How to Sell a Car in Arkansas Privately? (State Guide)

Arkansas gives buyers 60 days from the date of purchase to register the car and handle the title transfer. If that deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, they have until the next business day.

Late registration results in $3 for each 10 days late, plus a 10% sales tax penalty on top of the standard registration costs.

No. Arkansas does not require the title assignment to be notarized; sign in blue or black ink exactly as your name appears on the title.

A bill of sale is required for private vehicle sales in Arkansas. The state uses Form 10-313, which combines the bill of sale with the odometer disclosure statement.

The buyer needs this form to register the car, so it’s a required part of every private sale.

Learn more: Free Bill of Sale Generator

Yes, but you need to coordinate lien release with your lender. In Arkansas, the lienholder completes Form 10-315 (Official Release of Lien) or provides an official release letter on company letterhead.

Your lender releases the lien directly on the title or through separate paperwork before you can sign it over.

If you owe more than the car is worth, you’ll need to pay the difference out of pocket before the sale can close.

It depends on the estate size. The small estate cutoff is $100,000, the small estate threshold under Arkansas Code 28-41-101. The form required: Form 10-306 (Affidavit of Inheritance of a Motor Vehicle), or Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration if probated.

If probated: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration with the title. If not probated: Form 10-306 affidavit plus a copy of the death certificate. The heir must title the vehicle in their own name before selling it.

Contact an Arkansas probate attorney if you’re unsure which process applies.

It depends on how your names appear on the title. If it says “AND” between your names, both of you must sign. If it says “OR,” only one signature is needed.

Check the title carefully before your buyer meeting so you’re not caught off guard.

Don’t try to fix it with white-out or cross-outs. A corrected or altered title will be rejected at the DFA office.

You’ll need to apply for a duplicate title using Form 10-381, which costs $10.00 and takes at least 3 weeks by mail. Applying in person at an Arkansas revenue office is faster than mailing it in.

In most cases you need the title to sell a car in Arkansas. The exceptions come from Arkansas Code § 27-14-913 (scrap or dismantle exception) and § 27-14-409 (bonded title).

The exceptions are narrow: the vehicle must be at least 25 model years old with no title available and sold for scrap or dismantling; otherwise apply for a replacement title, or a bonded title if the title was never in your name.

The paperwork depends on which route fits: a bill of sale verified and signed by a law enforcement officer for 25+ year scrap vehicles, or Form 10-345 Statement of Facts for a bonded title.

Learn more: How to Sell a Car Without a Title

Your obligations as the seller are the same regardless of where the buyer lives. You sign the title, complete Form 10-313, remove your plates, and file the Notice of Transfer of Ownership of a Motor Vehicle within 10 days.

The out-of-state buyer will handle registration in their home state, and some states require a VIN inspection when registering a vehicle from another state. That’s their responsibility, not yours.

No. Arkansas license plates stay with the seller. You can transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, or return them to a DFA revenue office.

The buyer registers the vehicle in their own name.

Yes. Arkansas requires you to file a Notice of Transfer of Ownership of a Motor Vehicle within 10 days. You can file it online through the File online, or submit the paper form at any revenue office.

Filing immediately stops property tax from accruing in your name and protects you if the car gets tickets or causes problems after the sale.

Emissions testing is not required when selling a car in Arkansas, and a safety inspection is not required. This applies statewide, including all counties.

Older cars and high-mileage vehicles are no harder to sell here than newer ones from a compliance standpoint.