Minnesota car title transfer

At a glance

Seller's signature

The DVS titles booklet has sellers hand print and sign their names; it lists notarization only for other forms, such as lien releases.

Buyer's signature

The DVS titles booklet has buyers hand print and sign their names, with no notary step.

Odometer

Odometer disclosure applies for 20 years to model year 2011 and newer.

Buyer's deadline

The transfer on the title takes place within ten days of the sale.

Plates

The plate and registration tax go to the new owner, with some exceptions.

Title fee

$8.25 title fee.

Seller's report

The seller may also need to report the sale online.

Agency

Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS)

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 DVS titles booklet has sellers hand print and sign their names; it lists notarization only for other forms, such as lien releases. 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. Odometer disclosure applies for 20 years to model year 2011 and newer.
4. Deal with the plates. The plate and registration tax go to the new owner, with some exceptions.
5. Report the sale. The seller may also need to report the sale online.
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 DVS titles booklet has sellers hand print and sign their names; it lists notarization only for other forms, such as lien releases. Buyer: The DVS titles booklet has buyers hand print and sign their names, with no notary step.
3. Check the mileage entry. Odometer disclosure applies for 20 years to model year 2011 and newer.
4. Insure the car before you drive it. Most states require insurance to register. Arrange it before driving away.
5. Title it in your name in time. The transfer on the title takes place within ten days of the sale.
6. Plates and fees. The plate and registration tax go to the new owner, with some exceptions. Title fee: $8.25 title fee.

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

"All sellers and buyers must hand print and sign their names."

Buyer

"All sellers and buyers must hand print and sign their names."

Deadline

"the transfer of ownership must take place on the certificate of title within ten days of the date of sale."

Plates

"the license plate and registration taxes are assigned to the new owner."

Report of sale

"The seller may also be required to make a Report of Sale online."

Not stated on the pages we read: a bill of sale rule.

Official sources

• Minnesota DVS: Buying or Selling a Motor Vehicle (March 2025) (checked November 2026)
• Minnesota DVS: Title Certification, Minnesota Titles & Transfers (rev. 05/2026) (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 · Michigan · Missouri