For general questions about titles, please contact us at 1 (888) 368-4689 or by email, .
Under state law, a dealership has 30 calendar days from the sale date to send the title paperwork to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Or 45 days if the dealership financed the car purchase.
You can take your release of lien letter to your Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or Secretary of State (SOS). Getting a new title in your name typically takes around 30 days.
Please allow a minimum of 20 business days for processing of your title application. If there is a lien on the vehicle, the lienholder will receive the title. If you have not received your title within 30 business days, please contact us.
If your Texas title is lost or never received, a replacement title can be obtained in person or by mail through a Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Regional Service Center. A replacement is referred to as a Certified Copy of Title. Keep in mind, Texas cannot issue a replacement title for another state.
Your car's title is the proof that you are the rightful owner. State governments issue car titles, typically through their department of motor vehicles or a similar agency. If you need a replacement car title, you can get one online, in person, or by mail, depending on the state.
Fees one can expect to pay when buying a car in Texas are as follows: Sales Tax: 6.25% of the total vehicle purchase price. Title Transfer Fee: $28 to $33 (varies by county)
If you sell the car and the buyer doesn't transfer the title, you could end up with a host of legal problems. Any parking tickets or expired registration or expired tabs tickets will be sent to you. You can try to fight these tickets but there is no guarantee the fines will be dropped.
Failure to title within the 30 days results in an automatic $25 penalty, plus another $25 for each month the title is late. There are no waivers for these penalties, which means the (YOUR COUNTY) county tax office and the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles cannot reduce or forgive what you may owe.
How Much Does It Cost To Transfer A Car Title? Title transfer fees can vary quite a bit in Texas depending on where you live. The title application fee will either be $28 or $33. However, there may also be a vehicle inspection fee, insurance verification fee, automation fee, and other local and county fees.
When a vehicle is sold, the protocol for the legal transfer to the new owner starts with the seller signing the certificate of title over to the buyer. The failure or inability to transfer title can temporarily leave the buyer without proof of ownership and the seller liable for the vehicle.
In addition to all of the paperwork, there will be a number of fees associated with a title transfer. The transfer fee itself may cost as much as $33 depending on the county in which you sell the car and the required inspection can cost up to $40. There are also additional miscellaneous fees that could cost around $20.
To transfer a Texas titled vehicle, bring in or mail the following to our offices:
- Texas title, signed and dated by the seller(s) and buyer(s).
- VTR-130U (Application for Texas title), signed and dated by the seller(s) and buyer(s).
- Proof of insurance in the buyer's name.
- Acceptable form of ID.
- Proof of inspection.
- Fees.
Buying a vehicle with a bill of sale but no title is a bit tricky when it comes to registering the vehicle, but it can be done. You just need to complete a few steps, including obtaining a bonded title, and then you can claim the car as your own.
You can check the status of your registration renewal through our online renewal tracking tool Dude Where's My Sticker if you completed your renewal online. The tracker will tell you WHEN IT WAS MAILED to you, not when you should receive it.
You are not required to title your vehicle in Texas, but first-time registrants must fill out and complete Application for Texas Title and/or Registration (Form 130-U).
In simple situations where you own the vehicle outright and wish to transfer ownership to someone else, all you must do is complete a title certificate. Once you have filled out and signed the certificate, the buyer or recipient can take the title to a local DMV office and officially transfer ownership.
What Do I Need To Transfer A Car Title?
- Completed Title Transfer Application Form, signed by you and possibly notarized.
- Proof of Car Insurance Coverage.
- Insurance Policy Documents with Name and Date.
- All Vehicle Documents from Seller, Like the title and possibly a Bill of Sale.
- Driver's License or Government Issued ID.
Title jumping is the act of buying a vehicle and selling it without registering the vehicle in your name. Formerly, title jumping was a practice used by car dealers to avoid having to pay taxes on vehicles.
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| DMV or State Fees |
|---|
| Title Transfer Fee | Usually $28 or $33 |
|---|
| Tag / License Fee | $51.75 - base fee $10 - local fee |
| Transfer Registration Fee | $2.50 |
| Sales Tax | 6.25% on the purchase price or Standard Presumptive Value (SPV). |
Motor vehicle tax is due on the transfer of a motor vehicle given for no consideration from one family member to an ineligible family member. The transaction does not qualify as a gift under Tax Code Section 152.025, Tax on Gift of Motor Vehicle , and the motor vehicle is not exempt as community property.
A car title establishes ownership. The title is the single most important document for you and your vehicle. Here in Texas, you can not register a vehicle unless the title is in your name. the title contains all of the legal owner's information like address and vehicle identification number or VIN.
