How to Sign Over a Car

October 18, 2022
6:38 pm

Selling your car in a private party sale?

The bill of sale is only part of the process. To legally transfer ownership to the buyer, you also need to sign over the car title. This piece of paperwork officially transfers the responsibility of the car from you to your buyer.

Not sure where to start? Here’s all the title and registration information you need.

DMV Car Title Transfer Process

The process of signing over a title usually begins once your buyer has made payment for the vehicle. To start the title transfer, you need to first find your title document.

Where to find the title when selling a car

If you own your vehicle outright, then you probably have your title stored with other important documents. Or – if the DMV in your state uses electronic car titles – you may be able to access the title digitally. Either way, you need the car title to complete the vehicle sale. So contact your DMV to get a paper version issued if you can’t lay your hands on the original.

The details you need to complete on the title document

Okay, so you have your title. What next? Double check that the VIN on your title document matches the VIN on your vehicle’s windshield.

Then grab a pen and:

write the odometer mileage reading on the title
print your name, sign and date the title
get your buyer to print their name, sign and date the title

Depending on your state, you may also need to include the vehicle sale price, sale date, and the buyer’s full mailing address on the title document.

What does the buyer have to do?

With both signatures and all relevant details added to the title document, you can proceed with the next stage of the car title transfer. The buyer should make an appointment with their state’s DMV or tag agent right away. They’ll need to take the title paperwork with them and may need to pay a transfer fee and most likely their state sales tax to complete the title transfer process.

Additional documents they may need include:

The transfer of ownership form
The bill of sale, including both the buyer’s and seller’s signatures
An odometer disclosure

Bear in mind that DMV requirements vary from state to state. For example, in California, you also have to provide a smog certification when signing over a car title. Advise your buyer to double-check requirements when making their appointment.

After meeting with the DMV, the buyer will usually get a temporary registration before receiving the official title in the mail a week or two later.

Signing Over A Car Title With A Loan

If you have a loan on the car title of the vehicle you’re selling, you need to involve your lender in the car title transfer process. That’s because when you have an outstanding auto loan, the lender has possession of the title and effectively owns the vehicle until you clear your loan in full.

To sign over a car title with loans, you first need to know how much you still owe on the vehicle. Early repayment fees and interest charges may apply – so get in touch with your lender before listing your vehicle for sale to get an accurate figure.

Your lender will also be able to offer advice on the vehicle transaction process, as this varies from one lender to another. Just know that you can only transfer the car title to a new owner when you’ve paid off the loan —- either with the proceeds of the sale or out of your own pocket.

Signing Over A Title Listing Two Owners

Own your car jointly with someone else? Then you need to take a look at your title document.Own your car jointly with someone else? Then you need to take a look at your title document.

If it lists your names with an “and” between them, both parties have to sign the title to transfer ownership to the buyer.

If the title lists your names with an “or” between them, only one of the current owners needs to sign the title.

You can then follow the DMV instructions above.

Let Motobyo Handle The Title Transfer For You!

Here at Motobyo, we help people to buy and sell cars without having to go through a DMV office or tag agent. We also offer both sellers and buyers additional services to make the car buying process that bit easier.

When you sell your car to a private seller through a Motobyo auction, you don’t need to learn how to sign over a car title, or even complete the title transfer process yourself, because Motobyo can do it all for you.

Take a look at our Title & Registration service and leave the paperwork to us. Or if you still haven’t sold your car, head to the Motobyo car sales page to get a free valuation.