Who fills out the title, the buyer or the seller?

Both. The seller completes the assignment section on the back (signature, sale date, sale price, and the odometer reading) and the buyer completes the new-owner section. Many states void a title if anything is crossed out or written in the wrong color of ink, so work slowly and use black ink unless your state says otherwise.

How long do I have to transfer a title after buying a car?

Most states give the buyer somewhere between 10 and 30 days to title and register the vehicle. Miss the window and you can owe late penalties on top of the title fee and sales tax. Check your state deadline before you buy, because the clock usually starts on the sale date written on the title.

Do I need a bill of sale if the title is signed over?

In most states the signed title is the legal proof of ownership, but a bill of sale is still worth having. It records the price (which the DMV uses to calculate sales tax), the exact sale date, the odometer reading, and an as-is statement. If the title is ever questioned, the bill of sale is your backup.

What if there is still a loan on the car?

The lender holds the title or is listed as the lienholder on it. The loan has to be paid off and the lien released before a clean title can transfer. The payoff can happen at the sale (often at the lender or a bank), after which the lender mails the title or a lien release. Never hand over money for a car whose lien has not been cleared.

Can I transfer a title without the buyer or seller present?

Sometimes, with a power of attorney. If one party cannot attend the DMV or sign in person, a vehicle power of attorney lets the other party sign title paperwork on their behalf. Out-of-state and estate sales are the most common reasons people use one.

How to Transfer a Car Title After Buying or Selling

A title transfer is the moment ownership actually changes hands. The bill of sale records the deal, but the title is what the DMV reissues in the new owner's name. Get the signing, the odometer line, and the filing deadline right and the transfer is routine. Get one of them wrong and the title can be rejected, leaving the buyer unable to register the car.

What a title transfer actually involves

Transferring a title is really four separate things happening together: the seller releases ownership, the odometer reading is disclosed, any loan against the car is cleared, and the buyer applies for a new title in their name. The DMV will not issue a clean title until all four are satisfied.

Step 1: Confirm the title is clean before money moves

The name on the title matches the seller's photo ID
There is no lienholder listed, or the lien has a release attached
The title is the original, not a photocopy
The VIN on the title matches the VIN on the dashboard and door jamb
The title is not marked salvage, rebuilt, or flood unless you know and accept that

If the seller is not the person on the title, stop. Signing a car over without titling it in their own name first is title jumping, and it is illegal in every state.

Step 2: Complete the assignment on the back of the title

The back of the title has an assignment section. The seller fills in:

Buyer's full legal name and address
Sale date and sale price
The odometer reading (see Step 3)
Seller's signature, and a notarized signature where the state requires it

Print clearly, use black ink, and do not cross anything out. Many states reject a title with corrections and force the seller to apply for a duplicate, which delays everything.

Step 3: Record the odometer disclosure

Federal law requires an odometer disclosure at the time of sale for most vehicles less than 20 years old (the exemption age changed from 10 to 20 years starting with 2011 model-year vehicles). Newer titles have an odometer line built into the assignment section. If yours does not, use a separate odometer disclosure statement. Record the exact reading and note whether it reflects actual mileage, exceeds the mechanical limits, or is not the actual mileage.

Step 4: Write the bill of sale

A bill of sale is the buyer's backup proof and the document the DMV often uses to calculate sales tax. It should capture the price, the date, the VIN, the odometer reading, an as-is statement, and both signatures. Some states provide their own form; a complete bill of sale that includes all the required fields works in the rest.

Create a Vehicle Bill of Sale ($5) Estimate Title Fees and Tax

Step 5: Clear any lien

If a loan is still attached, the title shows a lienholder. The loan has to be paid off and the lien released before a clean title can transfer. Options:

Seller pays off the loan first and waits for the lender to mail the title or a lien release
Buyer and seller meet at the lender (or the seller's bank) and pay the loan off at the closing
Use an escrow service for higher-value cars so neither party is exposed

Step 6: File at the DMV before the deadline

The buyer takes the signed title, the bill of sale, the odometer disclosure, proof of insurance, and a photo ID to the DMV. Expect to pay the title fee, the registration fee, and sales tax on the purchase price. Most states require this within 10 to 30 days of the sale date, and a missed deadline usually means a late penalty.

Step 7: Close out the seller's side

File a release of liability or notice of sale with your state DMV if it offers one
Remove your plates if your state keeps plates with the seller (most do)
Keep a copy of the signed title and the bill of sale
Cancel or transfer your insurance only after the transfer is confirmed

For the seller-side steps in detail, see our guide on the release of liability after selling a car.

Special situations

Out-of-state purchase. You title in your home state, not the seller's. A vehicle power of attorney often helps when the seller has to sign a home-state form you did not anticipate.
Inherited or estate vehicle. Who can sign depends on probate, a small-estate affidavit, or executor authority.
No title at all. A bonded title or duplicate title may be the path, depending on the state.
Gift or family transfer. Many states waive or reduce sales tax, but you still complete the same title steps.

Create Your Vehicle Bill of Sale ($5) →