What You'll Fill In on a Vehicle Title Transfer
A vehicle title transfer form asks for your name, the buyer's name, the vehicle details, the sale price, and your signature. The exact blanks and their order vary by state — your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) publishes the official form, and that is the one you must use. You cannot substitute a form from another state or a generic template.
Most states have one form for private sales (person to person) and a different form for dealer sales. If you are selling to a private buyer, request the private sale form from your DMV website or office. The form itself is free to read or pick up in person.
Before you open the form, gather the documents you will need: your current title (the physical certificate), your driver's license or ID, the buyer's driver's license or ID, and the bill of sale (a straightforward record of who sold what to whom for how much). Some states require a bill of sale; others do not. Check your state DMV website to confirm whether you need one.
Key Takeaways
- read or pick up the official title transfer form from your state's DMV website — do not use a form from another state or a third-party website.
- Print the form and fill it by hand in black or blue ink, writing clearly and staying inside the boxes provided.
- Sign and date the form in front of a notary public if your state requires it; some states do not, so check your DMV's instructions first.
- Submit the completed form to your DMV along with your current title, proof of ID, and any other documents your state lists on the form itself.
- The buyer will receive a new title in their name after the DMV processes the transfer, which usually takes two to four weeks.
Getting the Right Form and Reading the Instructions
Go to your state's official DMV website and search for "title transfer form" or "vehicle title transfer." The page will show you the form and a set of instructions specific to your state. Read the instructions all the way through before you touch the form — they tell you which blanks are required, whether you need a notary, what documents to send with the form, and where to mail or deliver it.
Some states let you transfer a title online through the DMV website. If your state offers this, the online process will walk you through each field and tell you what to enter. Online transfer is usually faster than mailing a paper form, though not all transactions may have access to — for example, some states do not allow online transfer if the vehicle has a lien (a loan against it).
If you cannot find the form on the DMV website, call your state DMV's main number or visit a local DMV office and ask for the title transfer form for a private sale. They will give you the correct form and can answer questions about how to fill it.
Filling In the Seller's Information
The form will have a section labeled "Seller" or "Current Owner." Write your full legal name exactly as it appears on your current title. If the title is in two names (you and a co-owner), both names must appear on the transfer form in the same order and format as they do on the title.
Next, enter your address — the one on your driver's license is usually the safest choice. Write clearly in black or blue ink and stay within the boxes on the form. Do not use pencil, marker, or other colors; the DMV scanner may not read them.
Some forms ask for your driver's license number or state ID number. Copy it exactly from your ID. If the form asks for your phone number or email, fill those in as well. These fields help the DMV contact you if there is a problem with the transfer.
Filling In the Buyer's Information and Vehicle Details
In the "Buyer" or "New Owner" section, write the buyer's full legal name exactly as it appears on their driver's license. If the buyer is a business or dealership, write the business name as it appears on their license or registration. Enter the buyer's address and driver's license number or state ID number.
In the vehicle details section, copy the information from your current title: the vehicle identification number (VIN), the year, make, model, and body style. The VIN is a 17-character code; copy it character by character to avoid errors. You will also see a field for the odometer reading — write the current mileage on the vehicle. Some states require this; others do not, but filling it in does not hurt.
The form will ask for the sale price. Write the amount you and the buyer agreed on. This is not optional; the DMV uses it to calculate transfer fees and to flag unusually low prices that might indicate fraud. Write the price as a number (for example, 8500) or in words (eight thousand five hundred dollars), depending on what the form shows.
Signing the Form and Getting It Notarized
At the bottom of the form, you will see a signature line and a date line. Sign your name in the same style you use on your driver's license — the DMV will compare the two. Write the date you sign the form, not the date of the sale.
Check your state's DMV instructions to see whether the form must be notarized. Some states require a notary public to watch you sign; others do not. If your state requires notarization, you cannot sign the form until you are in front of a notary. A notary is available at most banks, UPS stores, and some libraries — call ahead to confirm they offer notary services and ask what ID they need.
If notarization is required, bring your driver's license and the unsigned form to the notary. They will watch you sign, add their stamp and signature, and charge a small fee (usually $5 to $15). If notarization is not required, you can sign the form at home.
Submitting the Form to Your DMV
Gather the completed form, your current title, your driver's license or ID, and any other documents listed in your state's instructions (such as a bill of sale or proof of a lien release). Make a copy of everything for your records before you submit it.
You can submit the form by mail, in person at a DMV office, or online if your state offers it. Mailing usually takes longer — allow two to four weeks for processing plus mail time. Submitting in person at a DMV office is faster; you may get a receipt the same day. Online submission, where available, is the quickest option.
If you mail the form, use certified mail with return receipt so you have proof the DMV received it. Include a cover letter with your name and phone number in case the DMV has questions. Mail everything to the address listed in your state's instructions — do not guess or use an old address.
What Happens After You Submit
The DMV will process your transfer and issue a new title in the buyer's name. This usually takes two to four weeks, though it can be faster if you submitted online or in person. The new title will be mailed to the buyer's address.
You should keep a copy of the signed transfer form and your receipt (if you got one) until the new title arrives. If the buyer contacts you saying they have not received the title after four weeks, they can call the DMV to check the status. You can also call to confirm the transfer went through, though the DMV may not give you details about the buyer's new title.
Once the new title is issued, you are no longer the owner and have no further responsibility for the vehicle. If you receive mail about the vehicle after the transfer, forward it to the buyer or write "return to sender" and mail it back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fill out the form on a computer and print it, or do I have to write by hand?
Most states allow you to type the information on the form before printing it, as long as the form itself is official and unaltered. Check your state's instructions to confirm. If you do type, print it on white paper and sign by hand in black or blue ink. Never submit a form that has been edited with white-out or crossed-out sections.
What if I made a mistake on the form?
If you catch the error before submitting, start over with a fresh form — do not cross out or use white-out. If the DMV receives a form with errors, they will return it to you with a note explaining what needs to be corrected. You will have to resubmit it, which delays the transfer by several weeks.
Do I need to have the buyer sign the form too?
No. The seller (you) signs the form to confirm you are transferring ownership. The buyer does not sign the title transfer form. The buyer will sign other documents when they register the vehicle in their name, but that happens after the title transfer is complete.
What if the vehicle has a loan against it?
If you still owe money on the vehicle, the lender's name appears on your title. You cannot transfer the title until the loan is paid off and the lender releases their claim. Pay off the loan, get a lien release letter from the lender, and include that letter with your transfer form. Some states require the lender to send the lien release directly to the DMV.
Can I transfer the title if I lost my current title?
You will need to request a replacement title from your DMV before you can transfer it. This takes extra time and may cost a small fee. Contact your state DMV to learn how to request a duplicate title in your state.