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

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.

Add us as a preferred source on Google SellCarAdvisor is reader-supported, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you

The bottom line: The most common seller fee is a duplicate title if you lost yours. Most states charge $25 or less. The cheapest is Texas at $2 by mail / $5.45 in person and the dearest published duplicate fee is Florida’s at $75.25, though Oregon costs more again because it has no duplicate fee and charges the full title fee instead.

Some states will rush a duplicate for an extra fee; the table below carries every state’s. Title notarization is required in seven states and typically costs $5 to $15 per signature.

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

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

Florida ($75.25) and Pennsylvania ($72) charge the most for a duplicate title, with Louisiana 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, Maryland, North Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia — and Louisiana is the only state on both.

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 by mail and Oklahoma $10. A further 15 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.

Expert Advisor Ask me anything about selling your car

Try asking

Automated assistant — general info, not legal advice

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

Compare Instant Offers

Compare Instant Cash Offers

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	$10, ready for pickup in 3 business days	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
Florida	$75.25	$10	Not required
Georgia	$8	$10 special handling fee	Not required
Hawaii	$5 to $10 depending on county	Not applicable	Not required
Idaho	$14	$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	$10 additional fee	Not required
Maryland	$40		Not required
Massachusetts	$25	Not applicable	Not required
Michigan	$15 by mail or $20 same-day in person	$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	Not applicable	Not required
Montana	$5	Not applicable	Not required
Nebraska	$14	Not applicable	Not required
Nevada	$20 when the vehicle stays in Nevada, plus an $8.25 title processing fee on a complete change of ownership	$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	Oregon does not charge a separate duplicate title fee. The title fee applies and starts at $101, varying by combined MPG rating up to $192 for all electric vehicles.	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	Not required
West Virginia	$15	Not applicable	Not required
Wisconsin	$20	No separate expedited fee; standard $20 applies	Not required
Wyoming	$15	Not applicable	Required

Compare Instant Offers

Compare Instant Cash Offers

Compare Instant Offers

0/17

State-by-State Seller Fees

Alabama

Duplicate Title: $15

How long it takes: 7 to 14 business days online or in person, 4 to 6 weeks by mail.

Alaska

Duplicate Title: $15

How long it takes: 2 months for mail-in processing and mailing.

Arizona

Duplicate Title: $4

How long it takes: up to six weeks by mail; faster online via AZ MVD Now.

Arkansas

Duplicate Title: $10

How long it takes: at least 3 weeks by mail.

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 by mail.

Delaware

Duplicate Title: $50

How long it takes: varies depending on the nature of the request.

Florida

Duplicate Title: $75.25 (add $2.50 service and handling when a paper title will be 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: 2 to 3 weeks.

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

How long it takes: 2 weeks.

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: 5 days from application submission.

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: the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet prints the duplicate title the next business day after your county clerk submits the application and mails it to you, so allow about a week; 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: typically 7 to 10 business days through the OMV in person or by mail.

Bill of Sale Notarization: required — budget $5 to $15 for the notary.

Maine

Duplicate Title: $33

How long it takes: 5 to 8 business days by mail.

Inspection: $12.50 maximum statewide ($18.50 in Cumberland County, which includes emissions) — 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: up to 10 business days.

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

Michigan

Duplicate Title: $15 by mail or $20 same-day in person

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: 3 to 4 weeks for standard processing.

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; up 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 $12 state inspection fee (additional station service fees may apply).

Montana

Duplicate Title: $5

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 ($5 to $10 typical)

Nevada

Duplicate Title: $20 when the vehicle stays in Nevada, plus an $8.25 title processing fee on a complete change of ownership

How long it takes: 6 weeks by mail.

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 — the buyer’s cost after registration, not the seller’s.

New Jersey

Duplicate Title: $60

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

New Mexico

Duplicate Title: $5

How long it takes: processed and mailed within one to two business days of the transaction.

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 — 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.

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 — 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 — 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: 1 to 2 weeks by mail.

Inspection: varies by station, set by the station's posted hourly or flat rate — 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: a few weeks by mail.

Bill of Sale Notarization: required when the price is below 50% of NADA Clean Loan Book value; DMV-7-TR signatures must be notarized — budget $5 to $15 for the notary.

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: usually same day when applied for in person.

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.

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

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. The seller’s only unavoidable DMV cost is a duplicate title, 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. Across the cash offers collected on this site, a missing title puts the best offer about -42% against a comparable car with one in hand — the heaviest paperwork penalty in our data, and far more than any state’s duplicate fee.

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.

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?

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 by mail, Oklahoma $10.

Fifteen states have no such filing at all. Of the rest, thirteen want it immediately and twenty 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.

Learn more: What is a Car Release of Liability Form?

Article Update History

Fact-checked March 18, 2026

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.

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.

Tomas Gutauskas

Quick Reference: All 50 States

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