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Summary: How to Transfer a Vehicle Title in Your State

When you buy or sell a vehicle, gift a car, or require a name change on a car title after a marriage or divorce, you'll usually need to transfer the title. Click your state to find the cost to transfer titles with your Department of Motor Vehicles or vehicle licensing agency. Find out if you can complete a tag transfer or registration transfer if you've sold your vehicle.

Whenever buying or selling a vehicle, you will need to transfer the title to its new owner. has compiled the title information that specifically applies to your home state.

If your car is new, most of the required paperwork will be handled by the dealership.

If you buy a used car, you must not only submit a title transfer application, but depending on your state's requirements you might also have to provide an odometer reading, a vehicle identification number(VIN), and a bill of sale.

This is a how to guide to transfer a vehicle's title in your state. It will explain filling out the title certificate to properly transfer ownership.

The state-by-state pages may also provide downloadable title applications. You can find phone numbers, Web addresses, and DMV addresses.

A few helpful tips to remember to check are making sure the VIN on the title matches the VIN on the car, and confirming that used cars are free of all liens. You can find titling fees as well as the steps to take if you need a duplicate title.

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