Good morning, good folks who’ve decided to join us here on the much revered (if we do say so ourselves) eTags blog. We love that you’re here. We love sharing our healthy obsession with all things automotive. As you probably know (if you’ve visited before) our love for the world of cars, trucks, and SUV’s is not just limited to the stuff of news, trends, and the latest gossip. We also focus on the serious things like rules, regulations, and legal proceedings that determine that state of the automotive world.
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Seeing as how we’re fresh into the new year, ww thought we’d do a quick refresher. To, well….freshen things up a bit, eh? The year may have changed a digit, but some things remain the same, and those things often benefit from a good review. Today we’re going to give you guys a quick drill, a not-so-intense bootcamp of sorts with regard to the process of title transfers.
A little note before we begin: all laws are subject to change without notice.
What may be true today can always end up undergoing shifts, addendums, and modifications. So please bear in mind that it’s simply smart practice to double check with your local DMV to see if they’ve switched things up recently.
That said, here we go.
Whether transferring a certificate of title from one person to another, or when adding a name or removing a name from a title, the process is strikingly similar. And what’s more, the procedure is comparable from one state to another, making title transfers one of the most straightforward legal transactions there is.
Most importantly, regardless of whether you are buying or selling a vehicle, there must be a title present.
No transfer of ownership can occur without a title. This boils down to: no title, no transfer, basically. Of course, duplicate titles (replacements) are easily obtained at eTags if the need arises.
If you’ve got a title on hand, the title must be clean. Meaning, the paper itself needs to be either the original document, or an official state-issued duplicate/replacement (never a copy), that is clear, legible, untouched, and unaltered. There can be no corrections, no cross-outs, and no spills or tears. Any of these elements will render the title defaced and unusable. Again, if the title has any of these issues, you can simply order a new one with us in a jiffy!
Once you have a clean title ready, you will need to sign it over to the person who is purchasing (or receiving as a gift) the vehicle. If your name is on the front of the title as owner, you will then print and sign your name on the back (in many states) of the document in the space designated for the seller. In most cases you will also fill in your address, the date of sale, and the selling price.
There will be a space to complete the current odometer reading here as well. Remember, any corrections, especially in the odometer section, will mean that you cannot use the document for a transfer. It’s a good idea to be careful when entering the numbers here so that they are legible and correct.
The person purchasing the vehicle will also print and sign their name on the back of the title in the area marked for the buyer. They too will likely need to provide their address in this section.
If there are two owners on the front of the title and their names are joined by the word “or,” this means that only one owner need fill in their information as the seller. If the two owners’ names are joined by the word “and,” then most likely both people will be required to print and sign the back as sellers.
In the case of there being two buyers, then both parties will need to print and sign in the buyer area on the title.
Some states require that the signing over of the title be performed in front of a notary public. The notary will witness the signatures and transfer of ownership, and they too will stamp and sign the title in the designated space.
Now, if the title transfer is being done to remove a name from the front of the title – let’s say in the circumstance of a couple getting a divorce. What they’d then do is this:
Both owners whose names are on the front of the title will print and sign their names as sellers. Yep, they both are sellers. But only one becomes the buyer. The person who is keeping the vehicle is the only one who will fill in the buyer section. Even if the vehicle is a gift, whomever will remain owner is essentially the buyer. So, both owners sign as sellers, and only one signs as a buyer. The new title will come back to the new owner with only his or her name on the front.
If, on the other hand, a single owner wants to add a name and an owner to the title, the process is the same…but different. Opposite, in a way. The person whose name is on the front as owner, will print and sign in the seller section. This time, though, both the original owner and the new co-owner will both print and sign as buyers in the buyer section.
If there is no money exchanged, simply jot down $0 in the selling price section.
Most states will require a gift affidavit to prove that the vehicle was given without a sale. If the vehicle was indeed sold for cash, then you must mark the sale price in the appropriate box and more often than not, provide a receipt or proof of sale.
And that, friends, are most basic and most common title transfers in a nutshell. While relatively straightforward, we know that questions and variables tend to pop up on occasion. If that’s the case, please feel free to reach out to us for any assistance. Because as always, here at eTags, we’re here to help!
