The basic steps for transferring a car title to a family member
Transferring a car title to a family member involves signing the title over to them and filing the paperwork with your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The exact steps and forms vary by state, but the general process is the same: you complete a title transfer form, sign it in front of a notary or witness (depending on your state), and submit it to the DMV along with any required fees. Your family member then becomes the legal owner of the vehicle.
The time this takes ranges from a few days to several weeks, depending on how busy your DMV is and whether you submit the paperwork in person or by mail. Some states now allow online title transfers for certain situations, though most still require at least one in-person visit or notarization.
Before you start, check your state's DMV website for the specific form you need, the current fee, and whether your state requires the title to be notarized. You will also need the vehicle's current title document in hand — if you cannot find it, you can request a duplicate from the DMV before transferring it.
Key Takeaways
- You must obtain the correct title transfer form from your state's DMV website, as forms differ by state and sometimes by vehicle type.
- Both the current owner and the new owner must sign the title, and most states require a notary to witness the signatures or the signature section to be notarized.
- Submit the signed title, the completed transfer form, and the required fee to your DMV in person, by mail, or online if your state offers that option.
- The new owner should register the vehicle in their name within the timeframe your state requires, usually 10 to 30 days after the title transfer is complete.
What documents you need before you start
Gather the original title document before you do anything else. This is the certificate of title issued by the DMV when the vehicle was first registered — it is a single sheet of paper with the vehicle identification number (VIN), the current owner's name, and a signature line. If you have lost the title, contact your state's DMV and request a duplicate; this usually costs $10 to $30 and takes one to two weeks.
You will also need a valid government-issued photo ID for both the current owner and the new owner. Some states require the new owner to be present when you sign the title; others allow the current owner to sign it alone and submit it with the new owner's information filled in. Check your state's rules before you go to the notary.
If the vehicle has a lien on it — meaning a bank or lender holds a security interest because you financed the purchase — you cannot transfer the title until the lien is paid off. Contact your lender to find out the payoff amount and ask them to send you a lien release letter once the loan is paid. You will need to submit that letter to the DMV along with the title transfer paperwork.
How to complete and sign the title transfer form
read or pick up the title transfer form from your state's DMV website. The form will ask for the current owner's name and address, the new owner's name and address, the vehicle's VIN, the odometer reading, and the sale price (or "gift" if no money changed hands). Fill in all fields completely and in black or blue ink — do not use pencil.
Sign the title document itself in the designated signature line. Most states require the current owner to sign here; some also require the new owner to sign. Do not sign before you reach the notary or witness, as the signature must be made in front of them. If you sign early, the notary may refuse to notarize it, and you will have to obtain a new title and start over.
Take the unsigned title and the completed transfer form to a notary public. Notaries are available at banks, UPS stores, law offices, and independent notary services — search "notary public near me" to find one. The notary will watch you sign the title, verify your ID, and stamp the document. This usually costs $5 to $15. Some states allow a witness (such as a family member) to sign instead of a notary; check your state's rules to see which applies to you.
Submitting the paperwork to your DMV
Once the title is signed and notarized, you have three ways to submit it: in person at a DMV office, by mail, or online if your state offers that option. Submitting in person is fastest — you can often walk out with a receipt the same day — but it requires a trip to the DMV during business hours. Mailing takes one to three weeks and requires you to trust the postal service with your original title. Online submission is available in some states and is usually the fastest option if you have a digital copy of the signed title.
Include the notarized title, the completed transfer form, and a check or money order for the transfer fee. The fee varies by state, ranging from $10 to $100 or more depending on the vehicle's value and your state's rules. Some states charge a flat fee; others charge based on the sale price. Check your state's DMV website for the exact amount before you submit.
If you are mailing the paperwork, use certified mail with a return receipt so you have proof the DMV received it. Keep a copy of everything you send for your records. The DMV will send you a receipt or confirmation once the transfer is processed, usually within two to four weeks.
What happens after the title transfer is complete
Once the DMV processes the title transfer, the new owner becomes the legal owner of the vehicle. The DMV will issue a new title in the new owner's name and send it to the address they provided on the transfer form. This usually takes one to three weeks after you submit the paperwork.
The new owner must then register the vehicle in their name within the timeframe your state requires — typically 10 to 30 days after the title transfer. Registration is separate from the title transfer; you cannot drive the vehicle legally without both. The new owner will need to visit the DMV or submit registration paperwork online, pay the registration fee, and provide proof of insurance. Some states allow you to register the vehicle at the same time you transfer the title, so ask the DMV whether you can do both in one trip.
If the vehicle has a lien on it, the lender's name will appear on the new title. The new owner cannot register the vehicle until the lien is released, which happens once the loan is paid off and the lender sends a release letter to the DMV.
Transferring a title as a gift versus a sale
The process is the same whether you are selling the vehicle to a family member or giving it as a gift, but you will fill in different information on the transfer form. If it is a gift, write "gift" or "$0" in the sale price field instead of the actual amount. Some states do not charge a transfer fee for gifts, while others charge the same fee regardless.
If you are selling the vehicle to a family member, write the actual sale price on the transfer form. The new owner may owe sales tax on the purchase, depending on your state's rules. Some states exempt family transfers from sales tax; others do not. Check your state's DMV website to see whether sales tax applies to your situation.
In either case, it is a good idea to create a bill of sale — a straightforward written agreement that states the vehicle's details, the sale price (or that it is a gift), and the date. Both the current owner and the new owner should sign and date it. This protects both parties if there is ever a dispute about who owned the vehicle or what was paid for it.
Common mistakes to avoid during the title transfer
Do not sign the title before you meet with the notary. If you sign it early, the notary will not notarize it, and you will have to request a new title from the DMV and start over. This adds two to four weeks to the process.
Do not leave any fields blank on the transfer form or the title. The DMV will reject incomplete paperwork and send it back, delaying the transfer by several weeks. Double-check that the VIN, names, and addresses are spelled correctly and match the information on your ID.
Do not forget to include the transfer fee. If you submit the paperwork without payment, the DMV will return it and ask you to resubmit with the correct amount. Some states allow you to pay the fee online or at the DMV office when you submit the paperwork in person, so check your state's rules.
Do not assume the new owner can drive the vehicle before the title transfer is complete. The vehicle is not legally registered in their name until the DMV issues the new title and they register it. Driving an unregistered vehicle is illegal and can result in a fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer a title to a family member if the vehicle still has a loan on it?
No, not until the loan is paid off. The lender holds a lien on the title, which means they have a legal claim to the vehicle until the debt is satisfied. Once you pay off the loan, the lender will send a lien release letter to the DMV, and then you can transfer the title. If you want to transfer the vehicle before it is paid off, the new owner would have to assume the loan, which requires the lender's consent.
Do I need to be present when my family member registers the vehicle after the title transfer?
No. Once the title is in their name, they can register the vehicle on their own. They will need their ID, proof of insurance, and the new title document. Some states allow online registration, so they may not need to visit the DMV in person at all.
What if I lost the original title and cannot find it?
Contact your state's DMV and request a duplicate title. This usually costs $10 to $30 and takes one to two weeks. You will need to provide the vehicle's VIN and proof that you own it, such as a registration document or insurance card. Once you receive the duplicate, you can proceed with the title transfer as normal.
Do I have to pay sales tax if I give my car to a family member?
It depends on your state. Some states exempt family transfers from sales tax, while others charge tax on gifts based on the vehicle's fair market value. Check your state's DMV website or call the DMV to find out whether sales tax applies to your situation.
How long does it take to transfer a title to a family member?
The signing and notarization usually takes one to two days. Submitting the paperwork to the DMV and receiving the new title takes one to four weeks, depending on whether you submit in person, by mail, or online, and how busy your DMV is. The entire process from start to finish typically takes two to six weeks.