How to Fill Out a Car Title Transfer

This article was co-authored by Lahaina Araneta, JD. Lahaina Araneta, Esq. is an Immigration Attorney for Orange County, California with over 6 years of experience. She received her JD from Loyola Law School in 2012. In law school, she participated in the immigrant justice practicum and served as a volunteer with several nonprofit agencies.

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If you are buying or selling a vehicle, you will need to pass ownership of the vehicle by filling out the title transfer. The rules vary from state to state, so it's important to find out the specific paperwork and regulations in your area before moving forward with the sale. In general, however, the steps are essentially the same.

Filling Out a Car Title as a Buyer

Verify the buyer and seller’s names, the sale date, and VIN number are correct.
Check the odometer of the car to ensure the mileage on the title is accurate.
Search the VIN number on the DMV’s site to confirm there's no lien on the car. [1] X Research source
Sign the title and get the Bill of Sale to transfer the title to you at the DMV.

Method 1 of 2:

Selling a Vehicle

Your DMV should have an application you can complete for requesting a duplicate title. The application or form might be available online.
You might not have the title because you haven’t paid off your car loan. In that situation, you need to work with your lender to pay off your loan before you will receive the title. Once paid, you can submit a lien clearance letter or other release form to the DMV to get the lien removed. [2] X Research source
If the car has a lien, then the duplicate will probably be sent to the lienholder, so it is best to take care of the lien before making the sale.

You can find your DMV online. Type “your state” and then “DMV.” Look for a link that explains transferring title.
You can also find the specific rules and regulations in your state regarding title transfer here: https://www.dmv.org/title-transfers.php. Click on your state. This website isn’t affiliated with any state government. However, they provide links and contact information to state offices.

names of the buyer and the seller
signatures
notary’s signature (in some states) [3] X Research source
date of sale
price
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
odometer reading (though in some states this is a separate form)

If your state doesn’t have a form, you can create your own. It should contain a description of the vehicle, VIN, final sale price, place of sale, and the names of both buyer and seller.
If the seller made any warranties, those should be included in the Bill of Sale as well. There will also be implied warranties if a written warranty was provided by the dealer when the car was sold. [5] X Trustworthy Source Federal Trade Commission Website with up-to-date information for consumers from the Federal Trade Commisson Go to source

VIN
description of the vehicle, such as its make, model, year, and color
date of the sale or title transfer
license plate number
odometer reading
new owner’s name and contact information
your name and contact information

Advertisement Method 2 of 2:

Buying a Vehicle

names of buyer and seller
date of sale
odometer number
VIN number
any other information necessary to the sale of the car

Most liens are held by the bank that gave the seller their car loan. The car is used as collateral for the loan. In that situation, the bank probably has held onto the title and the only way the seller can get the title is to pay off the lien.
However, a seller could have other liens on the car. Accordingly, don’t assume that there are no liens on the car simply because the seller has title. For example, a child support lien might have been placed on the car. Alternately, a mechanic could get a lien on the car for unpaid repairs. If you buy the vehicle with the lien on it, you now become responsible for the lien. [9] X Research source
If you have the VIN, you can check for liens by visiting your local DMV or checking their website to see if it has a title check feature. If your DMV's website does have a title check feature, you can enter the VIN to see the title and lien information for the car. This is a critical step, so don’t neglect it.

Ideally, you should go with the seller to the DMV office and fill out the transfer form together there. Even if not required by the state, going together can protect you because you can check for liens while you are there. [11] X Research source
The DMV should also have a notary public in the office, in case your state requires that your signatures be notarized.

You’ll also need the VIN and current odometer reading, which should be on the title form. In some states, the odometer reading will be written on a different form.

You typically must pay a fee for the title transfer, which will vary by state.
You must turn over the title. Your state should send you a new title in the mail.

proof of insurance
proof that you’ve paid sales tax
certificates showing the car has passed safety and emissions inspections

Expert Q&A

If I'm giving my child a vehicle, do they have to go to the DMV with me? Lahaina Araneta, JD
Attorney at Law

Lahaina Araneta, Esq. is an Immigration Attorney for Orange County, California with over 6 years of experience. She received her JD from Loyola Law School in 2012. In law school, she participated in the immigrant justice practicum and served as a volunteer with several nonprofit agencies.

Attorney at Law Expert Answer

This is dependent on state by state. For some DMV offices, there are forms specially for family transfers that allow it to be done by mail.

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Do I need to do a safety check if I'm selling a vehicle as is? Lahaina Araneta, JD
Attorney at Law

Attorney at Law Expert Answer It's not the law, but it's recommended for buyers to ask for this or conduct it themselves.

Does a gifted car need to be notarized when it was given to someone who isn't a family member? Lahaina Araneta, JD
Attorney at Law

Attorney at Law Expert Answer

This depends on the state -- to give your vehicle to someone else as a gift, there cannot be a lien on the vehicle. If the owner has the title, they will need to sign off as the seller, and the person receiving the vehicle will sign as the purchaser. For the sales price write "gift" or "zero $0 dollars." The purchaser can then take the title to their local tax collector's office and apply for a title in their name. There will be applicable fees for transferring the title to their name. The seller does not have to be present as long as they have signed and given the title to the purchaser. No sales tax will be charged when a vehicle is gifted.