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Table of Contents
- What Are the Basics?
- How Do I Sign the Title?
- What If I’ve Lost the Title?
- What Information is Included in the Bill of Sale?
- Why Do I Need to Include the Odometer Reading?
- Why Do I Need A Bill of Sale?
- May I Transfer Plates?
- What If I Don’t Transfer Plates to a New Vehicle?
- What If I Am Giving The Car to Someone Rather Than Selling It?
- How Do I, As Executor, Transfer the Car to An Heir?
What Are the Basics?
If you sell a vehicle in California, you need to let the California Department of Motor Vehicles know and complete the correct paperwork. You need to release ownership of the vehicle, obtain a valid smog certificate if applicable and then get an odometer reading. You need to report the sale within 10 days. You can send notice of the sale by completing paperwork online at the DMV’s Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability System. You may also opt to mail over REG 138, the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability form, to:
Department of Motor Vehicles P.O. Box 942859 Sacramento, CA 94259
How Do I Sign the Title?
To sign the title, you need to sign your name on line 1a, which states “Signature of Registered Owner.” If there is a co-owner, then they need to sign on line 1b. You also need to sign the title below the odometer section. There, it states “Transferor/Seller Signature(s). Everyone has to sign within the same box when selling the vehicle.What If I’ve Lost the Title?
If you do not have a certificate of title for some reason, then you can ask the California Department of Motor Vehicles for a duplicate. The duplicate application is Form REG 227. This form, called the Application for Duplicate or Paperless Title, needs to be given to the buyer of the vehicle. You don’t have to obtain the duplicate before selling your vehicle. The form just signifies that the buyer is the owner of the vehicle. If you want to get a new title before selling, then you can replace it directly at the DMV or via third-party through the mail. It is $22 for the duplicate title, and you still need to submit Form REG 227.What Information is Included in the Bill of Sale?
While filling out the bill of sale, Form REG 135, you will need to include:
The seller’s signature
The sell date and price
The vehicle’s information, such as the VIN, year, make, and model
The names and addresses of both the seller and the buyer