How to sign your car title
Title rules vary by state — notary requirements, odometer disclosures, fee amounts, lien-release procedure, and what to do when you’ve lost the title. Pick your state below for the specifics.
The 5-step title-signing process
Every state shares this core flow — exact field labels and signature placement vary.
If you have it: skip to step 2. If not, request a duplicate from your state DMV — typically $5-$50 and 1-2 weeks.
On the back of the title, sign in the field labeled 'Seller's Signature' or 'Transferor.' Print your name where indicated. Blue or black ink only.
When selling to us, we'll send you the legal name and address. Don't leave the buyer fields blank — an open title is void in many states.
Required on most titles for vehicles under 10 years old. We verify at pickup. Falsifying odometers is a federal offense.
We collect the signed title at pickup. Don't mail ahead. Keep a photo of it for your records.
State-by-state title rules
51 guides covering DMV fees, notary requirements, lien releases, lost-title procedures, and the specific quirks of each state's title form.
You can still sell — most of the time
A missing title is the single most common question we get. The short answer: we’ve bought thousands of cars without one. The exact procedure depends on your state, the car’s age, and whether it has a lien.
Standard process. Form name varies by state — usually MV-12 or DTF-22. Cost: $5-$50. Wait: 1-2 weeks.
Some states allow a surety bond + bonded title for cars where the previous owner can't be found. Cost: ~$100-$300 in bond fees + DMV processing.
If you're a shop or property owner with an abandoned vehicle, mechanic's lien procedure converts it to a title. Process is state-specific.
Inherited cars without a clear chain, gift transfers gone sideways, and abandoned-car cases sometimes need a court-ordered title. We can coordinate.
Common title-signing questions
Tap any to expand.
What if I lost my title?
Request a duplicate through your state DMV. Most states issue a replacement in 1-2 weeks for $5-$50. If the car is in storage and not running, we can usually pick it up first and finalize the title transfer afterward — call us to confirm before you start the DMV process.
Do I need to notarize the title?
Some states require it (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Arizona for certain conditions, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Wyoming, Montana, Louisiana, and Kentucky in some scenarios). Pick your state from the directory below for the exact rules. We can coordinate the notary visit if your car doesn't run.
Can someone else sign the title for me?
Only with a notarized power of attorney specifically for vehicle title transfer. The DMV won't accept a regular POA. If the registered owner is deceased, ill, or out of country, contact us — we've handled hundreds of these.
What if the title is in a deceased family member's name?
You'll need a court letter (Letters of Administration or Letters Testamentary) plus the original title. In some states a small-estate affidavit works for vehicles under a certain value. Tell us your state and we'll walk you through the specifics.
What if I'm still making payments on the car?
If there's a lien, the lender holds the title. Contact them for a payoff letter — once the loan is settled (or paid down through the sale), the lien is released and the title transfers to you. We can buy cars with active liens; tell us up front and we'll work with the lender.
Get an offer before you wrestle with the DMV
Real offer in 90 seconds. We’ll tell you what title situation works, what doesn’t, and what we’ll need at pickup.