Car Title Transfer by State: Who Handles It, the Fee and the Deadline
A title is the ownership record a state agency issues and transfers, and the rules for the transfer differ from state to state. The table below says who handles a car title transfer, the fee and the deadline in the states we cover so far, where we could confirm them in the states' own government sources.
Each row is the title transfer line from that state's page on this site, with its sources and the date we last checked them. The state pages are written for selling a car, truck or van, and where we could confirm them, they also cover the bill of sale, sales tax, license plates and the notice of sale.
Updated October 1, 2026
Title transfer rules by state
Where a row gives no fee, we could not confirm one in a primary source, and that does not mean there is none. Where a row gives no deadline, we could not confirm one, or could not confirm when its days start, and that does not mean there is none either. Where a row gives a deadline, it also says what the days run from, in the source's words, because the starting point differs between states.
| State | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Title transfers in Alabama are handled by designated agents of the Alabama Department of Revenue, which include county license plate issuing officials, licensed Alabama motor vehicle dealers, and financial institutions in Alabama such as banks and credit unions. The fee is $15, plus a $1.50 commission added by the designated agent; license plate issuing officials may collect another $1.50, and some counties have local fees. | revenue.alabama.gov: where-do-i-apply-for-an-alabama-certificate-of-title (opens in a new tab) revenue.alabama.gov: what-is-the-cost-to-make-application-for-alabama-certificate-of-title (opens in a new tab) Checked September 21, 2026 |
| Arkansas | Title transfers in Arkansas are handled by a State Revenue Office, where title applications are submitted. The fee is $10.00, and the Department of Finance and Administration's fee schedule lists other fees, including a lien filing fee. | dfa.arkansas.gov: vehicle-tag-renewal (opens in a new tab) dfa.arkansas.gov: Schedule-Fee-Part-1-002 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) Checked September 30, 2026 |
| California | Title transfers in California are handled by the DMV, by mail or at a DMV field office. The fee is typically $15 to $28, and the DMV's title transfer checklist lists other amounts to pay. The deadline is 10 days. The 10 days run from the purchase of the vehicle. | dmv.ca.gov: registering-a-vehicle-purchased-from-a-private-party (opens in a new tab) dmv.ca.gov: standard_title_transfer_checklist-pdf (opens in a new tab) Checked September 30, 2026 |
| Colorado | Title transfers in Colorado are handled by the buyer's county motor vehicle office. The fee is $7.20, and the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles' pages list other fees, including late fees of $25 a month or portion of a month, up to $100. The deadline is 60 days. The 60 days run from the date of purchase. | dmv.colorado.gov: title (opens in a new tab) dmv.colorado.gov: buying-and-selling (opens in a new tab) Checked September 30, 2026 |
| Connecticut | Title transfers in Connecticut are handled by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The fee is $25 for filing an application for a certificate of title, and Connecticut General Statutes section 14-192 lists other fees, including $10 for each security interest noted upon a certificate of title. Connecticut General Statutes section 14-166(b) says, “The acquisition of a certificate of title for any motor vehicle older than twenty model years old shall not be required.” | cga.ct.gov: sec_14-182 (opens in a new tab) cga.ct.gov: sec_14-183 (opens in a new tab) cga.ct.gov: sec_14-165 (opens in a new tab) cga.ct.gov: sec_14-192 (opens in a new tab) cga.ct.gov: sec_14-166 (opens in a new tab) Checked September 30, 2026 |
| Delaware | Title transfers in Delaware are handled by the Division of Motor Vehicles. The fee is $35 for issuing a certificate of title, and the Division of Motor Vehicles' pages list other fees, including a document fee. The deadline is 30 days. The 30 days run from the purchase of the vehicle. Delaware law (21 Del. C. § 2503(a)) says, “The transferee of a Delaware registered vehicle shall make application for a new certificate of title immediately following purchase, but in no case more than 30 days after purchase of said vehicle.” | delcode.delaware.gov: c025 (opens in a new tab) dmv.de.gov: titles (1) (opens in a new tab) delcode.delaware.gov: sc01 (opens in a new tab) dmv.de.gov: titles (2) (opens in a new tab) Checked September 30, 2026 |
| Florida | Title transfers in Florida are handled by the county tax collector, or a license plate agent the tax collector has approved. The deadline is 30 days. The 30 days run from the delivery of the motor vehicle to the purchaser. | leg.state.fl.us: 0319.23 (opens in a new tab) leg.state.fl.us: 0319.22 (opens in a new tab) leg.state.fl.us: 0319.32 (opens in a new tab) Checked September 27, 2026 |
| Georgia | Title transfers in Georgia are handled by the buyer's County Tag Office. The fee is $18, and the Department of Revenue's list of fees and taxes due also has a $20 license plate fee, Title Ad Valorem Tax and any penalties due. The deadline is 7 days. The 7 days run from the purchase date. | dor.georgia.gov: responsibilities-sellers-and-buyers (opens in a new tab) dor.georgia.gov: title-and-register-vehicle-purchased-casual-sale (opens in a new tab) Checked September 30, 2026 |
| Idaho | Title transfers in Idaho are handled by a county assessor's motor vehicle office (private party sale with no lienholder). The fee is the $14.00 title fee plus a county title admin fee, and the Idaho Transportation Department's fee table lists other fees, including an optional $26.00 rush processing fee. The deadline is 30 days. The 30 days run from transfer. The Idaho Transportation Department's page says the titling documents must be filed “within 30 days of transfer to avoid a $20.00 late-filing penalty.” | itd.idaho.gov: vehicle-titles (opens in a new tab) Checked September 30, 2026 |
| Indiana | Title transfers in Indiana are handled by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The fee is $15 to issue, duplicate or replace a title, and the BMV's fee chart lists other title fees, including a $30 administrative penalty for late title. The deadline is 45 days. The 45 days run from the date the vehicle is purchased or otherwise acquired. | in.gov: buying-and-selling (opens in a new tab) in.gov: Fee_Chart (PDF) (opens in a new tab) iga.in.gov: Chapter_2 (PDF) (1) (opens in a new tab) iga.in.gov: Chapter_2 (PDF) (2) (opens in a new tab) Checked September 30, 2026 |
| Iowa | Title transfers in Iowa are handled by any county treasurer. The fee is a title fee of thirty dollars, plus a surcharge of five dollars that Iowa Code section 321.52A requires in addition to that fee, and Iowa Code section 321.46(2) also lists an annual registration fee prorated for the remaining unexpired months of the registration year and a fee for new registration if applicable. The deadline is 30 days. The 30 days run from purchase or transfer. Iowa Code section 321.46(1) says, “The transferee shall, within thirty calendar days after purchase or transfer, apply for and obtain from any county treasurer a new initial registration and a new certificate of title for the vehicle, except as provided in section 321.25, 321.48, or 322G.12, or when the transferee obtains the vehicle pursuant to section 321.52, subsection 2, paragraph ‘b’.”Iowa Code section 321.20(1) says, “However, upon the transfer of ownership, the owner of a vehicle subject to the apportioned registration provisions of chapter 326 shall make application for issuance of a certificate of title to either the department or any county treasurer.” | legis.iowa.gov: 321.46 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) legis.iowa.gov: 321.20 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) legis.iowa.gov: 321.1 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) legis.iowa.gov: 321.52A (PDF) (opens in a new tab) Checked October 1, 2026 |
| Louisiana | Title transfers in Louisiana are handled by the Office of Motor Vehicles, by mail or delivery to OMV Headquarters, at an OMV office, or at a Public Tag Agent location. The fee is $68.50, plus an $8.00 handling fee and a local fee of up to $6.00 where it applies, and the Office of Motor Vehicles' list also has a lien recordation fee, if applicable, and a license plate fee. The deadline is 5 days. The 5 days run from the delivery of a previously issued certificate of title for the vehicle, or from the delivery of the vehicle if a certificate of title has not been previously issued. | expresslane.la.gov: used-title-registration (opens in a new tab) legis.la.gov: 88520 (opens in a new tab) Checked September 30, 2026 |
| Missouri | Title transfers in Missouri are handled by any Missouri license office. The fee is $8.50, plus a $9 processing fee, and the Department of Revenue's page also lists a title penalty of $25 on the 31st day after purchase, increasing another $25 for every 30 days late, up to $200. The deadline is 30 days. The 30 days run from the date of purchase. | dor.mo.gov: titling-registration (opens in a new tab) dor.mo.gov: buying-vehicle (opens in a new tab) Checked September 30, 2026 |
| North Dakota | Title transfers in North Dakota are handled by the North Dakota Department of Transportation. The fee is a transfer fee of five dollars, and the Department's Application for Certificate of Title and Registration of a Vehicle (SFN 2872) lists other fees as well. The deadline is 30 days. The 30 days run from receiving the title. The Department's list of motor vehicle locations says of several offices, “This office is a title issuing branch. Branch fees will apply for services.” | ndlegis.gov: t39c05 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) ndlegis.gov: t39c01 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) dot.nd.gov: motor-vehicle-locations (opens in a new tab) dot.nd.gov: sfn2872 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) Checked September 30, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | Title transfers in Oklahoma are handled by Service Oklahoma, or one of its licensed operators. The fee is $11.00, together with any motor vehicle excise tax or license fee that may be due. The deadline is 30 days. The 30 days run from the time of delivery to the purchaser or transferee of the vehicle. | oklegislature.gov: os47 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) Checked September 27, 2026 |
| Oregon | Title transfers in Oregon are handled by the Oregon DMV, by mail to DMV Services in Salem or by making an appointment at a DMV office. The fee is $101 to $116 for a passenger vehicle, by combined MPG rating, and $192 if it is all electric, and the Oregon DMV's fee page lists other fees, including fees of $25 and $50 for late title transfers. The deadline is 30 days. The 30 days run from the sale. | oregon.gov: Vehicle (opens in a new tab) oregon.gov: 501fill (PDF) (opens in a new tab) Checked September 30, 2026 |
| South Dakota | Title transfers in South Dakota are handled by the county treasurer. The fee is $10 for an application for a certificate of title, and the Department of Revenue's pages list other fees, including a $2 technology fee. The deadline is 45 days. The 45 days run from the date of assignment. | sdlegislature.gov: 32-3-26 (opens in a new tab) sdlegislature.gov: 32-3-18 (opens in a new tab) dor.sd.gov: cars-trucks-vans (opens in a new tab) dor.sd.gov: all-vehicles-title-fees-registration (opens in a new tab) Checked September 30, 2026 |
| Texas | Title transfers in Texas are handled by the county tax assessor-collector's office. The fee is $28 or $33 for the title application, and Form 130-U lists other fees, including a $2.50 transfer fee to transfer current registration. The deadline is 30 days. The 30 days run from the date of sale. With the $28 or $33 application fee, Form 130-U says, “Contact your county tax assessor-collector for the correct fee.” | txdmv.gov: buying-or-selling-a-vehicle (opens in a new tab) txdmv.gov: Form-130-U (PDF) (opens in a new tab) Checked September 30, 2026 |
| Vermont | Title transfers in Vermont are handled by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, who administers the Department of Motor Vehicles. The fee is $42.00 for a certificate of title after a transfer, and 23 V.S.A. § 2002(a) lists other fees, including $14.00 for each security interest noted upon a certificate of title. The DMV's title guide, under “I have a Vermont registration in my name, and my vehicle is a 2009 or older”, says, “If you sell this vehicle, provide the buyer with your Vermont registration certificate and a signed bill of sale. The new owner will obtain a title when they complete their registration.” | legislature.vermont.gov: 02027 (opens in a new tab) legislature.vermont.gov: 02026 (opens in a new tab) legislature.vermont.gov: 02001 (opens in a new tab) legislature.vermont.gov: 02002 (opens in a new tab) dmv.vermont.gov: vehicle-title (opens in a new tab) legislature.vermont.gov: 00008 (opens in a new tab) Checked September 30, 2026 |
| Virginia | Title transfers in Virginia are handled by a DMV customer service center, DMV Select, or by mail to DMV. | dmv.virginia.gov: buy-sell (opens in a new tab) law.lis.virginia.gov: 46.2-630 (opens in a new tab) Checked September 27, 2026 |
| Washington | Title transfers in Washington are handled by the Department of Licensing, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director of licensing. The deadline is 15 days. The 15 days run from delivery of the vehicle. | app.leg.wa.gov: 46.12.650 (opens in a new tab) app.leg.wa.gov: 46.04.162 (opens in a new tab) app.leg.wa.gov: 46.04.163 (opens in a new tab) Checked September 30, 2026 |
| West Virginia | Title transfers in West Virginia are handled by the Division of Motor Vehicles. The fee is $15.00, the title fee in the fee table of the Application for Certificate of Title (DMV-1-TR), which lists other fees as well. The DMV's titles page says, “Vehicles without active liens may be titled and registered seamlessly by mail, in person at any DMV Regional Office, or through authorized private license services.”Its forms page describes the Application for Certificate of Title (DMV-1-TR) as “This is a title application used anytime an out of state vehicle or any regular vehicle (not rental or lease) without a WV title is submitted.” | dmv.wv.gov: titles (opens in a new tab) webapps.transportation.wv.gov: DMV-1-TR_Certificate-for-Title-of-Motor-Vehicle-wf (PDF) (opens in a new tab) dmv.wv.gov: forms (opens in a new tab) Checked September 30, 2026 |
| Wisconsin | Title transfers in Wisconsin are handled by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The fee is $214.50 for original title or title transfer, and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's vehicle title fees page lists other fees. The Wisconsin DMV's page of points to remember when selling a vehicle says, “The buyer will then submit the title (original, not a photocopy) to WisDOT along with an application for registration/title to get a title in their name.”The DMV's new residents page says, “Wisconsin allows third-party agencies to process title transfers and issue new plates for walk-in customers.” | wisconsindot.gov: titles (opens in a new tab) wisconsindot.gov: sold (opens in a new tab) wisconsindot.gov: new-res-default (opens in a new tab) Checked October 1, 2026 |
We have a page for this state but could not confirm in a primary source who handles a title transfer there: Nevada.
Not covered yet: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Wyoming.
For a state we don't cover yet, USA.gov has a list of state motor vehicle agencies: State motor vehicle services (opens in a new tab) (external site).
What the table covers
Each row covers who handles the title transfer, the fee and the deadline, as that state's page on this site states them. Where we could confirm them, the notice of sale is on the release of liability by state page, and sales tax and license plates are on the state's own page, linked from its name in the table.
The rows are for a car, truck or van. A trailer and a boat have their own templates, and where a state has a page for them, the template's page lists it.
Frequently asked questions
Who handles a car title transfer?
It depends on the state. The table above names who handles title transfers in the states we cover where we could confirm it, one row per state, as the state's own government source says, and links to the source.
Is there a deadline to transfer a car title?
Where we could confirm one, the table gives the deadline and what the days run from, in the source's words. Where a row gives no deadline, we could not confirm one in a primary source, or could not confirm when its days start, and that does not mean there is none.
How much does a car title transfer cost?
Where we could confirm it, the table gives the fee as the state's source states it. Other amounts, such as sales tax, are on the state's page where we could confirm them, and a row without a fee does not mean the transfer is free.
Is a bill of sale the same as a title?
No. A title is the ownership record a state agency issues and transfers, and a bill of sale is the record the buyer and the seller write themselves. Where we could confirm that a state's agency requires a bill of sale for a title transfer, that state's page says so and links to the source.
Related templates
These are blank bill of sale templates: the record the buyer and the seller write themselves. They are not a title, and not an application for one.