How-To
35 articles in this category
How to finance a car you are buying from a private seller
Dealers arrange financing on the spot. A private seller can't, so the buyer has to line up the loan first. How private-party auto loans work, what the lender will ask for, and how the money and title move when there is still a loan on the car.
Emissions and smog tests when you sell a car: who is responsible
California makes the seller deliver a passing smog certificate. Nevada puts the test on the buyer. Most states never test at all. Here is how the rules break down and what to write into the sale.
Trading vehicles with another private party: How a swap works on paper
Swapping cars with someone feels simpler than selling one. On paper it is two sales at once, which means two bills of sale, two title assignments, and two tax bills.
How to run a VIN check before a private sale: NMVTIS and vehicle history
The federal NMVTIS database tells you whether a used car carries a salvage or junk brand, what the last title odometer reading was, and whether it was reported as a total loss. Here is how to use it.
Selling a car across state lines: Title, tax, and registration
When buyer and seller live in different states, two sets of DMV rules meet. Here is whose title form to use, where the tax is paid, and how to protect both sides.
Selling a car for parts: how to write a parts-only bill of sale
A non-running car sold for parts still has a VIN, a title, and a paper trail. Here is the language to use, why the title still matters, and how to make sure the state retires the vehicle so it never comes back to you.
How to replace a lost car title before you sell
A seller who cannot find the title has one job before listing the car: order a duplicate. Here is what states ask for, what it costs, how liens complicate it, and why handing over a bill of sale alone leaves your buyer stranded.
Trip permits and temporary tags: How to legally drive home a car you just bought
You bought the car but it is not registered yet. A temporary trip permit bridges that gap so you can legally drive it home without borrowing the seller's plates.
Selling a car on a payment plan: Using a bill of sale with a promissory note
Letting a private buyer pay over time is workable if you paper it right. Pair a bill of sale with a promissory note and hold the title as security until the last payment.
Selling a Boat, Motor, and Trailer When Each Has Its Own Title
A boat, its outboard motor, and the trailer can each carry a separate title. Here is how to write one bill of sale that itemizes all three and splits the value fairly.
How to Sell a Classic or Antique Car
Collector car buyers pay for documented history. Here is how antique registration classes work, what to do when no title was ever issued, and which papers to have ready before you list.
How to Sell a Car Privately: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide
Selling your car yourself instead of trading it in usually puts more money in your pocket, but it also puts every step on you. This guide walks the full private sale from pricing to releasing liability so nothing falls through the cracks.