--- title: "Indiana Car Title Transfer: Notary, Forms & Deadline | MCC" description: "Selling a car in Indiana: seller notary not in the steps, buyer has 45 days, bill of sale, plates and fees, from the agency's own pages." url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/notary/car-title-transfer-indiana" --- Car title transfer · Indiana # Indiana car title transfer What the seller and buyer sign, whether a notary is needed, and what Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) says about the bill of sale, the deadline, plates and fees. ✓ New Jersey commissioned notary, no. 50244803, insured for errors and omissions. [See the credentials](/about/credentials) **Short answer.** Indiana BMV's seller steps: every owner signs and prints in the seller section and fills in the odometer, sale date, price and buyer details; no notary step. The buyer has 45 days to title the car. Plates stay with the seller. ## At a glance Seller's signature Indiana BMV's seller steps: every owner signs and prints in the seller section and fills in the odometer, sale date, price and buyer details; no notary step. Buyer's signature The buyer checks that the seller completed both the seller and purchaser sections of the title, then applies for the title at a branch within 45 days and pays sales tax there; the BMV page has no notary step. Bill of sale Only in very limited cases can a bill of sale transfer ownership; it can't replace a required title, and it doesn't have to be notarized. Odometer A separate odometer disclosure statement (State Form 43230) is needed when the title's odometer section isn't completed. Buyer's deadline The buyer applies for the title within 45 days of buying. Plates The seller takes the plate off at the sale. Title fee $15 title application fee; a $30 late penalty applies after 45 days. Agency Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) ## If you're selling - **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. - **Sign the title over.** Indiana BMV's seller steps: every owner signs and prints in the seller section and fills in the odometer, sale date, price and buyer details; no notary step. Don't sign until the buyer is ready, and write in the buyer's name and the sale date exactly. - **Write down the mileage.** A separate odometer disclosure statement (State Form 43230) is needed when the title's odometer section isn't completed. - **Give the buyer a bill of sale.** Only in very limited cases can a bill of sale transfer ownership; it can't replace a required title, and it doesn't have to be notarized. - **Deal with the plates.** The seller takes the plate off at the sale. - **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 - **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. - **Watch the title get signed.** Seller: Indiana BMV's seller steps: every owner signs and prints in the seller section and fills in the odometer, sale date, price and buyer details; no notary step. Buyer: The buyer checks that the seller completed both the seller and purchaser sections of the title, then applies for the title at a branch within 45 days and pays sales tax there; the BMV page has no notary step. - **Get a bill of sale.** Only in very limited cases can a bill of sale transfer ownership; it can't replace a required title, and it doesn't have to be notarized. - **Check the mileage entry.** A separate odometer disclosure statement (State Form 43230) is needed when the title's odometer section isn't completed. - **Insure the car before you drive it.** Most states require insurance to register. Arrange it before driving away. - **Title it in your name in time.** The buyer applies for the title within 45 days of buying. - **Plates and fees.** The seller takes the plate off at the sale. Title fee: $15 title application fee; a $30 late penalty applies after 45 days. Sold on the first of a month? [See the due date for a December 1, 2026 sale](/notary/selling-a-car-checklist-by-state?state=in&role=buyer&date=2026-12-01). Your own checklist, marked step by step: [seller](/notary/selling-a-car-checklist-by-state?state=in&role=seller) · [buyer](/notary/selling-a-car-checklist-by-state?state=in&role=buyer). ## In the agency's words **Seller** "all vehicle owners must sign and print their names in the seller section prior to the sale." **Buyer** "ensure the seller has completed in their entirety both the seller and purchaser sections on the certificate of title" **Bill of sale** "The bill of sale is not required to be notarized or signed under penalties for perjury." **Deadline** "The certificate of title must be applied for within 45 days after the vehicle is purchased or otherwise acquired." **Plates** "The seller should remove the license plate from the vehicle at the time of the transaction." ## Official sources - [Indiana BMV: Buying & Selling a Vehicle](https://secure.in.gov/bmv/titles/buying-and-selling/) (checked November 2026) - [Indiana BMV: Proof of Vehicle Ownership, Bill of Sale](https://secure.in.gov/bmv/titles/buying-and-selling/proof-of-vehicle-ownership-bill-of-sale) (checked November 2026) - [Indiana BMV: Transfer of Out-of-State Title to Indiana (title application checklist)](https://secure.in.gov/bmv/titles/files/Out_of_State_Title_Transfer_Packet.pdf) (checked November 2026) - [Indiana BMV FAQ: I'm selling a vehicle. What do I need to fill out the title?](https://faqs.in.gov/hc/en-us/articles/4409233249812-I-m-selling-a-vehicle-What-do-I-need-to-fill-out-the-title) (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 **Does the seller's signature on a Indiana title need a notary?** Indiana BMV's seller steps: every owner signs and prints in the seller section and fills in the odometer, sale date, price and buyer details; no notary step. The agency's page: "all vehicle owners must sign and print their names in the seller section prior to the sale." **Does the buyer sign in front of a notary in Indiana?** The buyer checks that the seller completed both the seller and purchaser sections of the title, then applies for the title at a branch within 45 days and pays sales tax there; the BMV page has no notary step. **How long does a buyer have to title a car in Indiana?** 45 days. The buyer applies for the title within 45 days of buying. **Is a bill of sale required in Indiana?** Only in very limited cases can a bill of sale transfer ownership; it can't replace a required title, and it doesn't have to be notarized. **Do the plates go with the car in Indiana?** The seller takes the plate off at the sale. **What is the title fee in Indiana?** $15 title application fee; a $30 late penalty applies after 45 days. All states: [car title notarization by state](/notary/car-title-notarization-by-state) · [Idaho](/notary/car-title-transfer-idaho) · [Kansas](/notary/car-title-transfer-kansas) ## Need a vehicle title notarized in New Jersey? [See vehicle title notary](/notary/vehicle-title-notary)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)