How To Transfer a Vehicle Title in Maryland: A Handy Guide

If you’ve just purchased a car via casual sale in the state of Maryland, you’ll need to transfer the title from the previous owner to yourself in order to claim legal ownership. And whether this is your first time transferring a title or if you’ve been through this process before, here is a handy step-by-step guide to help you through:

Gather Your Documents

To transfer a vehicle title in Maryland, you first need to gather the following documents:

1. The original certificate of title. If the title has been lost, stolen, or damaged, the former owner will need to apply for a replacement (sometimes called a duplicate) title before you can move forward with the transfer.
2. A bill of sale showing the make, model, year, VIN, seller and buyer names, sale price, and date of sale. You can download this here.
3. Proof of Maryland auto insurance
4. Safety Inspection Certificate – which is valid for 90 days from the date of issue
5. Lien release letter (if applicable)
6. Application for Certificate of Title – MVA Form VR-005
7. An Odometer Disclosure Statement
8. A passing emissions test

While it’s smart to try and avoid errors on any document, it’s especially important when filling out the title. Any errors, corrections, or cross-outs could result in the MVA rejecting it and requesting a new title.

Choose Your Title Transfer Mode

There are three ways to complete a vehicle title transfer in Maryland: online, in-person at the MVA, and by mail. And while the approach is slightly different, you’ll almost always need the same documents and forms, such as the title, bill of sale, proof of insurance, etc. Of course, the online process is the fastest and most convenient option of the three!

Online Title Transfer with eTags.com

1. Gather your documents.
2. Head over to eTags.com and select Maryland as your state from the drop-down menu.
3. Choose “Transfer Your Title.”
4. Enter the requested information such as your contact details, name, and address.
5. Confirm your details, finalize your order, and checkout.
6. Receive your new Maryland title in the mail!

In-Person Title Transfer

1. Schedule an appointment with the MVA via their website.
2. Arrive at your appointment with all required documents: Bring the existing title, bill of sale, safety inspection report, proof of insurance, and any other supplemental documentation to the MVA office.
3. Complete all the provided forms with help from an MVA employee.
4. Pay any fees and taxes

Title Transfer by Mail

1. Gather your documents.
2. Complete the title application form.
3. Mail the completed application along with the bill of sale, title, safety inspection, , proof of insurance, and payment to the MVA’s title unit. Check the MVA site for the address closest to you. You may want to consider sending this via registered mail so that you can track its progress.
4. Wait for your new title to arrive in the mail

How To Gift a Vehicle to a Family Member in Maryland

The state of Maryland allows vehicles to be given as gifts, provided that the recipient is a family member. In this case, the transfer process is much like the one used during a conventional sale. The key difference is that in place of a bill of sale, you’ll need to fill out an Application for Maryland Gift Certification (Form VR-103). In this case, the “seller” is the person gifting the car, while the “buyer” is the person receiving the car. They will both fill in the back of the title accordingly.

If the family member has a different last name from the person gifting the vehicle, the parties will have to provide proof of their familial relationship. Acceptable forms of proof include:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Certificates of civil union
• Divorce decrees
• Adoption certificates

And there is your easy guide on title transfer in Maryland! Remember, that if at any point you need a hand with the transfer process, please feel free reach out to us – because as always, at eTags, we’re here to help!