California car title transfer

At a glance

Seller's signature

The DMV's private-sale steps are that the seller signs the title and the buyer submits it, with no notary step.

Bill of sale

A Bill of Sale (REG 135) is one of the forms that may be needed for a transfer.

Odometer

The buyer brings a record of the odometer mileage for a vehicle less than 10 years old.

Buyer's deadline

The buyer has 10 days after buying to transfer ownership.

Seller's report

The seller files a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (NRL) within 5 days.

Agency

California DMV

If you're selling

1. Find the title and clear any lien. Have the original title in hand. If a lender is listed, get the lien release or the lender's sign-off before the sale; the buyer can't title the car over an open lien.
2. Sign the title over. The DMV's private-sale steps are that the seller signs the title and the buyer submits it, with no notary step. Don't sign until the buyer is ready, and write in the buyer's name and the sale date exactly.
3. Write down the mileage. The buyer brings a record of the odometer mileage for a vehicle less than 10 years old.
4. Give the buyer a bill of sale. A Bill of Sale (REG 135) is one of the forms that may be needed for a transfer.
5. Report the sale. The seller files a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (NRL) within 5 days.
6. Cancel insurance and keep copies. Once the car is gone and the plates are off, call your insurer. Keep a photo of the signed title, the bill of sale and any sale report.

If you're buying

1. Check the title against the car and the seller. The VIN on the title should match the car, and the seller's ID should match the owner's name on the title. Ask about any lien listed on it.
2. Watch the title get signed. Seller: The DMV's private-sale steps are that the seller signs the title and the buyer submits it, with no notary step. Buyer: the pages we read don't say whether your signature needs a notary.
3. Get a bill of sale. A Bill of Sale (REG 135) is one of the forms that may be needed for a transfer.
4. Check the mileage entry. The buyer brings a record of the odometer mileage for a vehicle less than 10 years old.
5. Insure the car before you drive it. Most states require insurance to register. Arrange it before driving away.
6. Title it in your name in time. The buyer has 10 days after buying to transfer ownership.

Sold on the first of a month? See the due date for a December 1, 2026 sale.

Your own checklist, marked step by step: seller · buyer.

In the agency's words

Seller

"Private sale / loan payoff: Seller/lienholder signs title. Buyer submits to DMV."

Bill of sale

"These forms may be required when transferring ownership of a vehicle or vessel."

Deadline

"Buyers have 10 days after purchasing the vehicle to transfer ownership."

Report of sale

"Sellers must also submit a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (NRL) within 5 days."

Not stated on the pages we read: the buyer's notary rule, what happens to the plates, the title fee.

Official sources

• California DMV: Title Transfers and Changes (checked November 2026)
• California DMV: Registration for a Vehicle Purchased from a Private Party (checked November 2026)

General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. Checked November 2026 against the official pages listed above. 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

All states: car title notarization by state · Alabama · Georgia