Hey, California friends. If you’re about to buy or sell a vehicle – car, truck, SUV, motorcycle, RV, etc – through a private sale, then you’ll need to know how to complete a certificate of title transfer. If you’ve never done a title transfer before, fret not: eTags is here to help. In this article, we’ll walk you through the basics of how to transfer a vehicle title in California.
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You will learn:
- Why a vehicle title is important
- What to do if your title is lost or damaged
- How to transfer a vehicle title in California
- What to in case the vehicle is given as a gift
Why a Vehicle Title is Important
A certificate of title declares legal ownership of a vehicle, connecting a person or business to an automobile. Without a title, there is no proof of ownership and no legal permission to drive the vehicle. Additionally, you cannot buy or sell a vehicle without transferring the title, so this document is absolutely necessary when owning a car.
What To Do if Your Title is Lost or Damaged
If you can find your certificate of title, or if it has been torn, stained, or bear any sort of corrections, don’t panic! You can apply for a replacement title (sometimes called a duplicate title) from the DMV. Then, remember to keep the document someplace safe, or feel free to proceed with your transfer.
Head over to our dedicated California Replacement Title Page and order your duplicate quickly and easily online with eTags.
How To Transfer a Vehicle Title in California
1. Head over to our California Title Transfer Page and click Get Started Here
2. From the drop-down menu, select which state the vehicle is currently titled in and then click Next.
3. Specify which kind of transfer you require. Your choices will be:
- Purchase/Sale
- Family Transfer
- Gift
- Other
4. Fill in the license plate number and the last four digits of the VIN (vehicle identification number) OR fill in the entire VIN.
5. Answer the following questions about the vehicle:
- What was the date you acquired the vehicle?
- What was the purchase/sale price?
- What is the current mileage on the vehicle?
Then click Next.
6. Provide the legal name to be printed on the new title. If the new owner is an individual, provide the first and last name of the person. If the new owner is a company, provide the full business name.
7. Enter your contact information. You’ll need both an email address and a mobile phone number here. Then click Next.
8. This is your summary page outlining your order and any fees. Here you can review the specifics of your order including vehicle, owner, and shipping details. You’ll have the opportunity to correct any errors by click the blue Edit link. Otherwise, if everything looks good, go ahead and click Checkout.
9. On your final page, look over our terms and conditions, choose your payment type – credit card, PayPal, or Affirm – enter your payment information, and click Place Order.
What To Do if the Vehicle is a Gift
When a vehicle is given as a gift without any money exchanged, the process is almost exactly the same. There are a few differences:
- Instead of a purchase price, you will mark $0 or write the word “Gift.”
- When signing over the title, the person giving the gift will sign as the seller, and the person receiving the vehicle signs as the buyer.
- You will need to fill out Form Reg 256
And that is how to transfer a vehicle title in California. Of course, if you need assistance at any point, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Because as always, at eTags, we’re here to help!
