What you need to do to transfer a car title
To transfer a car title, you sign the back of the title document, provide it to the new owner along with a bill of sale, and both of you submit these documents to your state's DMV. The new owner then registers the vehicle in their name. The exact steps and required forms vary by state — some require notarization, some require an odometer reading, and some let you handle it by mail while others require an in-person visit. Your state's DMV website lists what documents are needed and which office to visit or which address to mail to.
The process typically takes two to four weeks from submission to completion, though it can be faster if you handle it in person at a DMV office. During this time, the vehicle is technically owned by the new person but not yet registered in their name, so they should not drive it on public roads until the registration is complete.
Key Takeaways
- You must sign the title in the designated signature area on the back, and the new owner must sign as the buyer — unsigned titles are rejected by the DMV.
- A bill of sale (a simple written record of the sale) is required in most states and protects both you and the buyer by documenting the sale price and date.
- Some states require a notary to witness your signature on the title; check your state DMV website before you sign, because signing in the wrong place or without a notary can delay the transfer.
- The new owner must take the signed title and bill of sale to the DMV to register the vehicle, and they will need proof of insurance and a valid ID.
- Do not give the new owner the keys or let them take the car until you have signed the title and they have the signed documents in hand.
Signing the title correctly
The title document has a signature line for the seller (you) and a signature line for the buyer (the new owner). You sign in the seller section; the buyer signs in the buyer section. The exact location of these lines varies by state — some titles have them on the back, some on the front, and some on a separate section. Before you sign anything, look at your title document and locate both signature lines so you do not sign in the wrong place.
Sign your name exactly as it appears on the front of the title. If your name is printed as "James Michael Rodriguez" on the front, sign "James Michael Rodriguez" on the back, not "J.M. Rodriguez" or "Jim Rodriguez." A mismatch between the printed name and your signature can cause the DMV to reject the transfer.
Some states require your signature to be notarized, meaning a notary public must witness you signing the title. If your state requires this, you cannot simply sign the title at home — you must go to a notary (often available at banks, UPS stores, or libraries) and sign in front of them. The notary will stamp and sign the title to confirm they witnessed your signature. Check your state DMV website before signing to find out whether notarization is required.
Preparing a bill of sale
A bill of sale is a written record of the transaction between you and the buyer. It does not have to be fancy or official — a simple document with the key information is sufficient. The bill of sale should include the date of the sale, the vehicle identification number (VIN), the make and model of the car, the sale price, your name and address, the buyer's name and address, and both signatures.
Your state DMV may provide a bill of sale form on its website, or you can write one yourself on plain paper. Either way, both you and the buyer should sign and date it. Make a copy for your records before you hand it to the buyer. The bill of sale protects both of you by creating a record that the sale happened and at what price — this is especially important if there are later disputes about the condition of the car or whether the sale actually took place.
Some states do not legally require a bill of sale, but having one is still a good idea. It costs nothing and takes five minutes, and it protects you if the buyer later claims they never bought the car or if they get into an accident and try to say you were still the owner.
What the new owner needs to do at the DMV
Once you have signed the title and prepared the bill of sale, the new owner takes both documents to the DMV to register the vehicle in their name. They will also need to bring a valid photo ID, proof of insurance for the vehicle, and payment for registration fees. The DMV will check that the title is signed correctly, verify the VIN matches the vehicle, and process the registration.
The new owner should not wait to do this. Some states allow a grace period of a few days or weeks before registration must be completed, but driving an unregistered vehicle is illegal in all states. The new owner should go to the DMV as soon as possible after taking possession of the car.
If the new owner lives in a different state than you, they will need to follow their own state's registration process. The title transfer itself is the same, but the registration requirements may differ. They should check their state DMV website for specific instructions.
Handling a title with a lien or loan
If you still owe money on the car — meaning there is a lien on the title held by a bank or lender — you cannot simply sign the title over to the new owner. The lender's name appears on the title, and they have a legal claim to the vehicle until the loan is paid off. You must pay off the loan before the title can be transferred.
Contact your lender and ask what is required to pay off the loan and release the lien. Some lenders will release the lien immediately once payment is received; others may mail you a lien release document that you then sign and give to the new owner. The new owner will need this lien release document to register the vehicle. Do not accept an offer to buy the car if you cannot pay off the loan before the sale closes, because the buyer will not be able to register it in their name.
Common mistakes that delay the transfer
The most common mistake is signing the title in the wrong place or signing it before checking whether your state requires notarization. Once you sign in the wrong spot, the title may be rejected and you will have to request a duplicate from the DMV, which takes additional time. Always check your state DMV website first and locate the correct signature line before you sign anything.
Another frequent problem is the seller and buyer signing the title at different times or in different places, then losing track of it. Once you sign, give the title directly to the buyer and make sure they understand they need to take it to the DMV right away. Do not leave it sitting in a car or a drawer.
Mismatched names also cause rejections — if your name on the title is "Sarah Johnson" but you sign "S. Johnson," the DMV may reject it. Sign exactly as your name appears on the front of the title, even if that is not how you normally sign your name.
Finally, some people forget to include the bill of sale or do not fill it out completely. While not every state legally requires it, having one protects both you and the buyer and takes only a few minutes to prepare. Include it with the title when you hand it over.
What happens after you submit the documents
Once the new owner submits the signed title and bill of sale to the DMV, the DMV processes the transfer and issues a new registration in the buyer's name. This usually takes two to four weeks, though some DMV offices are faster. During this time, the vehicle legally belongs to the new owner, but it is not yet registered in their name.
The new owner will receive a registration card and new license plates (or a registration sticker, depending on your state) by mail. They should not drive the vehicle on public roads until they have received the registration. If they are stopped by police before registration is complete, they can show the DMV receipt or submission confirmation to prove the transfer is in progress, but it is better to wait.
Once you have signed and handed over the title, your responsibility as the owner ends. You are no longer liable for the vehicle, and any accidents, tickets, or damage that occur after the transfer are the new owner's responsibility. Keep a copy of the signed bill of sale for your records in case there are later questions about when the sale took place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer the title if the new owner is not present?
You can sign your part of the title without the buyer present, but the buyer must sign their part before taking it to the DMV. Some people sign the title early and give it to the buyer to sign later, but this creates risk — if the title is lost or damaged, you will have to request a duplicate. It is safer to sign the title in person with the buyer present, or at least to sign it only when you are about to hand it over.
What if I lost my title or it is damaged?
Contact your state DMV and request a duplicate title. You will need to provide proof of ownership (such as a registration card or insurance documents) and pay a fee, which varies by state. The duplicate usually arrives by mail within one to three weeks. You cannot transfer the vehicle until you have the title in hand.
Do I need to notify my insurance company when I sell the car?
Yes. Contact your insurance company and tell them you have sold the vehicle. They will cancel the policy or remove that vehicle from your policy. If you do not notify them, you may be charged for coverage you no longer need, and the new owner will need to get their own insurance before registering the car.
What if the buyer and I disagree about the sale price on the bill of sale?
The bill of sale should reflect the actual price you agreed on. If you disagree with the buyer about what the price was, settle that before signing anything. Once the bill of sale is signed and submitted to the DMV, it becomes part of the official record and is difficult to change. Make sure both of you agree on the price and write it down before either of you signs.
Can I transfer a title if the car has been in an accident or has mechanical problems?
Yes, you can transfer the title regardless of the car's condition. However, you should disclose any known problems to the buyer before the sale. Some states require sellers to provide a disclosure form listing known defects. Check your state DMV website to see if a disclosure form is required, and provide it to the buyer before they sign the bill of sale.