Vehicle title transfer, selling a vehicle

Selling to a Dealer

A dealer is not required to title in the dealership's name if you sell or trade-in your vehicle to a dealer. The vehicle stays in your name until the dealer sells it to an individual.

To protect yourself, file a Vehicle Transfer Notification. Filing the notification within 30 days of the sale date protects you against things like parking tickets and toll violations committed by the person who purchased the vehicle.

Selling to an individual

• Locate your original title or request a certified copy from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. If the title shows a lien, you will need a lien release letter or document verifying you are the sole owner.
• Sign the back of the title and record the odometer reading. For your protection, we recommend that you and the buyer come to the tax office together to process the title transaction.
• File a Vehicle Transfer Notification within 30 days of the sale date to remove your liability for anything the purchaser may do with the vehicle.