DMV Fees by State for Selling Car (List of 50 Departments)

The bottom line: The most common seller fee is a duplicate title, if you lost yours. Thirty-four of the fifty states charge $25 or less, and some will rush one for an extra fee.

The cheapest is Texas at $2 by mail / $5.45 in person, and the most expensive published duplicate fees are Florida’s and Louisiana’s, both over $75. Oregon costs more again, because it has no duplicate fee and charges the full title fee instead.

Title notarization is required in seven states. Where the state publishes a fee, it is $2 to $10 a signature in person and up to $25 to $30 online. In Oklahoma it is up to $5 per notarial act, at Service Oklahoma or a Licensed Operator tag agency, or with any Oklahoma notary, and in North Carolina $10 per signature in person, $15 electronic, or $25 remote online, at a license plate agency, a bank, or any commissioned notary.

An inspection is your bill in five states and nowhere else. In the other forty-five, the buyer pays for it at registration, after the sale, so it is not a cost you have to plan for.

In most cases, an online buyer covers the title transfer fee itself. You only need to think about these costs if you’re doing a private sale or need to replace a lost title first. Compare offers from multiple buyers before you set a price.

Key Takeaways

Florida ($75.25, plus $2.50 service and handling when a paper title is printed) and Louisiana ($68.50 plus an $8 handling fee, plus a Public Tag Agent surcharge up to $18 if processed by a tag agent) charge the most for a duplicate title, with Pennsylvania ($72) and New Jersey close behind. Oregon has no separate duplicate fee at all: its full title fee, $101 and up depending on the vehicle’s MPG rating, applies to a replacement.

Texas charges just $2 by mail / $5.45 in person for a duplicate title. Arizona ($4), North Dakota ($5), New Mexico ($5) and Utah ($6) are also among the cheapest.

The states that require title notarization are Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Wyoming. A notarized bill of sale is a separate list (Louisiana, Tennessee and West Virginia), and Louisiana is the only state on both. Tennessee needs one only when a lender holds the title.

The seller pays for an emissions test in California, Colorado, Georgia and Missouri, at $20 to $70 depending on the state. Hawaii and Missouri also need a current safety inspection before the buyer can title the car.

Filing the release of liability is free in every state but three: Idaho charges $3.50, Kansas $10 online and Oklahoma $10. A further 16 states have no such filing at all, so there is nothing to pay and nothing to file.

Skip the paperwork altogether and compare offers from multiple services with Sell Car Advisor. Most online buyers handle all title costs themselves.

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Automated assistant: general info, not legal advice

Answers come from our state paperwork data and published guides. Confirm anything binding with your state DMV.

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State	Duplicate title	Rush fee, if the state offers one	Title notarized?
Alabama	$15	Not applicable	Not required
Alaska	$15	Not applicable	Not required
Arizona	$4	Not applicable	Not required
Arkansas	$10	An additional $10	Not required
California	$28	$15 (Rush Title Processing)	Not required
Colorado	$8.20	Not applicable	Not required
Connecticut	$25	Not applicable	Not required
Delaware	$50	Not applicable	Not required
District Of Columbia	$30.00	Not applicable	Not required
Florida	$75.25, plus $2.50 service and handling when a paper title is printed	$10	Not required
Georgia	$8	$10 special handling fee	Not required
Hawaii	$5 to $10 depending on county	Not applicable	Not required
Idaho	$14 state title fee plus your county's title admin fee, which runs from $0 to $15	$26	Not required
Illinois	$50	$30 on top of the standard fee, with requests before noon shipped via FedEx the same day	Not required
Indiana	$15	$25 extra for a Speed Title, on top of the standard duplicate title fee	Not required
Iowa	$35	Not applicable	Not required
Kansas	$10	Not applicable	Not required
Kentucky	$6 plus the cost of a notary	Not applicable, the $25 speed title fee is only for original titles, not duplicates	Required
Louisiana	$68.50 plus an $8 handling fee, plus a Public Tag Agent surcharge up to $18 if processed by a tag agent	$10 plus all other applicable fees	Required
Maine	$33		Not required
Maryland	$40		Not required
Massachusetts	$25	Not applicable	Not required
Michigan	$15	$20	Not required
Minnesota	$21.50 by mail or $22.50 at a deputy registrar office	$20 in addition to all other applicable fees and taxes	Not required
Mississippi	$9	$39 using Fast Track Form 78-026	Not required
Missouri	$8.50 title fee plus a $9 processing fee	$5 on top of the regular certificate of ownership fee	Not required
Montana	$10.30	Not applicable	Not required
Nebraska	$14	Not applicable	Not required
Nevada	$20 when the vehicle is remaining in Nevada, or $35 if it is not physically located or registered in Nevada	$20 per title for expedited processing, in addition to the title fee, plus Federal Express shipping charges	Not required
New Hampshire	$35	Not applicable	Not required
New Jersey	$60	Not applicable	Not required
New Mexico	$5	Not applicable	Not required
New York	$20	Not applicable	Not required
North Carolina	$25.50	$105.75 (Instant Title)	Required
North Dakota	$5	Not applicable	Not required
Ohio	$18 statewide ($23 in some counties)	Not applicable	Required
Oklahoma	$11, plus a $1.66 mail fee when you apply by mail	Not applicable	Required
Oregon	$101 to $116 by combined MPG rating and $192 for an all-electric vehicle; there is no separate duplicate charge	Not applicable	Not required
Pennsylvania	$72	Not applicable	Required
Rhode Island	$53.50	Not applicable	Not required
South Carolina	$15	An additional $20 expedite fee, for a $35 total in person	Not required
South Dakota	$10, plus a $2 technology fee	Not applicable	Not required
Tennessee	$14 (plus county fees)	No separate state expedited fee; standard $14 state fee plus county fees	Not required
Texas	$2 by mail / $5.45 in person	Not applicable	Not required
Utah	$6	Not applicable	Not required
Vermont	$42	Not applicable	Not required
Virginia	$14 online / $15 by mail	Not applicable	Not required
Washington	$39.50	$89.50 in all, same day at a Quick Title office	Not required
West Virginia	$15	Not applicable	Not required
Wisconsin	$20	Not applicable	Not required
Wyoming	$15	Not applicable	Required

State-by-State Seller Fees

Alabama

Duplicate Title: $15

How long it takes: 10 to 15 business days to issue, plus 3 to 5 business days in the mail.

Alaska

Duplicate Title: $15

How long it takes: approximately 2 months for a mailed-in application.

Arizona

Duplicate Title: $4

How long it takes: up to six weeks for a mailed application.

Arkansas

Duplicate Title: $10

How long it takes: a minimum of three weeks.

California

Duplicate Title: $28

How long it takes: 15 to 30 days.

Smog Certificate: required statewide for most gas vehicles more than four model years old, and the seller provides it. It costs $30 to $70 and stays valid for 90 days, so getting it too early is its own mistake.

Colorado

Duplicate Title: $8.20 (among the lowest in the nation)

How long it takes: 2 to 6 weeks.

Emissions Inspection: required in the Denver metro and North Front Range program area, and the seller provides it. It costs $35 for 1982 and newer vehicles, $20 for 1981 and older, and the certificate is good for 2 years for gas vehicles more than seven model years old.

Connecticut

Duplicate Title: $25

How long it takes: within 20 business days when requested online; up to 90 days by mail.

Delaware

Duplicate Title: $50

How long it takes: the DMV gives no set processing time, and a request made within 15 days of the last title being issued goes for further review first.

Florida

Duplicate Title: $75.25, plus $2.50 service and handling when a paper title is printed

How long it takes: 3 to 4 weeks.

Georgia

Duplicate Title: $8

How long it takes: 7 to 10 business days.

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: $5 to $10 depending on county

How long it takes: not published.

Safety Inspection: the car needs a current safety check before the buyer can title it, and the cost varies by authorized inspection station.

Idaho

Duplicate Title: $14 state title fee plus your county's title admin fee, which runs from $0 to $15

How long it takes: not published.

Release of Liability: $3.50 (mandatory filing fee to release your liability after the sale)

Illinois

Duplicate Title: $50

How long it takes: 3 to 4 weeks once the application is received.

Indiana

Duplicate Title: $15

How long it takes: up to 21 calendar days to process and mail.

Iowa

Duplicate Title: $35

How long it takes: a 5-day wait after the county office receives the application, waived when the original title is surrendered with it.

Kansas

Duplicate Title: $10

How long it takes: 10 to 40 days.

Kentucky

Duplicate Title: $6 plus the cost of a notary

How long it takes: 4 to 6 weeks; speed title service is not available for duplicates.

Louisiana

Duplicate Title: $68.50 plus an $8 handling fee, plus a Public Tag Agent surcharge up to $18 if processed by a tag agent

How long it takes: not published by the OMV; its policy is to contact the local office if the title has not arrived thirty days after the application, and a replacement is issued free between thirty and sixty days..

Bill of Sale Notarization: required; .

Maine

Duplicate Title: $33

How long it takes: the BMV publishes no processing time; by statute a duplicate need not be issued until 15 days after the previous title was issued.

Inspection: $12.50 maximum statewide ($18.50 in Cumberland County, which includes emissions). This is the buyer’s cost after registration, not the seller’s.

Maryland

Duplicate Title: $40

How long it takes: by mail once approved, with delivery times that vary; same-day service may be available at a full service branch.

Massachusetts

Duplicate Title: $25

How long it takes: 7 to 10 business days online, 20 to 22 business days by mail.

Inspection: $35 for most vehicles, $15 for motorcycles. This is the buyer’s cost after registration, not the seller’s.

Michigan

Duplicate Title: $15

How long it takes: up to 14 days by mail.

Minnesota

Duplicate Title: $21.50 by mail or $22.50 at a deputy registrar office

How long it takes: usually same-day at a deputy registrar office in person, or by mail from the DVS Central Office.

Mississippi

Duplicate Title: $9

How long it takes: about six weeks for a standard title.

Missouri

Duplicate Title: $8.50 title fee plus a $9 processing fee

How long it takes: 3 to 5 business days when submitted in person at a license office; 4 to 6 weeks for mail-in applications.

Emissions Inspection: Required in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles, and Jefferson counties. No statewide requirement.

Safety Inspection: required statewide before the buyer can title the car, at up to $12 charged by the inspection station for a passenger vehicle or truck.

Montana

Duplicate Title: $10.30

How long it takes: up to four weeks.

Nebraska

Duplicate Title: $14

How long it takes: varies by county; ask the county treasurer's office where you apply.

Bill of Sale Notarization: A notarized bill of sale qualifies you for a sales tax credit (a Nebraska notary charges up to $5)

Nevada

Duplicate Title: $20 when the vehicle is remaining in Nevada, or $35 if it is not physically located or registered in Nevada

How long it takes: approximately 2 to 3 weeks.

New Hampshire

Duplicate Title: $35

How long it takes: 5 to 10 calendar days once the DMV receives and verifies your application.

Inspection: $0 to the seller, the buyer pays for inspection after the sale when the program is in effect. This is the buyer’s cost after registration, not the seller’s.

New Jersey

Duplicate Title: $60

How long it takes: in person by appointment, or 8 to 12 weeks by mail.

New Mexico

Duplicate Title: $5

How long it takes: mailed from the MVD central office rather than printed at the counter.

New York

Duplicate Title: $20

How long it takes: the title prints within 72 hours of an accepted application and is mailed to you, never handed over at a DMV office.

Inspection: $10 maximum for most passenger vehicles, with fees ranging from $6 to $27 depending on vehicle weight and class. This is the buyer’s cost after registration, not the seller’s.

North Carolina

Duplicate Title: $25.50

How long it takes: 15 day mandatory waiting period from date received.

North Dakota

Duplicate Title: $5

How long it takes: not stated by the department.

How long it takes: 2 weeks.

Pennsylvania

Duplicate Title: $72

How long it takes: not published by PennDOT.

Inspection: varies by station; $12 state inspection sticker fee plus station service fees. This is the buyer’s cost after registration, not the seller’s.

Rhode Island

Duplicate Title: $53.50

How long it takes: no published turnaround time; duplicates are processed at the Cranston DMV Research Office.

Inspection: $0 for the seller, the inspection is the buyer's cost after registration. This is the buyer’s cost after registration, not the seller’s.

South Carolina

Duplicate Title: $15

How long it takes: 7 to 10 business days for South Carolina replacement titles by mail.

South Dakota

Duplicate Title: $10, plus a $2 technology fee

How long it takes: not published by the department.

Tennessee

Duplicate Title: $14 (plus county fees)

How long it takes: varies by county; typically 7 to 10 business days, with 3 business days in Shelby County and 4 to 6 weeks by mail.

Texas

Duplicate Title: $2 by mail / $5.45 in person

How long it takes: at least 15 days.

Utah

Duplicate Title: $6

How long it takes: 10 to 14 business days.

Vermont

Duplicate Title: $42

How long it takes: not published.

Inspection: varies by station, set by the station's posted hourly or flat rate. This is the buyer’s cost after registration, not the seller’s.

Virginia

Duplicate Title: $14 online / $15 by mail

How long it takes: 5 business days by mail.

Washington

Duplicate Title: $39.50

How long it takes: 4 to 6 weeks in person, or 6 to 8 weeks by mail.

West Virginia

Duplicate Title: $15

How long it takes: .

Bill of Sale Notarization: required when the price is below 50% of the current NADA Clean Loan Book value; Form DMV-7-TR is completed by both the buyer and seller and must be notarized; budget $2 to $10 a signature for the notary, more if done online.

Wisconsin

Duplicate Title: $20

How long it takes: 7 to 10 business days after an online application; longer by mail.

Wyoming

Duplicate Title: $15

How long it takes: issued by the county clerk once the completed application and the fee are received.

All 50 State DMV Websites

Each link 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.

State	Official DMV Website
Alabama	Alabama Motor Vehicle Division
Alaska	Alaska DMV
Arizona	Arizona MVD
Arkansas	Arkansas Motor Vehicle
California	California DMV
Colorado	Colorado DMV
Connecticut	Connecticut DMV
Delaware	Delaware DMV
Florida	Florida DHSMV
Georgia	Georgia Motor Vehicles
Hawaii	Hawaii Motor Vehicle
Idaho	Idaho DMV
Illinois	Illinois Secretary of State
Indiana	Indiana BMV
Iowa	Iowa MVD
Kansas	Kansas Division of Vehicles
Kentucky	Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Louisiana	Louisiana OMV
Maine	Maine BMV
Maryland	Maryland MVA
Massachusetts	Massachusetts RMV
Michigan	Michigan SOS
Minnesota	Minnesota DVS
Mississippi	Mississippi DOR
Missouri	Missouri DOR Motor Vehicle
Montana	Montana MVD
Nebraska	Nebraska DMV
Nevada	Nevada DMV
New Hampshire	New Hampshire DMV
New Jersey	New Jersey MVC
New Mexico	New Mexico MVD
New York	New York DMV
North Carolina	North Carolina DMV
North Dakota	North Dakota DOT
Ohio	Ohio BMV
Oklahoma	Oklahoma Service Oklahoma
Oregon	Oregon DMV
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania PennDOT
Rhode Island	Rhode Island DMV
South Carolina	South Carolina DMV
South Dakota	South Dakota DOR
Tennessee	Tennessee Revenue
Texas	Texas DMV
Utah	Utah DMV
Vermont	Vermont DMV
Virginia	Virginia DMV
Washington	Washington DOL
West Virginia	West Virginia DMV
Wisconsin	Wisconsin DOT
Wyoming	Wyoming DOT

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does the buyer or seller pay the title transfer fee?

In a private sale the buyer pays it, when they register the car in their own name. Of the DMV’s title fees, the seller pays only for a duplicate, and only if the original is lost.

Dealers and online buyers absorb the transfer fee as a cost of doing business, so it never appears as a line item on what they pay you.

What if I lost my title and can’t afford the duplicate fee?

Weigh the fee against what selling without the title costs you: fewer buyers will take the car, and those who do offer less than for one with the title in hand.

Some junk car buyers will still take the car and handle the title themselves, which is more common on older or lower-value vehicles. Not all of them will, so confirm before you get a quote.

What is a release of liability form and do I need to pay for it?

It is the form that tells your state DMV the car is no longer yours, and in most states it is free. Three charge for it: Idaho $3.50, Kansas $10 online, Oklahoma $10.

Sixteen states have no such filing at all. Of the rest, three want it immediately and sixteen set a date between 5 and 30 days, so “5 to 30 days” describes fewer than half the country, and your state may give you no grace period whatsoever.

Article Update History

Fact-checked March 18, 2026

Every fee and requirement checked against each state's DMV.

Published December 11, 2025

Originally posted and shared with our readers.

Sources

50 States DMV

"All information compiled from official state DMV websites as of December 2025." Accessed Mar. 18, 2026.

DMV Fees by State for Selling Car (List of 50 Departments)

Tomas Gutauskas

Quick Reference: All 50 States and DC

State-by-State Seller Fees

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

All 50 State DMV Websites

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the buyer or seller pay the title transfer fee?

What if I lost my title and can’t afford the duplicate fee?

What is a release of liability form and do I need to pay for it?

Article Update History

Sources