---
title: "Does a Car Title Need to Be Notarized? All 50 States + DC"
description: "9 states require the seller to sign the title before a notary, a few more in some cases. Your state's rule, bill of sale, buyer deadline and plates."
url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/notary/car-title-notarization-by-state"
---

Free table · Selling a car

# Car title notarization by state

Whether the seller's or buyer's signature must be notarized, when a bill of sale is needed, how long the buyer has to title the car, and who keeps the plates, from each state's motor vehicle agency.

✓ New Jersey commissioned notary, no. 50244803, insured for errors and omissions. [See the credentials](/about/credentials)

**Quick answer.** Most states don't ask for a notary when you sign a car title over. On the official pages we checked, 9 do: Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Wyoming. Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Missouri and Utah say on official pages that it isn't needed or is optional. Everywhere, the seller fills in the buyer's name, the date and the mileage, and the buyer has a set number of days to title the car.

Know your state already? The [selling a car checklist](/notary/selling-a-car-checklist-by-state) takes the state and whether you're buying or selling and lists every step, with the notary rule, the forms and the deadline.

## Car title rules in all 50 states and DC

Select a column heading to sort. "Required" means the state's page says the signature is notarized; "Not in the steps" means the agency's private-sale steps leave a notary out without saying so; "Not confirmed" means no page we opened addressed it.

Need this notarized? [Book a notary visit in New Jersey](/notary/#order).

| | | | | | | | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Alabama](/notary/car-title-transfer-alabama) | Not required | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | 20 days | Stay with the seller | $15 | [Official page](https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/faq-categories/titles/) |
| [Alaska](/notary/car-title-transfer-alaska) | Not in the steps | Not confirmed | Not required | 30 days | Depends on the plate | $15 | [Official page](https://dmv.alaska.gov/vehicle-services/selling-a-vehicle-in-alaska/) |
| Arizona | Required | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | 15 days | Stay with the seller | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://azdot.gov/motor-vehicles/vehicle-services/buying-and-selling-your-vehicle/selling-your-vehicle) |
| Arkansas | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Required | 60 days | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/office/motor-vehicle/faqs-for-dsmv/) |
| [California](/notary/car-title-transfer-california) | Not in the steps | Not confirmed | Sometimes | 10 days | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/titles/title-transfers-and-changes/) |
| Colorado | Not required | Not confirmed | Required | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://dmv.colorado.gov/buying-and-selling) |
| Connecticut | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Required | Not confirmed | Stay with the seller | $25 | [Official page](https://portal.ct.gov/dmv/vehicle-services/sell-vehicle) |
| Delaware | Not required | Not required | Not confirmed | 30 days | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://dmv.de.gov/VehicleServices/titles/pdfs/TipsforPrivatelySellingaDelawareTitledVehicle.pdf) |
| District of Columbia | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Recommended | Not confirmed | Stay with the seller | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://dmv.dc.gov/service/buying-vehicle) |
| [Florida](/notary/car-title-transfer-florida) | Not required | Not required | Sometimes | 30 days | Stay with the seller | $75.25 | [Official page](https://www.flhsmv.gov/safety-center/consumer-education/buying-vehicle-florida/buying-private-sale/) |
| [Georgia](/notary/car-title-transfer-georgia) | Not in the steps | Not in the steps | Recommended | 7 days | Stay with the seller | $18 | [Official page](https://dor.georgia.gov/responsibilities-sellers-and-buyers) |
| [Hawaii](/notary/car-title-transfer-hawaii) | Not required | Not confirmed | Sometimes, notarized | 30 days | Not confirmed | $10 | [Official page](https://www.honolulu.gov/index.php/cms-csd-menu/site-csd-sitearticles/6442-vehicle-ownership-transfer.html) |
| [Idaho](/notary/car-title-transfer-idaho) | Not in the steps | Not in the steps | Sometimes | 30 days | Stay with the seller | $14 | [Official page](https://itd.idaho.gov/dmv/registrations-plates-titles/vehicle-titles/) |
| Illinois | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://tax.illinois.gov/research/taxinformation/sales/vehicle.html) |
| [Indiana](/notary/car-title-transfer-indiana) | Not in the steps | Not in the steps | Sometimes | 45 days | Stay with the seller | $15 | [Official page](https://secure.in.gov/bmv/titles/buying-and-selling/) |
| Iowa | Not in the steps | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | 30 days | Stay with the seller | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://iowadot.gov/registration-plates/buy-sell-vehicles/how-sell-vehicle) |
| [Kansas](/notary/car-title-transfer-kansas) | Not required | Not required | Sometimes | 60 days | Stay with the seller | $10 | [Official page](https://www.ksrevenue.gov/dovtitleused.html) |
| [Kentucky](/notary/car-title-transfer-kentucky) | Required | Required | Not confirmed | 15 days | Stay with the seller | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://drive.ky.gov/Vehicles/Pages/Vehicle-Titling.aspx) |
| Louisiana | Required | Not confirmed | Sometimes, notarized | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | $68.50 | [Official page](https://expresslane.la.gov/omv/vehicles/title-and-registration/used-title-registration/) |
| Maine | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Required | Not confirmed | Stay with the seller | $33 | [Official page](https://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/vehicles/register-a-passenger-vehicle) |
| Maryland | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Sometimes, notarized in some cases | Not confirmed | Stay with the seller | $200 | [Official page](https://mva.maryland.gov/title-registration/title-vehicle/private-party-purchase) |
| Massachusetts | Not confirmed | Not in the steps | Recommended | Not confirmed | Stay with the seller | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://www.mass.gov/guides/private-party-car-sales) |
| [Michigan](/notary/car-title-transfer-michigan) | Not in the steps | Not in the steps | Not confirmed | 15 days | Stay with the seller | $15 | [Official page](https://www.michigan.gov/sos/vehicle/ownership) |
| [Minnesota](/notary/car-title-transfer-minnesota) | Not in the steps | Not in the steps | Not confirmed | 10 days | Go with the vehicle | $8.25 | [Official page](https://assets.dps.mn.gov/files/dvs/BuyingorSellingMotorVehicle_Just_the_Facts.pdf) |
| Mississippi | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | 30 business days | Stay with the seller | $9 | [Official page](https://www.dor.ms.gov/tagstitles/title-frequently-asked-questions) |
| [Missouri](/notary/car-title-transfer-missouri) | Not required | Not required | Sometimes | 30 days | Stay with the seller | $8.50 | [Official page](https://dor.mo.gov/motor-vehicle/selling-a-vehicle.html) |
| [Montana](/notary/car-title-transfer-montana) | Required | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | 40 days | Stay with the seller | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://dojmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/Buy-Sell-Vehicle-Brochure_Sept-2014.pdf) |
| [Nebraska](/notary/car-title-transfer-nebraska) | Not in the steps | Not in the steps | Required | 30 days | Not confirmed | $10 | [Official page](https://dmv.nebraska.gov/dvr/title/transfer-ownership) |
| [Nevada](/notary/car-title-transfer-nevada) | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not required | 30 days | Stay with the seller | $28.50 | [Official page](https://dmv.nv.gov/title.htm) |
| New Hampshire | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | 20 days | Not confirmed | $35 | [Official page](https://www.gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXI/261/261-mrg.htm) |
| [New Jersey](/notary/car-title-transfer-new-jersey) | Not in the steps | Not in the steps | Required | 10 business days | Stay with the seller | $60 | [Official page](https://www.nj.gov/mvc/vehicles/transowner.htm) |
| New Mexico | Not in the steps | Not confirmed | Sometimes | Not confirmed | Stay with the seller | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/vehicles/vehicle-registration/vehicle-titles/) |
| [New York](/notary/car-title-transfer-new-york) | Not in the steps | Not in the steps | Sometimes | 30 days | Stay with the seller | $50 | [Official page](https://dmv.ny.gov/titles/buy-sell-or-transfer-vehicle-ownership) |
| North Carolina | Required | Required | Not confirmed | 28 days | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/title-registration/vehicle/Pages/default.aspx) |
| North Dakota | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Sometimes | Not confirmed | Stay with the seller | $5 | [Official page](https://www.nd.gov/faq/transportation-faq) |
| Ohio | Required | Required | Not confirmed | 30 days | Not confirmed | $18 | [Official page](https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/titles-new.aspx) |
| Oklahoma | Required | Not confirmed | Sometimes, notarized in some cases | Not confirmed | Stay with the seller | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://oklahoma.gov/service/all-services/auto-vehicle/vehicle-titles.html) |
| [Oregon](/notary/car-title-transfer-oregon) | Not in the steps | Not confirmed | Sometimes | 30 days | Not confirmed | $101 | [Official page](https://www.oregon.gov/odot/dmv/pages/vehicle/buysell.aspx) |
| [Pennsylvania](/notary/car-title-transfer-pennsylvania) | Required | Required | Not confirmed | 20 days | Stay with the seller | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dmv/vehicle-services/title-and-registration/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle) |
| Rhode Island | Not in the steps | Not confirmed | Required | Not confirmed | Stay with the seller | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://dmv.ri.gov/faq) |
| [South Carolina](/notary/car-title-transfer-south-carolina) | Not in the steps | Not in the steps | Sometimes | 45 days | Stay with the seller | $15 | [Official page](https://dmv.sc.gov/vehicle-owners/buying-or-selling-a-car) |
| South Dakota | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Recommended | 45 days | Stay with the seller | $10 | [Official page](https://dor.sd.gov/individuals/motor-vehicle/) |
| Tennessee | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not required | Not confirmed | Stay with the seller | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://www.tn.gov/revenue/title-and-registration/vehicle-titling/titling-a-vehicle.html) |
| [Texas](/notary/car-title-transfer-texas) | Not in the steps | Not in the steps | Not confirmed | 30 days | Stay with the seller | $28 | [Official page](https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle) |
| [Utah](/notary/car-title-transfer-utah) | Not required | Not confirmed | Recommended | Not confirmed | Stay with the seller | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://dmv.utah.gov/other-services-overview/buying-selling/responsibilities/) |
| Vermont | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Sometimes | Not confirmed | Stay with the seller | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://dmv.vermont.gov/tax-title/vehicle-title) |
| [Virginia](/notary/car-title-transfer-virginia) | Not in the steps | Not in the steps | Sometimes | 30 days | Stay with the seller | $15 | [Official page](https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/buy-sell) |
| [Washington](/notary/car-title-transfer-washington) | In some cases | In some cases | Sometimes | 15 days | Stay with the seller | $15 | [Official page](https://dol.wa.gov/vehicles-and-boats/vehicles/buying-and-selling-vehicle/buy-and-register-vehicle) |
| West Virginia | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Sometimes, notarized | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | $15 | [Official page](https://dmv.wv.gov/titles) |
| [Wisconsin](/notary/car-title-transfer-wisconsin) | Not in the steps | Not in the steps | Not required | 2 business days | Stay with the seller | $214.50 | [Official page](https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/vehicles/sll-jnk-vhcl/sellyourvehicle.aspx) |
| Wyoming | Required | Required | Sometimes | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://statutes.wyoleg.gov/NXT/gateway.dll/2026%20Wyoming%20Statutes/2026%20Titles/1677/1681/1682) |

## What a notary does in a title transfer

Where a state requires it, the notary checks the seller's photo ID, watches the seller sign the assignment on the back of the title, and adds a seal and signature. The notary doesn't check the price, the lien or the car. Don't sign ahead of time: a signature made before you reach the notary can't be notarized, and a title with crossed-out or corrected entries is often rejected and has to be replaced.

In New Jersey, the MVC's own steps don't include a notary for an in-state sale; when an out-of-state title or an affidavit does need one, our [vehicle title notary](/notary/vehicle-title-notary) handles it. In other states, a local notary, bank or tag office is the practical choice.

## Gifts, estates, boats and lost titles

These follow different paperwork from a sale. See [gifting or inheriting a car](/notary/guides/gifting-or-inheriting-a-car-title-paperwork), [boat, trailer and motorcycle titles](/notary/guides/boat-trailer-motorcycle-title-notary) and the [lost title affidavit](/notary/documents/lost-title-affidavit).

General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. Checked November 2026 against each state's motor vehicle agency or statute site, linked in the table. Forms, fees and deadlines change, a county office can add its own steps, and gifts, estates, liens and out-of-state titles follow other rules; the agency or an attorney can tell you how a rule applies to your sale. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with any motor vehicle agency.

## Common questions

**Which states require a notary to sign over a car title?**

On the official pages we opened: Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Wyoming. In each, the seller signs the title in front of a notary (Pennsylvania also accepts verification by an authorized PennDOT agent, and North Carolina's rule is for North Carolina titles).

**Which states say a notary isn't needed?**

Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Missouri and Utah say so on official pages (Hawaii's and Colorado's come from county motor vehicle offices; Honolulu calls notarizing optional, and Colorado's applies to current Colorado titles). Alaska, California, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin's private-sale steps simply leave a notary out, which the table shows as 'not in the steps'.

**Does the buyer's signature need a notary too?**

Rarely. Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wyoming ask for it in at least some cases: Pennsylvania has both sides sign in front of the agent, Ohio's electronic-title form is notarized, and Washington's buyer signs in front of a licensing agent or a notary.

**How long does a buyer have to title the car?**

It ranges from 2 business days in Wisconsin to 60 days in Kansas on the pages we read; 30 days is the most common. Late fees start after that in many states.

**Do license plates go with the car?**

Usually not. In 35 of the states with a confirmed rule, the plates stay with the seller, who moves them to another car or turns them in. Minnesota assigns the plate to the new owner.

**Why do so many cells say 'Not confirmed'?**

We fill in a rule only after reading it on the state's own motor vehicle agency or statute site, and many agency pages don't spell everything out. 15 jurisdictions have no confirmed rule for the seller's notary on the pages we could open, so the cell is blank rather than guessed. A notarized bill of sale is required in some situations in Hawaii, Louisiana and West Virginia.

Related: [Private-sale title transfer, step by step](/notary/guides/vehicle-title-transfer-notarization-private-sale) · [Gifting or inheriting a car](/notary/guides/gifting-or-inheriting-a-car-title-paperwork) · [Boat, trailer and motorcycle titles](/notary/guides/boat-trailer-motorcycle-title-notary) · [Bill of sale](/notary/documents/bill-of-sale) · [Lost title affidavit](/notary/documents/lost-title-affidavit) · [New Jersey vehicle title notary](/notary/vehicle-title-notary)

## Related

- [Does this document need a notary? Check by state](/notary/does-it-need-a-notary)
- [For car dealerships and auto lenders: title and POA signings away from the store](/notary/for-business/car-dealerships-and-auto-lenders)

**Download this data:** [CSV](/data/vehicle-title.csv) · [JSON](/data/vehicle-title.json) · [Field guide, license and citation](/data/vehicle-title)

51 jurisdictions, sources checked November 2026. Free under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) with a link back.

## Need a vehicle title notarized in New Jersey?

[See vehicle title notary](/notary/vehicle-title-notary)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)