How to Transfer a Car Title in All 50 States
Every state in the country requires a title transfer when you sell a car, but not every state goes about it the same way. The government office responsible for processing the transfer, the forms required, the fees charged, and even the deadlines involved all vary depending on where you live. What’s routine in Texas may look completely different in Tennessee – which can make the whole title transfer process feel more complicated than it needs to be.
At GiveMeTheVIN.com, we’ve been navigating state title requirements on behalf of car sellers since 1994. Whether you’re selling a car in California or Connecticut, our team handles the paperwork from start to finish. But if you’re curious about the process in your specific state, or just want to know what office you’d be dealing with, this guide has you covered.
In this article you’ll find the name and official website of the title transfer agency for all 50 states, along with notes on states where the process has a unique wrinkle worth knowing about.
How Title Transfers Work When You Sell a Car
Regardless of which state you’re in, the basic framework to transfer a car title is the same: the seller signs the existing title over to the buyer, and the buyer takes that signed document to the appropriate state office to register the car in their name. In most states, the seller also has a separate obligation to notify the state that the car has been sold, which helps release the seller from any liability connected to the vehicle going forward.
Some states handle all of this through a Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”), while others route everything through the Secretary of State, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Transportation, or a Motor Vehicle Commission. Hawaii is the only state that handles title transfers entirely at the county level, with no central state office involved. Florida is another notable case: actual title work is processed through the County Tax Collector Office rather than through the state DMV directly.
And, when you sell a car with a loan (lien) on it, the process has an added layer: the lender must be paid in full and the lienholder’s name removed from the title before any transfer can take place. Most states are now part of an Electronic Lien and Title (ELT) system, which allows lenders to release liens digitally, speeding up the process considerably.
What You’ll Typically Need to Transfer a Car Title
Requirements vary by state, but most title transfers when you sell a car involve a signed certificate of title, a government-issued photo ID, a completed title transfer application (provided by the state office), and payment of a transfer fee.
Some states also require a bill of sale, an odometer disclosure statement, or a smog or emissions certificate. A handful of states require a notarized signature on the title itself, which is worth confirming before sitting down to sign anything.
If your title has been lost or damaged, you’ll need to apply for a duplicate through your state’s motor vehicle office before the sale can move forward. Processing times for duplicate titles vary, but most states can issue one within one to three weeks, with expedited options available in some cases.
Where to Transfer a Car Title In Your State When You Sell a Car
The following list covers all 50 states. Where a state’s process has a notable quirk or unique requirement, a brief note has been added.
Alabama — Alabama Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division: revenue.alabama.gov/division/motor-vehicle
Alaska — Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV): dmv.alaska.gov
Arizona — Arizona Motor Vehicle Division (MVD): azdot.gov/motor-vehicles — Arizona allows many title transactions to be completed online through their AZ MVD Now portal, which can save a trip to the office.
Arkansas — Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Motor Vehicle: dfa.arkansas.gov/offices/motorVehicle
California — California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): dmv.ca.gov — California requires both the seller and buyer to notify the DMV of the sale. Sellers must submit a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability within five days of the sale, which can be done online. California also has a strict smog certification requirement in most counties.
Colorado — Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV): dmv.colorado.gov
Connecticut — Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): portal.ct.gov/DMV — Connecticut requires a seller to cancel their registration and return the license plates. Plates do not transfer with the car.
Delaware — Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV): dmv.de.gov
Florida — Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV): flhsmv.gov — Florida routes actual title transfers through county tax collector offices, not the state FLHSMV directly. Find your county’s office through the state site.
Georgia — Georgia Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division: motor.georgia.gov — Georgia uses an electronic title system (DRIVES) and requires the buyer to apply for a new title through this system within 30 days.
Hawaii — Hawaii handles title transfers at the county level. There is no single state agency. Contact the appropriate county office: Honolulu County, Hawaii County, Maui County, or Kauai County, each of which maintains its own motor vehicle division.
Idaho — Idaho Transportation Department, Division of Motor Vehicles: itd.idaho.gov/dmv
Illinois — Illinois Secretary of State, Vehicle Services: ilsos.gov — In Illinois, vehicle titles are handled by the Secretary of State, not a DMV. Sellers must complete a vehicle transaction report when transferring ownership.
Indiana — Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV): in.gov/bmv
Iowa — Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division: iowadot.gov/mvd
Kansas — Kansas Division of Vehicles (Department of Revenue): ksrevenue.gov/vehicle
Kentucky — Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing: transportation.ky.gov/Motor-Vehicle-Licensing
Louisiana — Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV): omv.la.gov — Louisiana requires a notarized Act of Sale in addition to a signed title, which is a notable extra step compared to most other states.
Maine — Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV): maine.gov/sos/bmv — Maine’s BMV operates under the Secretary of State.
Maryland — Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA): mva.maryland.gov — Maryland uses the Motor Vehicle Administration rather than a DMV. A completed MVA bill of sale form may be required.
Massachusetts — Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV): mass.gov/orgs/registry-of-motor-vehicles — Massachusetts calls its agency the Registry of Motor Vehicles. License plates stay with the seller, not the car, which differs from most states.
Michigan — Michigan Secretary of State: michigan.gov/sos — Michigan title transfers are processed through the Secretary of State, not a DMV. Michigan also requires a completed title with an odometer reading for most sales.
Minnesota — Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS): dps.mn.gov/dvs
Mississippi — Mississippi Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Licensing Bureau: dor.ms.gov/motor-vehicle
Missouri — Missouri Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Bureau: dor.mo.gov/motor-vehicle
Montana — Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD): mvd.mt.gov — Montana has no general sales tax, which makes it a popular state for registering vehicles for out-of-state buyers seeking to avoid tax. This has legal implications sellers should be aware of.
Nebraska — Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): dmv.nebraska.gov
Nevada — Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): dmv.nv.gov
New Hampshire — New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV): nh.gov/safety/divisions/dmv — New Hampshire has no general sales tax, which can affect what buyers and sellers need to document at the time of sale.
New Jersey — New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC): nj.gov/mvc — New Jersey refers to its agency as the Motor Vehicle Commission rather than a DMV. A notice of sale must be submitted by the seller.
New Mexico — New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, Motor Vehicle Division (MVD): mvd.newmexico.gov
New York — New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): dmv.ny.gov — New York has a specific title transfer form (MV-50 or MV-999) depending on the transaction type. Sellers should confirm which form applies to their situation.
North Carolina — North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV): ncdot.gov/dmv
North Dakota — North Dakota Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division: dot.nd.gov/divisions/mv
Ohio — Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV): bmv.ohio.gov
Oklahoma — Oklahoma Tax Commission, Motor Vehicle Division: oklahoma.gov/tax/business/motor-vehicle — In Oklahoma, title and registration services fall under the Tax Commission rather than a transportation or motor vehicle agency.
Oregon — Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services (DMV): oregon.gov/odot/dmv
Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Bureau of Motor Vehicles: dmv.pa.gov
Rhode Island — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV): dmv.ri.gov
South Carolina — South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV): scdmv.net
South Dakota — South Dakota Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV): dor.sd.gov/motor-vehicles — Like Montana, South Dakota has no general sales tax on vehicle purchases, which attracts some out-of-state buyers. Sellers should be aware this can influence deal structures.
Tennessee — Tennessee Department of Revenue, Vehicle Title & Registration: tn.gov/revenue/title-and-registration
Texas — Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV): txdmv.gov — Texas requires both a Vehicle Transfer Notification (submitted by the seller) and a title transfer application (submitted by the buyer) within 30 days of the sale. Texas uses a separate agency, the Department of Public Safety, for driver’s licenses, so title and licensing are handled by different offices.
Utah — Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV): dmv.utah.gov
Vermont — Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): dmv.vermont.gov
Virginia — Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): dmv.virginia.gov
Washington — Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL): dol.wa.gov — Washington State handles vehicle titles through its Department of Licensing, not a DMV. This is a common source of confusion for sellers who are new to the state.
West Virginia — West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV): transportation.wv.gov/DMV
Wisconsin — Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), Division of Motor Vehicles: wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv
Wyoming — Wyoming Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Services: dot.state.wy.us/home/titles_plates_registration
GiveMeTheVIN Handles Your Title Transfer
Knowing which office handles title transfers in your state is useful — but when you sell a car to GiveMeTheVIN.com, you won’t need to deal with any of this yourself. We manage the complete title transfer process on our end, in every state across the continental US. That means no forms to track down, no fees to calculate, and no trips to a government office.
Since 1994, GiveMeTheVIN has been the original national online car buyer, building the kind of experience and infrastructure that makes selling your car as smooth as possible. You get a genuine offer from an actual human buyer who evaluates your specific car — not an algorithm — and payment on the spot with a live Bank of America check, cashable immediately. In most cases, we come to you for free pickup wherever you are in the country.
When you’re ready to sell a car and skip the paperwork altogether, enter your VIN or license plate number in the form on this page. We’ll take it from there — title transfer and all.
Quick Title Transfer FAQs
Where do I go to transfer a car title when I sell a car?
That depends on your state. Most route title transfers through a DMV, but some use the Secretary of State, Department of Revenue, or another agency entirely. See the full list above for your state’s specific office.
Do I have to go to the DMV myself when I sell a car to GiveMeTheVIN?
No. When you sell your car to GiveMeTheVIN, we handle the title transfer completely on our end. You sign the title at pickup and we manage everything else.
Disclaimer: Government agencies can and do change their policies, office locations, procedures, fees, and web addresses. The information in this guide was accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change. Always verify current requirements directly with your state’s official motor vehicle agency before completing a title transfer.
Get an offer & sell your car today!
Sell your car to GivemetheVIN! Enter your 17-digit VIN or license plate number to get an offer for the most money. No haggling. No pressure. Just the fastest, easiest, safest way to sell your car online!
