artifacts:artifacts123@localhost:5432/artifacts"
 #
-remotes:
+
+remote:
   github:
     base_url: "https://github.com"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "generic"
     description: "GitHub releases and files"
     immutable_patterns:
@@ -62,12 +67,11 @@ remotes:
       - "stalwartlabs/stalwart/.*/stalwart-foundationdb-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu\\.tar\\.gz$"
       - "stalwartlabs/stalwart/.*/stalwart-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu\\.tar\\.gz$"
     cache:
-      immutable_ttl: 0  # Files cached indefinitely
+      immutable_ttl: 0
       mutable_ttl: 0
 
   github-archive:
     base_url: "https://github.com"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "generic"
     description: "GitHub repository archive tarballs"
     immutable_patterns:
@@ -82,23 +86,21 @@ remotes:
     # Only applies to user-defined mutable_patterns, not package-type defaults.
     check_mutable_updates: true
     cache:
-      immutable_ttl: 0       # Tag archives cached indefinitely
-      mutable_ttl: 86400     # Branch archives refreshed after 1 day
+      immutable_ttl: 0      # Tag archives cached indefinitely
+      mutable_ttl: 86400    # Branch archives refreshed after 1 day
 
   gitea-dl:
     base_url: "https://dl.gitea.com"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "generic"
     description: "Gitea download site"
     immutable_patterns:
       - "act_runner/.*/act_runner-.*-linux-amd64$"
     cache:
-      immutable_ttl: 0  # Files cached indefinitely
+      immutable_ttl: 0
       mutable_ttl: 0
 
   hashicorp-releases:
     base_url: "https://releases.hashicorp.com"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "generic"
     description: "HashiCorp product releases"
     immutable_patterns:
@@ -114,12 +116,11 @@ remotes:
       - "nomad/.*/nomad_.*_linux_amd64\\.zip$"
       - "packer/.*/packer_.*_linux_amd64\\.zip$"
     cache:
-      immutable_ttl: 0  # Files cached indefinitely
+      immutable_ttl: 0
       mutable_ttl: 0
 
   alpine:
     base_url: "https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "alpine"
     description: "Alpine Linux APK package repository"
     immutable_patterns:
@@ -128,29 +129,24 @@ remotes:
     # and is always re-fetched on expiry — conditional checks are skipped for
     # built-in mutable patterns regardless of this flag.
     cache:
-      immutable_ttl: 0  # Files cached indefinitely
+      immutable_ttl: 0
       mutable_ttl: 7200  # Index files (APKINDEX.tar.gz) cached for 2 hours
 
   almalinux:
     base_url: "https://gsl-syd.mm.fcix.net/almalinux"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "rpm"
     description: "AlmaLinux RPM package repository"
     immutable_patterns:
       - ".*/x86_64/.*\\.rpm$"
       - ".*/noarch/.*\\.rpm$"
       - ".*/repodata/.*$"
-      - ".*\\.rpm$"  # Allow all RPM files
-    # repomd.xml / repodata are package-type defaults — always re-fetched on
-    # expiry. check_mutable_updates would only apply to any custom
-    # mutable_patterns added here.
+      - ".*\\.rpm$"
     cache:
-      immutable_ttl: 0  # Files cached indefinitely
+      immutable_ttl: 0
       mutable_ttl: 7200  # Metadata files cached for 2 hours
 
   epel:
     base_url: "http://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/epel"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "rpm"
     description: "EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux)"
     immutable_patterns:
@@ -160,12 +156,11 @@ remotes:
       - ".*/noarch/.*\\.rpm$"
       - ".*/repodata/.*$"
     cache:
-      immutable_ttl: 0  # Files cached indefinitely
-      mutable_ttl: 7200  # Metadata files cached for 2 hours
+      immutable_ttl: 0
+      mutable_ttl: 7200
 
   fedora:
     base_url: "https://gsl-syd.mm.fcix.net/fedora/linux"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "rpm"
     description: "Fedora Linux RPM package repository"
     immutable_patterns:
@@ -175,26 +170,21 @@ remotes:
       - ".*/noarch/.*\\.rpm$"
       - "updates/.*/Everything/x86_64/repodata/.*$"
     cache:
-      immutable_ttl: 0  # Files cached indefinitely
+      immutable_ttl: 0
       mutable_ttl: 300  # Metadata files cached for 5 minutes
 
   ghcr:
     base_url: "https://ghcr.io"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "docker"
     description: "GitHub Container Registry"
     # username: "your-github-username"
     # password: "your-github-pat"  # needs read:packages scope
-    # Docker manifest/tag-list patterns are package-type defaults — always
-    # re-fetched on expiry. check_mutable_updates only applies to any custom
-    # mutable_patterns you add (e.g. a metadata endpoint).
     cache:
       immutable_ttl: 0
       mutable_ttl: 300
 
   dockerhub:
     base_url: "https://registry-1.docker.io"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "docker"
     description: "Docker Hub registry"
     cache:
@@ -203,15 +193,9 @@ remotes:
 
   pypi:
     base_url: "https://files.pythonhosted.org"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "pypi"
     description: "Python Package Index — simple index and package files via a single remote"
-    # simple/ requests are transparently fetched from pypi.org; package files come from
-    # files.pythonhosted.org (base_url). URLs in the simple index are rewritten to this remote.
     check_mutable_updates: true
-    # Block packages published within the last 3 days (supply-chain attack mitigation).
-    # Immutable artifacts (wheel/sdist) newer than quarantine_days return 404 until
-    # the window passes. Disable by setting quarantine_new: false or removing both keys.
     quarantine_new: true
     quarantine_days: 3
     immutable_patterns:
@@ -226,7 +210,6 @@ remotes:
 
   pypi-gitea:
     base_url: "https://gitea.example.com/api/packages/myorg/pypi"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "pypi"
     description: "Private Gitea PyPI registry — simple index and files at the same host"
     # username: "your-gitea-username"
@@ -244,7 +227,6 @@ remotes:
 
   npm:
     base_url: "https://registry.npmjs.org"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "npm"
     description: "npm registry — package metadata with tarball URL rewriting"
     check_mutable_updates: true
@@ -258,19 +240,17 @@ remotes:
 
   hashicorp-helm:
     base_url: "https://helm.releases.hashicorp.com"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     description: "HashiCorp Helm chart repository (Vault, Consul, Nomad, etc.)"
     check_mutable_updates: true
     immutable_patterns:
       - "\\.tgz$"
     cache:
-      immutable_ttl: 0    # Chart tarballs are versioned — cache forever
-      mutable_ttl: 3600   # index.yaml refreshed after 1 hour
+      immutable_ttl: 0
+      mutable_ttl: 3600
 
   metallb:
     base_url: "https://metallb.github.io/metallb"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     description: "MetalLB load balancer Helm charts"
     check_mutable_updates: true
@@ -282,7 +262,6 @@ remotes:
 
   jetstack:
     base_url: "https://charts.jetstack.io"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     description: "Jetstack Helm charts (cert-manager)"
     check_mutable_updates: true
@@ -294,7 +273,6 @@ remotes:
 
   rancher-stable:
     base_url: "https://releases.rancher.com/server-charts/stable"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     description: "Rancher stable Helm charts"
     check_mutable_updates: true
@@ -306,7 +284,6 @@ remotes:
 
   purelb:
     base_url: "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/20400619/packages/helm/stable"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     description: "PureLB load balancer Helm charts"
     check_mutable_updates: true
@@ -318,7 +295,6 @@ remotes:
 
   istio:
     base_url: "https://istio-release.storage.googleapis.com/charts"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     description: "Istio service mesh Helm charts"
     check_mutable_updates: true
@@ -330,7 +306,6 @@ remotes:
 
   cnpg:
     base_url: "https://cloudnative-pg.github.io/charts"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     description: "CloudNativePG operator Helm charts"
     check_mutable_updates: true
@@ -342,7 +317,6 @@ remotes:
 
   ceph-csi:
     base_url: "https://ceph.github.io/csi-charts"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     description: "Ceph CSI driver Helm charts"
     check_mutable_updates: true
@@ -354,7 +328,6 @@ remotes:
 
   external-dns:
     base_url: "https://kubernetes-sigs.github.io/external-dns/"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     description: "ExternalDNS Helm charts"
     check_mutable_updates: true
@@ -366,7 +339,6 @@ remotes:
 
   intel-helm:
     base_url: "https://intel.github.io/helm-charts/"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     description: "Intel Helm charts"
     check_mutable_updates: true
@@ -378,7 +350,6 @@ remotes:
 
   elastic:
     base_url: "https://helm.elastic.co"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     description: "Elastic stack Helm charts"
     check_mutable_updates: true
@@ -390,7 +361,6 @@ remotes:
 
   k8up-io:
     base_url: "https://k8up-io.github.io/k8up"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     description: "K8up backup operator Helm charts"
     check_mutable_updates: true
@@ -402,7 +372,6 @@ remotes:
 
   victoriametrics:
     base_url: "https://victoriametrics.github.io/helm-charts/"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     description: "VictoriaMetrics observability Helm charts"
     check_mutable_updates: true
@@ -414,7 +383,6 @@ remotes:
 
   grafana:
     base_url: "https://grafana.github.io/helm-charts"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     description: "Grafana observability Helm charts"
     check_mutable_updates: true
@@ -426,7 +394,6 @@ remotes:
 
   helm-openldap:
     base_url: "https://jp-gouin.github.io/helm-openldap/"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     description: "OpenLDAP Helm charts"
     check_mutable_updates: true
@@ -438,7 +405,6 @@ remotes:
 
   woodpecker:
     base_url: "https://woodpecker-ci.org/"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     description: "Woodpecker CI Helm charts"
     check_mutable_updates: true
@@ -450,7 +416,6 @@ remotes:
 
   stakater:
     base_url: "https://stakater.github.io/stakater-charts"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     description: "Stakater Helm charts"
     check_mutable_updates: true
@@ -462,7 +427,6 @@ remotes:
 
   jfrog:
     base_url: "https://charts.jfrog.io/"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     description: "JFrog Helm charts"
     check_mutable_updates: true
@@ -474,7 +438,6 @@ remotes:
 
   openvox:
     base_url: "https://openvoxproject.github.io/openvox-helm-chart"
-    type: "remote"
     package: "helm"
     description: "OpenVox Helm charts"
     check_mutable_updates: true
@@ -484,8 +447,8 @@ remotes:
       immutable_ttl: 0
       mutable_ttl: 3600
 
+virtual:
   helm-all:
-    type: "virtual"
     package: "helm"
     description: "Virtual repository merging all helm remotes — member order is priority order for duplicate chart+version"
     members:
@@ -509,10 +472,10 @@ remotes:
       - jfrog
       - openvox
 
+local:
   local-generic:
-    type: "local"
     package: "generic"
     description: "Local generic file repository"
     cache:
-      immutable_ttl: 0  # Files cached indefinitely
+      immutable_ttl: 0
       mutable_ttl: 0
diff --git a/src/artifactapi/config.py b/src/artifactapi/config.py
index 6de80e4..e64fd21 100644
--- a/src/artifactapi/config.py
+++ b/src/artifactapi/config.py
@@ -4,6 +4,21 @@ import os
 
 import yaml
 
+_TYPE_KEYS = ("remote", "virtual", "local")
+
+
+def _normalize_loaded(raw: dict) -> dict:
+    """Convert {remote: {...}, virtual: {...}, local: {...}} into {remotes: {name: {type: ..., ...}}}."""
+    remotes = {}
+    for type_key in _TYPE_KEYS:
+        for name, cfg in (raw.get(type_key) or {}).items():
+            remotes[name] = {"type": type_key, **cfg}
+    result = {k: v for k, v in raw.items() if k not in _TYPE_KEYS}
+    if remotes:
+        result["remotes"] = remotes
+    return result
+
+
 _PACKAGE_MUTABLE_PATTERNS: dict[str, list[str]] = {
     "alpine": [
         r"APKINDEX\.tar\.gz$",
@@ -41,8 +56,10 @@ class ConfigManager:
         try:
             with open(path) as f:
                 if path.endswith((".yaml", ".yml")):
-                    return yaml.safe_load(f) or {}
-                return json.load(f)
+                    raw = yaml.safe_load(f) or {}
+                else:
+                    raw = json.load(f)
+            return _normalize_loaded(raw)
         except FileNotFoundError:
             return {}
 
diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
index a042086..11198d2 100644
--- a/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -10,11 +10,11 @@ from artifactapi.config import ConfigManager
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def make_config(tmp_path):
-    """Factory: write a remotes dict to a temp YAML and return a ConfigManager."""
+    """Factory: write a remote dict to a temp YAML and return a ConfigManager."""
 
     def _make(remotes_dict):
         cfg_file = tmp_path / "remotes.yaml"
-        cfg_file.write_text(yaml.dump({"remotes": remotes_dict}))
+        cfg_file.write_text(yaml.dump({"remote": remotes_dict}))
         return ConfigManager(str(cfg_file))
 
     return _make
@@ -27,24 +27,24 @@ def make_config(tmp_path):
 
 class TestGetMutablePatterns:
     def test_alpine_returns_package_defaults(self, make_config):
-        cfg = make_config({"r": {"type": "remote", "package": "alpine", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
+        cfg = make_config({"r": {"package": "alpine", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
         patterns = cfg.get_mutable_patterns("r")
         assert r"APKINDEX\.tar\.gz$" in patterns
 
     def test_rpm_returns_package_defaults(self, make_config):
-        cfg = make_config({"r": {"type": "remote", "package": "rpm", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
+        cfg = make_config({"r": {"package": "rpm", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
         patterns = cfg.get_mutable_patterns("r")
         assert r"repomd\.xml$" in patterns
         assert any("repodata" in p for p in patterns)
 
     def test_docker_returns_package_defaults(self, make_config):
-        cfg = make_config({"r": {"type": "remote", "package": "docker", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
+        cfg = make_config({"r": {"package": "docker", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
         patterns = cfg.get_mutable_patterns("r")
         assert any("manifests" in p for p in patterns)
         assert any("tags/list" in p for p in patterns)
 
     def test_generic_returns_empty_list(self, make_config):
-        cfg = make_config({"r": {"type": "remote", "package": "generic", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
+        cfg = make_config({"r": {"package": "generic", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
         assert cfg.get_mutable_patterns("r") == []
 
     def test_unknown_remote_returns_empty_list(self, make_config):
@@ -52,19 +52,18 @@ class TestGetMutablePatterns:
         assert cfg.get_mutable_patterns("nonexistent") == []
 
     def test_missing_package_field_defaults_to_generic(self, make_config):
-        cfg = make_config({"r": {"type": "remote", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
+        cfg = make_config({"r": {"base_url": "https://x.com"}})
         assert cfg.get_mutable_patterns("r") == []
 
     def test_unknown_package_type_returns_empty_list(self, make_config):
         # A mis-spelled package type silently returns [] — this is a known footgun
-        cfg = make_config({"r": {"type": "remote", "package": "deb", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
+        cfg = make_config({"r": {"package": "deb", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
         assert cfg.get_mutable_patterns("r") == []
 
     def test_extra_patterns_appended_after_defaults(self, make_config):
         cfg = make_config(
             {
                 "r": {
-                    "type": "remote",
                     "package": "alpine",
                     "base_url": "https://x.com",
                     "mutable_patterns": [r"custom\.json$"],
@@ -81,7 +80,6 @@ class TestGetMutablePatterns:
         cfg = make_config(
             {
                 "r": {
-                    "type": "remote",
                     "package": "alpine",
                     "base_url": "https://x.com",
                     "mutable_patterns": [],
@@ -95,7 +93,6 @@ class TestGetMutablePatterns:
         cfg = make_config(
             {
                 "r": {
-                    "type": "remote",
                     "package": "alpine",
                     "base_url": "https://x.com",
                     "mutable_patterns": [existing],
@@ -109,7 +106,6 @@ class TestGetMutablePatterns:
         cfg = make_config(
             {
                 "r": {
-                    "type": "remote",
                     "package": "generic",
                     "base_url": "https://x.com",
                     "mutable_patterns": [r"meta\.json$", r"index\.yaml$"],
@@ -122,7 +118,6 @@ class TestGetMutablePatterns:
         cfg = make_config(
             {
                 "r": {
-                    "type": "remote",
                     "package": "rpm",
                     "base_url": "https://x.com",
                     "mutable_patterns": [r"custom-meta\.xml$"],
@@ -134,7 +129,7 @@ class TestGetMutablePatterns:
         assert r"custom-meta\.xml$" in patterns
 
     def test_npm_has_no_package_defaults(self, make_config):
-        cfg = make_config({"r": {"type": "remote", "package": "npm", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
+        cfg = make_config({"r": {"package": "npm", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
         assert cfg.get_mutable_patterns("r") == []
 
     def test_npm_explicit_mutable_pattern_matches_metadata(self, make_config):
@@ -143,7 +138,6 @@ class TestGetMutablePatterns:
         cfg = make_config(
             {
                 "r": {
-                    "type": "remote",
                     "package": "npm",
                     "base_url": "https://x.com",
                     "mutable_patterns": [r"^(?!.*\.tgz$).*"],
@@ -155,14 +149,14 @@ class TestGetMutablePatterns:
         assert any(re.search(p, "@babel/core") for p in patterns)
 
     def test_helm_returns_index_yaml_as_mutable(self, make_config):
-        cfg = make_config({"r": {"type": "remote", "package": "helm", "base_url": "https://helm.example.com"}})
+        cfg = make_config({"r": {"package": "helm", "base_url": "https://helm.example.com"}})
         patterns = cfg.get_mutable_patterns("r")
         assert r"index\.yaml$" in patterns
 
     def test_helm_chart_tarballs_not_mutable_by_default(self, make_config):
         import re
 
-        cfg = make_config({"r": {"type": "remote", "package": "helm", "base_url": "https://helm.example.com"}})
+        cfg = make_config({"r": {"package": "helm", "base_url": "https://helm.example.com"}})
         patterns = cfg.get_mutable_patterns("r")
         # Only index.yaml is mutable; .tgz chart tarballs are not
         assert not any(re.search(p, "vault-0.29.1.tgz") for p in patterns)
@@ -174,7 +168,6 @@ class TestGetMutablePatterns:
         cfg = make_config(
             {
                 "r": {
-                    "type": "remote",
                     "package": "npm",
                     "base_url": "https://x.com",
                     "mutable_patterns": [r"^(?!.*\.tgz$).*"],
@@ -196,7 +189,6 @@ class TestGetImmutablePatterns:
         cfg = make_config(
             {
                 "r": {
-                    "type": "remote",
                     "package": "generic",
                     "base_url": "https://x.com",
                     "immutable_patterns": [r".*\.tar\.gz$"],
@@ -210,7 +202,7 @@ class TestGetImmutablePatterns:
         assert cfg.get_immutable_patterns("nonexistent") == []
 
     def test_returns_empty_when_no_patterns_configured(self, make_config):
-        cfg = make_config({"r": {"type": "remote", "package": "generic", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
+        cfg = make_config({"r": {"package": "generic", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
         assert cfg.get_immutable_patterns("r") == []
 
     def test_multiple_patterns_returned(self, make_config):
@@ -218,7 +210,6 @@ class TestGetImmutablePatterns:
         cfg = make_config(
             {
                 "r": {
-                    "type": "remote",
                     "package": "rpm",
                     "base_url": "https://x.com",
                     "immutable_patterns": patterns,
@@ -231,7 +222,6 @@ class TestGetImmutablePatterns:
         cfg = make_config(
             {
                 "r": {
-                    "type": "remote",
                     "package": "generic",
                     "base_url": "https://x.com",
                     "immutable_patterns": [r".*\.tar\.gz$"],
@@ -247,7 +237,6 @@ class TestGetImmutablePatterns:
         cfg = make_config(
             {
                 "r": {
-                    "type": "remote",
                     "package": "generic",
                     "base_url": "https://x.com",
                     "immutable_patterns": [r".*\.tar\.gz$"],
@@ -270,7 +259,6 @@ class TestGetUserMutablePatterns:
         cfg = make_config(
             {
                 "r": {
-                    "type": "remote",
                     "package": "alpine",
                     "base_url": "https://x.com",
                     "mutable_patterns": [r"custom\.json$"],
@@ -281,7 +269,7 @@ class TestGetUserMutablePatterns:
 
     def test_excludes_package_defaults(self, make_config):
         # Package defaults (APKINDEX etc.) must NOT appear here
-        cfg = make_config({"r": {"type": "remote", "package": "alpine", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
+        cfg = make_config({"r": {"package": "alpine", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
         assert cfg.get_user_mutable_patterns("r") == []
 
     def test_returns_empty_for_missing_remote(self, make_config):
@@ -289,7 +277,7 @@ class TestGetUserMutablePatterns:
         assert cfg.get_user_mutable_patterns("nonexistent") == []
 
     def test_returns_empty_when_key_absent(self, make_config):
-        cfg = make_config({"r": {"type": "remote", "package": "generic", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
+        cfg = make_config({"r": {"package": "generic", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
         assert cfg.get_user_mutable_patterns("r") == []
 
 
@@ -303,7 +291,6 @@ class TestGetCacheConfig:
         cfg = make_config(
             {
                 "r": {
-                    "type": "remote",
                     "package": "generic",
                     "base_url": "https://x.com",
                     "cache": {"immutable_ttl": 0, "mutable_ttl": 7200},
@@ -317,7 +304,7 @@ class TestGetCacheConfig:
         assert cfg.get_cache_config("nonexistent") == {}
 
     def test_returns_empty_dict_when_no_cache_key(self, make_config):
-        cfg = make_config({"r": {"type": "remote", "package": "generic", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
+        cfg = make_config({"r": {"package": "generic", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
         assert cfg.get_cache_config("r") == {}
 
 
@@ -329,11 +316,11 @@ class TestGetCacheConfig:
 class TestConfigReload:
     def test_reloads_when_file_mtime_advances(self, tmp_path):
         cfg_file = tmp_path / "remotes.yaml"
-        cfg_file.write_text(yaml.dump({"remotes": {"repo-a": {"type": "remote", "package": "generic", "base_url": "https://x.com"}}}))
+        cfg_file.write_text(yaml.dump({"remote": {"repo-a": {"package": "generic", "base_url": "https://x.com"}}}))
         cfg = ConfigManager(str(cfg_file))
         assert "repo-a" in cfg.config["remotes"]
 
-        cfg_file.write_text(yaml.dump({"remotes": {"repo-b": {"type": "remote", "package": "generic", "base_url": "https://y.com"}}}))
+        cfg_file.write_text(yaml.dump({"remote": {"repo-b": {"package": "generic", "base_url": "https://y.com"}}}))
         future_mtime = cfg._last_modified + 1
         os.utime(str(cfg_file), (future_mtime, future_mtime))
 
@@ -344,7 +331,7 @@ class TestConfigReload:
 
     def test_no_reload_when_file_unchanged(self, tmp_path):
         cfg_file = tmp_path / "remotes.yaml"
-        cfg_file.write_text(yaml.dump({"remotes": {"repo-a": {"type": "remote", "package": "generic", "base_url": "https://x.com"}}}))
+        cfg_file.write_text(yaml.dump({"remote": {"repo-a": {"package": "generic", "base_url": "https://x.com"}}}))
         cfg = ConfigManager(str(cfg_file))
 
         # Call check_reload without touching the file — should not reload
@@ -360,7 +347,7 @@ class TestConfigReload:
 
 class TestGetQuarantineConfig:
     def test_returns_false_zero_when_not_configured(self, make_config):
-        cfg = make_config({"r": {"type": "remote", "package": "generic", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
+        cfg = make_config({"r": {"package": "generic", "base_url": "https://x.com"}})
         enabled, days = cfg.get_quarantine_config("r")
         assert enabled is False
         assert days == 0
@@ -375,7 +362,6 @@ class TestGetQuarantineConfig:
         cfg = make_config(
             {
                 "r": {
-                    "type": "remote",
                     "package": "generic",
                     "base_url": "https://x.com",
                     "quarantine_new": True,
@@ -391,7 +377,6 @@ class TestGetQuarantineConfig:
         cfg = make_config(
             {
                 "r": {
-                    "type": "remote",
                     "package": "generic",
                     "base_url": "https://x.com",
                     "quarantine_new": False,
@@ -407,7 +392,6 @@ class TestGetQuarantineConfig:
         cfg = make_config(
             {
                 "r": {
-                    "type": "remote",
                     "package": "generic",
                     "base_url": "https://x.com",
                     "quarantine_new": True,
@@ -426,20 +410,20 @@ class TestGetQuarantineConfig:
 
 
 def _remote(base_url: str = "https://x.com") -> dict:
-    return {"type": "remote", "package": "generic", "base_url": base_url}
+    return {"package": "generic", "base_url": base_url}
 
 
 class TestConfigDirMode:
     def test_loads_all_yaml_files(self, tmp_path):
-        (tmp_path / "a.yaml").write_text(yaml.dump({"remotes": {"repo-a": _remote()}}))
-        (tmp_path / "b.yaml").write_text(yaml.dump({"remotes": {"repo-b": _remote("https://y.com")}}))
+        (tmp_path / "a.yaml").write_text(yaml.dump({"remote": {"repo-a": _remote()}}))
+        (tmp_path / "b.yaml").write_text(yaml.dump({"remote": {"repo-b": _remote("https://y.com")}}))
         cfg = ConfigManager(str(tmp_path))
         assert "repo-a" in cfg.config["remotes"]
         assert "repo-b" in cfg.config["remotes"]
 
     def test_later_file_overrides_earlier_on_same_key(self, tmp_path):
-        (tmp_path / "a.yaml").write_text(yaml.dump({"remotes": {"r": _remote("https://first.com")}}))
-        (tmp_path / "b.yaml").write_text(yaml.dump({"remotes": {"r": _remote("https://second.com")}}))
+        (tmp_path / "a.yaml").write_text(yaml.dump({"remote": {"r": _remote("https://first.com")}}))
+        (tmp_path / "b.yaml").write_text(yaml.dump({"remote": {"r": _remote("https://second.com")}}))
         cfg = ConfigManager(str(tmp_path))
         assert cfg.config["remotes"]["r"]["base_url"] == "https://second.com"
 
@@ -449,18 +433,18 @@ class TestConfigDirMode:
 
     def test_ignores_non_yaml_files(self, tmp_path):
         (tmp_path / "notes.txt").write_text("not yaml")
-        (tmp_path / "a.yaml").write_text(yaml.dump({"remotes": {"repo-a": _remote()}}))
+        (tmp_path / "a.yaml").write_text(yaml.dump({"remote": {"repo-a": _remote()}}))
         cfg = ConfigManager(str(tmp_path))
         assert list(cfg.config["remotes"].keys()) == ["repo-a"]
 
     def test_reload_picks_up_new_file(self, tmp_path):
-        (tmp_path / "a.yaml").write_text(yaml.dump({"remotes": {"repo-a": _remote()}}))
+        (tmp_path / "a.yaml").write_text(yaml.dump({"remote": {"repo-a": _remote()}}))
         cfg = ConfigManager(str(tmp_path))
         assert "repo-a" in cfg.config["remotes"]
         assert "repo-b" not in cfg.config["remotes"]
 
         new_file = tmp_path / "b.yaml"
-        new_file.write_text(yaml.dump({"remotes": {"repo-b": _remote("https://y.com")}}))
+        new_file.write_text(yaml.dump({"remote": {"repo-b": _remote("https://y.com")}}))
         future_mtime = cfg._last_modified + 1
         os.utime(str(new_file), (future_mtime, future_mtime))
 
@@ -479,9 +463,9 @@ class TestConfigDirKey:
     def test_merges_remotes_from_config_dir(self, tmp_path):
         conf_d = tmp_path / "conf.d"
         conf_d.mkdir()
-        (conf_d / "remotes.yaml").write_text(yaml.dump({"remotes": {"repo-extra": _remote("https://extra.com")}}))
+        (conf_d / "remotes.yaml").write_text(yaml.dump({"remote": {"repo-extra": _remote("https://extra.com")}}))
         main = tmp_path / "config.yaml"
-        main.write_text(yaml.dump({"config_dir": str(conf_d), "remotes": {"repo-main": _remote()}}))
+        main.write_text(yaml.dump({"config_dir": str(conf_d), "remote": {"repo-main": _remote()}}))
         cfg = ConfigManager(str(main))
         assert "repo-main" in cfg.config["remotes"]
         assert "repo-extra" in cfg.config["remotes"]
@@ -489,9 +473,9 @@ class TestConfigDirKey:
     def test_relative_config_dir_resolved_from_main_file(self, tmp_path):
         conf_d = tmp_path / "conf.d"
         conf_d.mkdir()
-        (conf_d / "r.yaml").write_text(yaml.dump({"remotes": {"repo-a": _remote()}}))
+        (conf_d / "r.yaml").write_text(yaml.dump({"remote": {"repo-a": _remote()}}))
         main = tmp_path / "config.yaml"
-        main.write_text(yaml.dump({"config_dir": "conf.d", "remotes": {}}))
+        main.write_text(yaml.dump({"config_dir": "conf.d"}))
         cfg = ConfigManager(str(main))
         assert "repo-a" in cfg.config["remotes"]
 
@@ -499,16 +483,16 @@ class TestConfigDirKey:
         conf_d = tmp_path / "conf.d"
         conf_d.mkdir()
         main = tmp_path / "config.yaml"
-        main.write_text(yaml.dump({"config_dir": str(conf_d), "remotes": {}}))
+        main.write_text(yaml.dump({"config_dir": str(conf_d), "remote": {}}))
         cfg = ConfigManager(str(main))
         assert "config_dir" not in cfg.config
 
     def test_dir_remote_overrides_main_file_remote(self, tmp_path):
         conf_d = tmp_path / "conf.d"
         conf_d.mkdir()
-        (conf_d / "override.yaml").write_text(yaml.dump({"remotes": {"r": _remote("https://new.com")}}))
+        (conf_d / "override.yaml").write_text(yaml.dump({"remote": {"r": _remote("https://new.com")}}))
         main = tmp_path / "config.yaml"
-        main.write_text(yaml.dump({"config_dir": str(conf_d), "remotes": {"r": _remote("https://old.com")}}))
+        main.write_text(yaml.dump({"config_dir": str(conf_d), "remote": {"r": _remote("https://old.com")}}))
         cfg = ConfigManager(str(main))
         assert cfg.config["remotes"]["r"]["base_url"] == "https://new.com"
 
@@ -516,7 +500,7 @@ class TestConfigDirKey:
         conf_d = tmp_path / "conf.d"
         conf_d.mkdir()
         main = tmp_path / "config.yaml"
-        main.write_text(yaml.dump({"config_dir": str(conf_d), "remotes": {"repo-main": _remote()}}))
+        main.write_text(yaml.dump({"config_dir": str(conf_d), "remote": {"repo-main": _remote()}}))
         cfg = ConfigManager(str(main))
         assert list(cfg.config["remotes"].keys()) == ["repo-main"]
 
@@ -524,13 +508,13 @@ class TestConfigDirKey:
         conf_d = tmp_path / "conf.d"
         conf_d.mkdir()
         dir_file = conf_d / "r.yaml"
-        dir_file.write_text(yaml.dump({"remotes": {"repo-v1": _remote()}}))
+        dir_file.write_text(yaml.dump({"remote": {"repo-v1": _remote()}}))
         main = tmp_path / "config.yaml"
-        main.write_text(yaml.dump({"config_dir": str(conf_d), "remotes": {}}))
+        main.write_text(yaml.dump({"config_dir": str(conf_d), "remote": {}}))
         cfg = ConfigManager(str(main))
         assert "repo-v1" in cfg.config["remotes"]
 
-        dir_file.write_text(yaml.dump({"remotes": {"repo-v2": _remote("https://v2.com")}}))
+        dir_file.write_text(yaml.dump({"remote": {"repo-v2": _remote("https://v2.com")}}))
         future_mtime = cfg._last_modified + 1
         os.utime(str(dir_file), (future_mtime, future_mtime))
 
@@ -538,3 +522,77 @@ class TestConfigDirKey:
 
         assert "repo-v2" in cfg.config["remotes"]
         assert "repo-v1" not in cfg.config["remotes"]
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# YAML format normalisation — top-level type keys
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class TestYamlTypeKeys:
+    def test_remote_key_injects_type_remote(self, tmp_path):
+        f = tmp_path / "r.yaml"
+        f.write_text(yaml.dump({"remote": {"my-remote": {"package": "generic", "base_url": "https://x.com"}}}))
+        cfg = ConfigManager(str(f))
+        assert cfg.config["remotes"]["my-remote"]["type"] == "remote"
+
+    def test_virtual_key_injects_type_virtual(self, tmp_path):
+        f = tmp_path / "r.yaml"
+        f.write_text(yaml.dump({"virtual": {"my-virtual": {"package": "helm", "members": ["a", "b"]}}}))
+        cfg = ConfigManager(str(f))
+        assert cfg.config["remotes"]["my-virtual"]["type"] == "virtual"
+        assert cfg.config["remotes"]["my-virtual"]["members"] == ["a", "b"]
+
+    def test_local_key_injects_type_local(self, tmp_path):
+        f = tmp_path / "r.yaml"
+        f.write_text(yaml.dump({"local": {"my-local": {"package": "generic"}}}))
+        cfg = ConfigManager(str(f))
+        assert cfg.config["remotes"]["my-local"]["type"] == "local"
+
+    def test_mixed_file_all_three_types(self, tmp_path):
+        f = tmp_path / "r.yaml"
+        f.write_text(
+            yaml.dump(
+                {
+                    "remote": {"r": {"package": "helm", "base_url": "https://helm.example.com"}},
+                    "virtual": {"v": {"package": "helm", "members": ["r"]}},
+                    "local": {"l": {"package": "generic"}},
+                }
+            )
+        )
+        cfg = ConfigManager(str(f))
+        assert cfg.config["remotes"]["r"]["type"] == "remote"
+        assert cfg.config["remotes"]["v"]["type"] == "virtual"
+        assert cfg.config["remotes"]["l"]["type"] == "local"
+
+    def test_type_field_not_required_in_yaml(self, tmp_path):
+        f = tmp_path / "r.yaml"
+        f.write_text(yaml.dump({"remote": {"r": {"package": "alpine", "base_url": "https://x.com"}}}))
+        cfg = ConfigManager(str(f))
+        raw = cfg.config["remotes"]["r"]
+        # type is injected by the loader; the original dict had no type key
+        assert "type" in raw
+        assert raw["type"] == "remote"
+
+    def test_other_fields_preserved_after_normalisation(self, tmp_path):
+        f = tmp_path / "r.yaml"
+        f.write_text(
+            yaml.dump(
+                {
+                    "remote": {
+                        "r": {
+                            "package": "helm",
+                            "base_url": "https://helm.example.com",
+                            "immutable_patterns": [r"\.tgz$"],
+                            "cache": {"immutable_ttl": 0, "mutable_ttl": 1800},
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            )
+        )
+        cfg = ConfigManager(str(f))
+        remote = cfg.config["remotes"]["r"]
+        assert remote["package"] == "helm"
+        assert remote["base_url"] == "https://helm.example.com"
+        assert remote["cache"] == {"immutable_ttl": 0, "mutable_ttl": 1800}
+        assert r"\.tgz$" in remote["immutable_patterns"]