Question 1: How do I transfer a title?

Congratulations on the purchase or sale of your vehicle!

If you have bought a vehicle from a Texas dealer and you are a Texas resident, the dealership will transfer the title at the tax office on your behalf.  However, if you have purchased a vehicle from an individual, the documents must be submitted to the tax office in person or by mail. Submit to the county of the buyer or lien holder. The buyer, seller, or lienholder may submit the appropriate documents for the title transfer.  If the seller (other than the dealer) or lienholder are submitting the paperwork, they must also provide a Permission Letter from the buyer and an acceptable form of ID for the buyer.

To transfer a Texas titled vehicle, bring in or mail the following to our offices:

1.    Texas title, signed and dated by the seller(s) and buyer(s).  If the vehicle is less than 20 years old, the odometer reading must be completed

       for most vehicles.  Erasures, mark-throughs and alterations are not acceptable in most cases.  An affidavit of fact signed by the seller is necessary

       to correct errors on a title assignment.

2.    VTR-130U (Application for Texas title), signed and dated by the seller(s) and buyer(s). The form can be found under the Forms tab on the

       Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) website.  The odometer reading section and the sales price section must be completed without errors.

       View RTB 013-20 on the TxDMV website to learn more about odometer readings.                                    

3.    Proof of insurance in the buyer's name.

4.    Acceptable form of ID.

5.    Proof of inspection.

6.    Fees.

Please note:  If the documents were signed by Power of Attorney, the original Power of Attorney document must be presented along with an acceptable form of ID for the person signing as well as person granting Power of Attorney.  If there is a Rights of Survivorship notation on the record, an additional signature may be required.  Please contact us by email for more information.

To transfer an Out-of-State titled vehicle, bring in or mail the following to our offices:

1.   Out of State title, signed and dated by the seller(s) and buyer(s).   If the vehicle is less than 20 years old, the odometer reading must be completed

      for most vehicles.   Erasures, mark-throughs and alterations are not acceptable in most cases.  An affidavit of fact signed by the seller is

      necessary to correct errors on a title assignment.

2.    Form 130-U (Application for Texas Title and/or Registration), signed and dated by the seller(s) and buyer(s). If seller is unable to sign the Form 130-U,

       a Bill of Sale from the out of state seller can be provided instead.  The Form 130-U can be found under the Forms tab on the TxDMV website. 

       The odometer reading section and the sales price section must be completed without errors.  View

       RTB 013-20 on the TxDMV website to learn more about odometer readings.     

3.    Proof of insurance in the buyer's name.

4.    Acceptable form of ID.

5.   Vehicle safety inspection that has been completed in the past 90 days.  These services are available at a state-approved

      Safety Inspection Station.  The inspection facility will provide you with a Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR), which you must provide to us

      with your application for Texas registration.   

6.    Fees.

Please note:  If the documents were signed by Power of Attorney, the original Power of Attorney document must be presented along with an acceptable form of ID for the person signing.  If there is a Rights of Survivorship notation on the record, an additional signature may be required.  Please contact us by email for more information.

How do I sell a vehicle that is titled in my spouse's name after a divorce?

• The certified copy of the Divorce Decree awarding the vehicle to you should be presented with the title transfer documents.  Determine if there is a Texas title or an Out of State title and follow the corresponding list above.  A certified copy of the Divorce Decree may be used in lieu of a Texas title (not out of state titles) if there was no lien showing on the face of the title. You may sell the vehicle without transferring the vehicle to your name if the vehicle is specified and awarded to you by the court.  Title and registration fees will apply.  Motor vehicle sales tax is not due for community property transfers.

• A properly assigned title is required if the Divorce Decree does not award the vehicle to you.  You are required to transfer the vehicle to your name before selling the vehicle.  Title and registration fees will apply.  Motor vehicle sales tax may be due unless the vehicle was community property.

• Contact us by email or a TxDMV Regional Service Center for additional assistance.  You may also visit any one of our eight locations.

How do I sell a vehicle that is titled in my late spouse's name?

Determine whether there is a will, trust, etc. 

1.    If there is no will, or the will is not and will not be probated, we can accept one of the following in lieu of a Texas title:

•   Certified copy of the Muniment of Title issued by the Probate Court and certified copy of the will filed with the Muniment of Title, OR
•   VTR-262 Heirship Affidavit (Find this form under the Forms tab on the TxDMV website)

       If there is a lien on the record, a lien release is also required.  However, if a lien is to be carried forward to the buyer (or family member taking

       ownership of the vehicle), then one of the documents listed above (Muniment of Title or Heirship Affidavit) is required in addition to the

       original title.  The title is not required to be signed by anyone as seller.  Please note:  The original title is required if there is more than

       one owner listed on the title that is still living, and that person must sign the title as seller.

2.    If there is a will, and it was probated, we can accept the following in lieu of a title:

•     Letters of Testamentary issued by the Probate Court and a Bill of Sale to the buyer.

      If there is a lien on the record, a lien release is also required.  However, if a lien is to be carried forward to the buyer (or family member taking

      ownership of the vehicle), then the original title is required and must be signed by the Executor or Executrix as seller.  Please note:  The original

      title is required if there is more than one owner listed on the title that is still living, and that person must sign the title as seller along with the

      Executor/Executrix.

3.    If there is a trust document, a copy of the trust is required, or an Affidavit of Trust signed by the Trustee.  If there is a lien on the record, a lien release        is required.  The trust document is not used in lieu of the title, but it gives authority to someone signing on behalf of the deceased owner.

Contact us by email or a TxDMV Regional Service Center for additional assistance.  You may also visit any one of our eight locations.