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The bottom line: Arkansas requires a bill of sale for all private car sales and gives you just 10 days to file a Notice of Transfer after the sale. Those two steps are where most sellers get tripped up.
You sign the title, complete Form 10-313 (the combined bill of sale and odometer form), and remove your plates before the buyer drives away. The buyer handles registration, taxes, and new plates after that.
Key Takeaways
- Title notarization: Arkansas doesn’t require it. Sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the title.
- Bill of sale: Required for all private sales in Arkansas. Use Form 10-313, which combines the bill of sale with the odometer disclosure.
- Missing title: A replacement costs $10. Download Form 10-381 from the DFA website and submit it by mail or in person. Mail requests take at least 3 weeks.
- Buyer deadline: The buyer has 30 days to register the car and pay taxes after purchase.
- License plates: They stay with you, not the car. Remove them before the buyer drives away.
- Release of liability: Arkansas requires you to file a Notice of Transfer within 10 days of the sale. Filing online immediately stops property tax from accruing in your name.
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Step-by-Step Process for Arkansas
Step 1: Prepare Your Arkansas Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title: Must be in your name and clear of liens
- Valid Arkansas driver’s license: Name must match the title exactly
- Lien release documentation: Required if you still owe money on the car
If your title is missing:
You’ll need to get a replacement first. Download Form 10-381 and submit it to any Arkansas revenue office or by mail with your ID and $10. Mail requests take at least 3 weeks to process.
If you still owe money on the car:
Your lender must release the lien before you can transfer the title. In Arkansas, lenders use Form 10-315 (Official Release of Lien) or provide an official release letter on their letterhead. Contact your lender directly for their process. If you owe more than the car is worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
Learn more: How to Sell a Financed Car?
Name matching requirement:
The name on your driver’s license must match the name on the title exactly. If you got married or changed your name, bring documentation showing the name change.
Step 2: Prepare Your Car
Clean your car inside and out, gather maintenance records, and run a VIN check to get the best price and build buyer confidence.
Learn more:
Step 3: Price Your Car
Learn more: Best Free Car Valuation Tools
Step 4: Advertise Your Car
Facebook Marketplace works best in Arkansas, especially in Little Rock, Fayetteville, and Fort Smith where buyer activity is highest. Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring states like Tennessee, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
Arkansas has no statewide emissions testing, which means older vehicles and high-mileage cars are easier to sell here than in testing states. Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, and Carvana gives competitive offers if you have a newer car.
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Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
Learn more:
Step 6: Handle Payment and Negotiate
Cash for cars under $5,000, cashier’s check (verify at bank), or meet at buyer’s bank for wire transfer.
Learn more:
Step 7: Complete the Arkansas Title Transfer
Arkansas titles have both a front and a back side that you fill out as the seller.
Front of the title: Sign on the line marked “Owner’s Signature.” This is your authorization to sell.
Back of the title: Sign again at “Signature and Address of Seller,” then fill in the buyer’s full name and address, the sale date, the agreed price, and the odometer reading. Odometer disclosure is only required for vehicles from model year 2011 or newer.
Ink and corrections: Use blue or black ink only. Never cross anything out or use correction fluid. A single error means you’ll need a replacement title, which costs $10 and takes several weeks.
Multiple owners on the title:
- “OR” between names: just one owner needs to sign
- “AND” between names: both owners must sign
Buyer’s next step: The buyer has 30 days from the purchase date to register the car at any Arkansas revenue office and pay title transfer and tax fees.
Step 8: Sign the Bill of Sale (Required)
Arkansas requires a bill of sale for private vehicle sales. The state uses a combined form that covers both the bill of sale and the odometer disclosure in one document.
Use the official state form: Form 10-313 (Bill of Sale/Odometer Disclosure Statement). The buyer will need this to register the car. It does not need to be notarized.
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Step 9: Handle Arkansas License Plates and Registration
Remove your license plates before the buyer drives away. In Arkansas, plates belong to you as the owner, not the car.
You can transfer the plates to another car you own or return them to any DFA revenue office. The buyer gets new plates when they register the vehicle.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Submit the Release of Liability
File online with the Arkansas DFA after you sell the car. You must do this within 10 days of the sale date.
If you can’t file online, download and submit the Notice of Transfer of Ownership of a Motor Vehicle form at any DFA revenue office.
Filing stops property tax from continuing to accrue in your name and creates a paper trail showing you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle.
Learn more: What is a Car Release of Liability Form? (Each State Forms)
Step 11: Cancel Insurance
Cancel your insurance only after the title transfer is complete.
Learn more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?
Arkansas DMV Resources
State Resources:
- Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Motor Vehicle Division
- List of All 50 State DMV Websites
Phone Support:
- (501) 682-4692
Mail documents to: Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Motor Vehicle, P.O. Box 1272, Little Rock, AR 72203
Arkansas Fees and Costs
| What You Pay? | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $10 | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Everything else | $0 | Buyer pays |
What buyers pay:
- Title transfer: $10
- Registration: $8
- Sales tax: 6.5% plus any local taxes
- License plates: Depends on vehicle type
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the buyer have to transfer the title after we complete the sale?
Arkansas gives buyers 30 days from the purchase date 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 a penalty fee on top of the standard registration costs.
Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in Arkansas?
No, Arkansas doesn’t require title notarization. The title assignment itself never needs a notary. Just sign in blue or black ink exactly as your name appears on the front.
When is a bill of sale required in Arkansas?
Arkansas requires a bill of sale for private vehicle sales. 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
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in Arkansas?
Yes, but you need to coordinate lien release with your lender. In Arkansas, lenders use Form 10-315 (Official Release of Lien) or provide an official release letter on their 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.
My car was inherited. What additional Arkansas forms do I need?
It depends on the estate size. For small estates under $100,000, Arkansas allows an Affidavit of Heirship under Arkansas Code 28-41-101 to transfer the title without going through full probate. You’ll bring that affidavit, a copy of the death certificate, and the existing title to your local DFA revenue office.
Larger estates typically require full probate before the title can be transferred to a new owner. Contact an Arkansas probate attorney if you’re unsure which process applies.
Both my spouse and I are on the Arkansas title. Do we both need to sign?
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.
What if I make a mistake on the Arkansas title?
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 and takes several weeks to process by mail. You can also do this in person at any Arkansas revenue office for faster service.
The buyer is from out of state. Does Arkansas require anything special?
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 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.
Do Arkansas license plates transfer to the buyer?
No, Arkansas license plates stay with you (the seller). Remove them before the buyer leaves. You can transfer them to another car you own or return them to any DFA revenue office. The buyer gets fresh plates when they register the car.
Do I need to file a release of liability after selling my car in Arkansas?
Yes. Arkansas requires you to file a Notice of Transfer of Ownership within 10 days of the sale. You can file online through the Arkansas DFA portal, 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.
Does Arkansas require emissions testing when selling a car?
No. Arkansas doesn’t have mandatory emissions or safety inspections for selling or registering cars. 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.
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Article Update History
All requirements in this guide were verified against the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration's current rules, including the 10-day Notice of Transfer deadline and the Form 10-313 bill of sale requirement.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.