Read the title before anyone signs
Look at the front of the title for the owner names, the vehicle identification number and any lienholder listed. If a lender is named and the lien has been paid, the title should show a release. If not, the seller needs to get a lien release from the lender before the transfer.
Look at the back for the assignment section. It holds the seller's signature, the buyer's information, the odometer reading and the sale date. Do not fill in anything until you are ready to sign.
Who signs and in what order
All owners listed with an 'and' between names usually must sign. Where the word 'or' joins names, one owner may be enough, but the agency's rules decide. The seller signs as printed on the front. The buyer then adds their name and signs where indicated.
If a notary is used, the notary verifies each signer's ID in person and stamps the title only if the agency form has a notarial space or if a separate affidavit calls for it. Many title sections do not have a notary block, and notaries cannot add one to a government form.
What the notary checks
The notary looks at ID, compares names to the title, and watches for cross-outs, white-out or alterations, which can void a title. The notary does not verify the vehicle's history, mileage truth or ownership. They also cannot tell you whether the sale price matches the market.
If a mistake happens, stop. Do not scratch out. Ask the agency whether a corrected title or a statement of error is needed.
Companion paperwork
The sale often involves a bill of sale, an odometer statement where the title does not include one, and a form for plates or insurance. Some situations call for a notarized affidavit, such as a lost title or an inherited car. Each has its own requirements.
If the buyer is financing, the lender will tell you what it needs and when.
After the exchange
The seller should remove the plates where required, cancel their insurance only after the transfer is recorded, and keep a copy of the signed title and bill of sale. The buyer takes the original to the motor vehicle agency within the time frame the agency states. Check the agency's current rules for deadlines and fees.
MCC Solutions provides notary visits for vehicle paperwork at a location convenient to both parties.
A sample walk-through of a sale day
The buyer and seller meet at a bank branch or a notary's location. The seller brings the original title and photo ID. The buyer brings ID, payment and proof of insurance. They check the vehicle identification number against the title together.
They fill in the odometer reading and the sale date on the assignment section, then the seller signs. If the agency requires a notarized form, the notary watches each signature and completes the certificate. Payment follows, and the seller hands over keys and the title.
Safer payment methods are worth thinking about. Cash can be hard to prove, and personal checks can bounce. Many people exchange funds at a bank so a teller can confirm the amount. Take photos of the signed title and a short receipt that both sign. If a lender is financing the buyer, expect the lender to hold the title until the loan is paid.
Mistakes that get documents rejected
Signing in the wrong box on the title is the most common problem, because many titles are rejected if they have cross-outs or corrections. Others are leaving the odometer reading blank, a seller's name that does not match the title or ID, and signing before the notary is present when a notarization is required. Read the title before anyone signs and ask the motor vehicle agency how to handle an error.
Checklist before you book
Bring the original title and photo ID for every owner listed. Confirm whether both owners must sign. Bring a bill of sale if the agency asks for one. Check the odometer reading and lien information. Do not sign until the notary or agency instructs you.
Common questions
Does a title need to be notarized to transfer?
Often it does not, but some situations or forms do. Check the agency's current instructions for your vehicle.
Can I sign the title ahead of the meeting?
Do not. Sign only when the buyer is present and, if a notary is involved, in front of the notary.
What if one owner has died?
That calls for different documents. Ask the agency or an attorney.
More notary guides
- Gifting or Inheriting a Car: Title Paperwork Guide
- Boats, Trailers and Motorcycles: Title Notary Needs
- Notarized Letters for Banks and Account Access
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fees and procedures change; check with the office involved or an attorney for your situation.