SellCarAdvisor is reader-supported, when you sign up through links on this post, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. How We Work.
The bottom line: The most common seller fee is a duplicate title if you lost yours. Fees range from $2 in Texas to $95 in Illinois, though most states charge $15 to $25.
A few states offer expedited title service for an extra fee if you need it faster. Notarization is required in 10 states and typically costs $5 to $15 per signature.
Some states require sellers to provide a current emissions or safety inspection before the sale. Georgia and Missouri apply this requirement to specific counties only.
In most cases, if you sell to an online buyer, they cover the title transfer fee themselves. You only need to think about these costs if you’re doing a private sale or need to replace a lost title first.
Key Takeaways
- Illinois has the highest duplicate title fee at $95, followed by Oregon at $93 and Florida at $75.25.
- Texas charges just $2 by mail for a duplicate title. North Dakota ($5), Kentucky ($6), Minnesota ($7.25), and Colorado ($8.20) are also among the cheapest.
- The 10 states that require title notarization are: Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wyoming.
- California, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont require a pre-sale inspection or smog certificate.
- Idaho is the only state that charges a release of liability filing fee directly to sellers ($3.50). Idaho is the only state with this charge.
- Skip the paperwork altogether and compare offers from multiple services with Sell Car Advisor ($most online buyers handle all title costs themselves.
Compare Instant Offers
Quick Reference: All 50 States
| State | Dup. Title Fee | Notarization? | Pre-Sale Inspection? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $15 | No | No |
| Alaska | $15 | No | No |
| Arizona | $4 | No | No |
| Arkansas | $10 | No | No |
| California | $27 | No | Yes (smog cert) |
| Colorado | $8.20 | No | No |
| Connecticut | $25 | No | No |
| Delaware | $50 | No | No |
| Florida | $75.25 | No | No |
| Georgia | $8 | No | Some counties |
| Hawaii | $10 | No | No |
| Idaho | $14 | No | No |
| Illinois | $95 | No | No |
| Indiana | $15 | No | No |
| Iowa | $25 | No | No |
| Kansas | $10 | No | No |
| Kentucky | $6 | Yes | No |
| Louisiana | $68.50 | Yes (title + bill of sale) | No |
| Maine | $33 | No | Yes |
| Maryland | $40 | No | No |
| Massachusetts | $25 | No | Yes |
| Michigan | $15 / $20 | No | No |
| Minnesota | $7.25 | No | No |
| Mississippi | $9 | Yes | No |
| Missouri | $8.50 + $9 fee | No | Some counties |
| Montana | $10.30 | Yes | No |
| Nebraska | $14 | No | No |
| Nevada | $20 | No | No |
| New Hampshire | $35 | No | Yes |
| New Jersey | $60 | No | No |
| New Mexico | $16 | No | No |
| New York | $20 | No | Yes |
| North Carolina | $25.50 | Yes | No |
| North Dakota | $5 | No | No |
| Ohio | $15 | Yes | No |
| Oklahoma | $11 | Yes | No |
| Oregon | $93 | No | No |
| Pennsylvania | $72 | Yes | Yes |
| Rhode Island | $52.50 | No | Yes |
| South Carolina | $15 | No | No |
| South Dakota | $10 | No | No |
| Tennessee | $14 | No | No |
| Texas | $2 mail / $5.45 in person | No | No |
| Utah | $6 | No | No |
| Vermont | $35 | No | Yes |
| Virginia | $15 | No | No |
| Washington | $35.50 | Yes | No |
| West Virginia | $15 | No | No |
| Wisconsin | $20 | No | No |
| Wyoming | $15 | Yes | No |
Compare Instant Offers
Compare Instant Offers
State-by-State Seller Fees
Alabama
Duplicate Title: $15
Alaska
Duplicate Title: $15
Arizona
Duplicate Title: $4
Arkansas
Duplicate Title: $10
California
Duplicate Title: $27
Expedited Title: $15 additional (8 to 10 business days)
Smog Certificate: $29 to $89 (sellers must provide a valid, passing smog certificate for most gasoline vehicles over four model years old)
Colorado
Duplicate Title: $8.20 (among the lowest in the nation)
Connecticut
Duplicate Title: $25
Delaware
Duplicate Title: $50
Florida
Duplicate Title: $75.25 (add $2.50 service and handling when a paper title will be printed)
Expedited Title: $10 additional
Georgia
Duplicate Title: $8
Emissions Inspection: Required in Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale counties. No statewide requirement.
Hawaii
Duplicate Title: $10
Idaho
Duplicate Title: $14
Release of Liability: $3.50 (mandatory filing fee to release your liability after the sale)
Illinois
Duplicate Title: $95 (highest in the nation)
Indiana
Iowa
Duplicate Title: $25
Kansas
Duplicate Title: $10
Kentucky
Duplicate Title: $6
Expedited Title: $25 additional
Title Notarization: Required ($$5 to $10 typical
Louisiana
Duplicate Title: $68.50
Title Notarization: Required ($$5 to $15 typical
Bill of Sale Notarization: Required ($$5 to $15 typical
Maine
Maryland
Duplicate Title: $40
Massachusetts
Michigan
Duplicate Title: $15 by mail or $20 same-day in person
Minnesota
Duplicate Title: $7.25
Mississippi
Duplicate Title: $9
Title Notarization: Required ($$5 to $15 typical
Missouri
Duplicate Title: $8.50 plus a $9 processing fee
Emissions Inspection: Required in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles, and Jefferson counties. No statewide requirement.
Montana
Duplicate Title: $10.30
Title Notarization: Required ($$5 to $10 typical
Nebraska
Duplicate Title: $14
Bill of Sale Notarization: A notarized bill of sale qualifies you for a sales tax credit ($5 to $10 typical)
Nevada
New Hampshire
Duplicate Title: $35
Safety Inspection: $40 to $60 (seller must provide a valid inspection)
New Jersey
Duplicate Title: $60
New Mexico
Duplicate Title: $16
New York
Duplicate Title: $20
Safety/Emissions Inspection: $10 to $37 (seller must provide a valid inspection)
North Carolina
Duplicate Title: $25.50
Title Notarization: Required ($$5 to $10 typical
North Dakota
Duplicate Title: $5
Ohio
Duplicate Title: $15
Title Notarization: Required ($$5 to $10 typical
Oklahoma
Duplicate Title: $11 (plus $1.73 mail fee)
Title Notarization: Required ($$5 to $10 typical
Oregon
Duplicate Title: $93
Pennsylvania
Duplicate Title: $72
Title Notarization: Required for seller signature ($$5 to $10 typical
Safety/Emissions Inspection: $35 to $74 (seller must provide a valid inspection)
Rhode Island
Duplicate Title: $52.50
Safety/Emissions Inspection: $39 to $55 (seller must provide a valid inspection)
South Carolina
Duplicate Title: $15
South Dakota
Duplicate Title: $10
Tennessee
Duplicate Title: $14
Texas
Duplicate Title: $2.00 by mail or $5.45 in person
Utah
Duplicate Title: $6
Vermont
Duplicate Title: $35
Safety Inspection: $40 to $50 (seller must provide a valid inspection)
Virginia
Duplicate Title: $15
Washington
Duplicate Title: $35.50
Title Notarization: Required ($$10 to $20 typical
Expedited Title: $85.50 (Quick Title service)
West Virginia
Duplicate Title: $15
Bill of Sale Notarization: Required when the sale price is below 50% of NADA value ($$5 to $10 typical
Wisconsin
Duplicate Title: $20
Wyoming
Duplicate Title: $15
Title Notarization: Required ($$5 to $10 typical
All 50 State DMV Websites
Each link below goes directly to the official state motor vehicle department. Use these to confirm current fees, download forms, and file your release of liability after the sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay DMV fees when selling to an online car buyer?
Usually no. Most online buyers like Peddle and Wheelzy pay the title transfer fee themselves. You don’t pay anything out of pocket unless you need a duplicate title before the sale.
For newer cars in good shape, Carvana also covers all title and transfer costs. The fees on this page mostly apply to private sales or situations where you need to replace a lost title first.
Does the buyer or seller pay the title transfer fee?
In a private sale, the buyer typically pays the title transfer fee when they register the car in their name. The seller’s only cost is a duplicate title if the original is lost.
Dealer and online buyer transactions are different. These companies absorb the title transfer fee as part of doing business. You won’t see an itemized charge for it when you sell to them.
What if I lost my title and can’t afford the duplicate fee?
Some online junk car buyers accept a car without a title in hand. They may handle the duplicate title process themselves or use other legal pathways to take ownership.
This is more common with older or lower-value vehicles.
Not all buyers accept title-free cars, so confirm before you get a quote. Your options also depend on your state’s rules around title-exempt vehicles.
Learn more: Best Places to Sell a Car Without a Title
What is a release of liability form and do I need to pay for it?
A release of liability (also called a notice of sale) is a form you file with your state DMV after the sale.
It removes you from legal responsibility for the car once it leaves your hands. In 49 states, filing this is free. Idaho is the only state that charges sellers a fee ($3.50) to file it.
Filing quickly matters. Any tickets or accidents after the sale can come back to you if you haven’t notified your state. Most states have a free online process, and most require you to file within 5 to 30 days.
Do I need a notary to sell my car privately?
Only in certain states. Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wyoming all require the title signature to be notarized.
Louisiana also requires a notarized bill of sale.
You can get a notary at most banks, UPS stores, or through a mobile notary service. Costs are typically $5 to $15 per signature. Some online buyers use remote online notarization so you can complete it from home.
Article Update History
Every fee and requirement in this guide was verified against official state DMV sources and cross-checked with state paperwork data covering all 50 departments.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
Sources
"All information compiled from official state DMV websites as of December 2025." Accessed Mar. 18, 2026.