Some states require you to hold a title for 30 days before transferring ownership. Many states don’t title vehicles that are at least 15 or 25 years old. This is called a title exemption. If your vehicle is title-exempt, you’ll just need a bill of sale to transfer ownership. If your car doesn’t have a title already, submit a DMV form and pay the allotted fees.

When you apply for a new title, you’ll need to provide any necessary documentation and fill out an affidavit attesting that you’re the owner of the vehicle. Your state might also require you to provide proof that the vehicle is in good working order. If so, you’ll need a certificate of inspection from a state-approved inspector. [3] X Research source

Locate information about your state’s title replacement process here: https://www. dmv. org/replacing-a-lost-title. php.

You’ll still need to apply for a duplicate title. A transfer of ownership form just allows the new owner to operate the vehicle before the new title arrives.

Check your state’s DMV site to see if they offer on-site printing.

Your state might require you to provide a pencil rubbing or photograph of the VIN, or vehicle identification number. It’s typically located on the driver’s side dashboard. You might also have to fill out an odometer disclosure form. Some states only require this for vehicles 10 years old or newer.

If you request an express title or have it printed on-site, you’ll need to pay an additional fee. Your state’s DMV website will list the duplicate title fee.

Your state’s DMV might have a template bill of sale, which will help ensure you include all necessary information. You can find a sample bill of sale here: http://tax. utah. gov/forms/current/tc-843. pdf.

Some states also require the price to be listed on the title.

Suppose your vehicle’s fair market value is $8,000, you’re selling it for $7,900 and you owe $2,500. The buyer will pay off the balance to clear the title, then pay you the remaining $5,400 in a separate transaction. If your car is worth $8,000, a buyer is willing to pay $7,900, and you owe your lender $9,000, you’ll have to pay $1,100 out of pocket to clear the title.

If you’re selling the car to a dealership instead of an individual, they’ll handle the title clearing process. They’ll contact the lender for you and handle all of the details. [11] X Research source

A third party, such as a bank, oversees an escrow account. They manage the money involved in a transaction and release funds at checkpoints in the sale agreement. If a buyer wasn’t satisfied with the transaction, an escrow account can guarantee that they’ll get a refund. In a private transaction, they might not have that assurance.

Create your own bill of sale if your state doesn’t have a standard bill of sale form.

You and the buyer will need to visit a notary public together to sign the bill of sale and have it notarized. Search online or call a local bank, parcel shipping center, or photocopy shop and ask if they have a notary public on staff.

Check your DMV’s website to learn about your state’s specific procedures. You might also need to provide a certificate of inspection from a state-approved inspector.

You might also have to provide an affidavit attesting that you were the previous owner, a copy of the vehicle’s registration from when you owned it, or submit other documentation to the buyer’s local DMV. [17] X Research source Before finalizing the transaction, ask the buyer to check their state’s procedures for registering an untitled vehicle that’s title-exempt in another state.