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The bottom line: To sell a car in California, you sign the title over to the buyer and provide a passing smog certificate.
The certificate covers most gas-powered cars and newer diesels, with electric vehicles and the oldest models exempt. Step 7 has the year rules and what the test costs.
Within 5 days of the sale you file Form REG 138 (NRL), the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability, with the California DMV.
That filing protects you from tickets and accidents after the buyer drives off. License plates stay with the vehicle, and if the title is missing you replace it before you can sell.
California at a glance
- Cost to replace a lost title: $28
- Replacement title processing time: 15 to 30 days
- Title replacement available online: yes
- Emissions testing required to sell: yes, statewide for most vehicles more than four model years old
- Emissions test validity: 90 days
- License plates stay: with the vehicle
- Form to release yourself from liability: Form REG 138 (NRL)
- Deadline to file release of liability: 5 days
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Step-by-Step Process for California
Step 1: Prepare Your California Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title (pink slip) – Must be in your name and clear of liens
- Valid driver’s license or state ID – Names must match exactly
- Lien release documentation – If you still owe money on the car
Name matching requirement:
Check your title carefully. The name on your driver’s license must match the name on the title exactly. If you changed your name, bring documentation like a marriage certificate or court order showing the change.
Electronic titles: California electronic titles (ELT) are held by lenders only, so a seller needs the paper title in hand, requested from the DMV once the loan is paid off
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 California, especially in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego where buyer activity is highest. Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring states like Nevada and Arizona.
California’s strict emissions rules mean buyers are aware of smog requirements, so leading with a clean smog certificate in your listing helps close deals faster. Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, and Carvana makes offers on newer cars that run.
Best for Newer Cars
-
Offer amount 35% 5/5
-
Process ease 20% 5/5
-
Offer validity 15% 4/5
-
Pickup / drop-off 15% 4/5
-
Payment speed 15% 4/5
- Accepts cars with active loans
- Trade-in can save on sales tax
- License plate starts the quote
- Direct deposit option available
Best for Older Cars
-
Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 4/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 5/5
-
Process ease 15% 5/5
- Quote stays valid for 7 days
- Handles all the paperwork too
- Buys cars that are missing keys
- Pays cash or check at pickup
Best for Junk Cars
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 5/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
-
Process ease 15% 4/5
- Assists with replacement titles
- Buys cars stripped for parts
- Driver pays you before loading
- Quote often needs a phone call
Automated assistant — general info, not legal advice
Answers come from our state paperwork data and published guides. Confirm anything binding with your state DMV.
Learn more:
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 smaller amounts, a cashier’s check you verify at the bank, or a transfer you watch clear at the buyer’s bank.
Learn more:
Step 7: Get the Smog Certificate
Smog certificate required to sell: yes, statewide for most vehicles more than four model years old
Important details:
- Typical cost: $30 to $70
- A certificate you already have is fine as long as it’s less than 90 days old
Find a test station: any BAR-licensed Smog Check station (locator on bar.ca.gov)
What if my car can’t pass, or can’t be tested?
The car runs but failed the test. Repair it and retest.
There is state help with the bill: BAR's Consumer Assistance Program offers repair assistance of up to $1,450 for 1996-or-newer cars ($1,100 for 1976 to 1995) and a vehicle retirement payment of $1,350 to $2,000 for a car that can be driven to a BAR-contracted dismantler under its own power. Neither is available while the vehicle is undergoing a transfer of ownership. So apply before you have a buyer, not after.
The waiver is the part sellers get wrong: a repair cost waiver from the Smog Check Referee postpones the certificate for a registration renewal only; a waived vehicle must be repaired before a change of ownership.
The car won’t run at all. Then it cannot be tested. A smog check either reads the car’s computer or samples the tailpipe, and both need the engine running, so there is no certificate to obtain and no waiver that covers you.
Vehicle retirement won’t work either, because the car has to be drivable to reach the dismantler under its own power. That leaves two routes: get it running well enough to test, or sell it to a buyer the requirement doesn’t reach.
The car is going to a licensed dismantler. Then no smog certificate is needed when the vehicle is sold to a licensed dismantler to be wrecked or dismantled (Vehicle Code 11520).
The exemption attaches to what happens to the car, not to its condition. It applies because the car is being wrecked or dismantled, so a running car sold to a dismantler is covered and a dead car sold to a private buyer is not.
Selling to a licensed dealer is the other route the requirement doesn’t reach: a dealer that resells the car has to provide a Smog Check passed within the past two years, so the certificate becomes the dealer's job when you sell to one.
You don’t label the car as junk anywhere on your paperwork. You sign the title over the same way you would for any buyer, and you file the release of liability as normal. The dismantler handles the junk side.
Our guide to selling a junk car in California covers the dismantler route end to end.
Step 8: Complete the California Title Transfer
Use blue or black ink only. If you make a mistake, don’t cover it up: an erasure or lined-out entry on the title needs a Statement of Error or Erasure (REG 101) signed by the person who made the error; the title is not voided.
What to fill in on the title:
- Sign the seller section (where it says the registered owner releases interest)
- Enter the buyer’s full legal name and address
- Enter the exact sale date and sale price
- Odometer disclosure: required for model year 2011 and newer vehicles, with model year 2010 and older, trailers, and vehicles over 16,000 lbs GVWR exempt
Step 9: Handle California License Plates and Registration
Clear your personal items out of the car, then deal with the plates before you hand over the keys.
- What to do with plates: leave the standard plates on the vehicle, or remove personalized/specialty plates and transfer them to another vehicle you own
Plates and liability are two separate jobs. Whatever happens to the plates, the release of liability in Step 10 is the filing that takes your name off the car.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Submit the Release of Liability
File the release of liability with the California DMV as soon as the car is gone. The form and the deadline are both in the at-a-glance list above.
- Where to file: File online
- What happens if you don’t: you remain liable for tickets, tolls, and accidents until you file
Filing online gives you instant confirmation, so keep that screen or email as your proof.
Step 11: Cancel Insurance
Cancel your insurance last, after the title, the plates, and any state filing are done.
Learn more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?
California Sale Checklist
Before the Sale
At the Sale
After the Sale
California DMV Resources
State Resources:
- Motor vehicle agency: California DMV
- Selling a vehicle: DMV guide to selling a vehicle
Phone Support:
California Fees and Costs
| What You Pay? | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Smog inspection | $30 to $70 | Before sale (most cars) |
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $28 | Before sale |
| Rush title processing (optional) | $15 (Rush Title Processing) | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Everything else | Nothing | Buyer pays |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell a car without a title in California?
Getting the replacement: Apply online through the California DMV virtual office, or visit a DMV office in person. Mail-in applications are also accepted.
Application: Form REG 227
Fee: $28
Processing time: 15 to 30 days
Rush option: $15 (Rush Title Processing)
Start before you list the car rather than after a buyer is waiting.
Watch our 1-minute video on selling a car without a title in California for the step-by-step. If you’d rather not wait, compare offers from multiple buyers and ask each one how they handle a title that hasn’t arrived yet; a car going to a licensed dismantler has its own route, covered in our California junk car guide, linked in the section on cars that can’t pass or can’t be tested.
How long does the buyer have to transfer the title after a sale in California?
The buyer has 10 days from the date of sale to transfer the title and register the car with the California DMV. If they miss that window, they’ll face late registration fees.
The clock starts on the date of sale, not the date they get round to the paperwork, and their delay doesn’t undo your release of liability once you’ve filed it.
Do I need to get the California title notarized when I sign the title over?
Title notarization is not required in California, so a notary stamp adds nothing to the transfer.
If the buyer’s home state wants a notarized title, that is a question for their registration office to raise before you sign, not a California rule.
Is a bill of sale required to sell a car in California?
A bill of sale is recommended in California. The state form is Form REG 135, and notarization of it is not required.
Fill one out. It settles any later dispute about the price, the condition or the date the car changed hands. Our free bill of sale generator builds one in a couple of minutes; make a copy for each of you.
Does California require a safety inspection to sell a car?
Safety inspection to sell is not required. The smog certificate in Step 7 is the only test California asks of a private seller.
Can I sell a financed car in California?
Yes, once the lien comes off. Your lender releases it before the title can transfer, and in California, most lenders hold the title through the ELT (Electronic Lien and Title) system, so they need to release it before you can complete the sale.
Some lenders let you pay off the loan at closing using the buyer’s funds, with the title released directly to the buyer afterward. If you owe more than the buyer is paying, you cover the difference.
Learn more: How to Sell a Financed Car
My car was inherited. What additional California forms do I need?
If the estate goes through probate, you’ll need a court order or letters testamentary before the DMV will let you transfer the title.
Smaller estates use a simpler route: Download Form REG 5 (Affidavit for Transfer Without Probate) from the DMV website or pick it up at a DMV office, then submit it with the title and a death certificate to transfer ownership. Estate value limits apply.
The threshold: $239,700 for deaths on or after April 1, 2026, or $208,850 for deaths from April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026, with registered vehicles excluded from the total. Once the title is in your name, the standard private sale process applies.
Both my spouse and I are on the California title. Do we both need to sign?
It depends on how the names are joined: names joined by AND or a slash: every owner signs; names joined by OR: any one owner can sign alone.
Check the exact wording on your title before the sale.
What if I make a mistake on the California title?
Don’t cover it with white-out; Step 8 has the rule for a lined-out entry.
A title altered beyond that can be refused, and then the fix is a replacement with Form REG 227.
The buyer is from out of state. Does California require anything special?
Your obligations as the seller are the same. You still provide the smog certificate if your car needs one, and you still file the release of liability by the usual deadline.
The buyer handles registration in their home state, which may require a VIN inspection or additional steps on their end.
Do California license plates stay with the car when I sell it?
License plates stay with the vehicle.
Plate transfer fee: N/A (plates stay with the car).
Handing plates back releases you from liability: no.
Step 9 has what to do with personalized plates, and Step 10 has the filing that does release you.
Does California require a smog check when selling a car?
Yes, for most cars, and it is the seller’s job. Step 7 has the list of exempt vehicles and what to do when the car can’t pass or can’t be tested.
One case people miss: a transfer between immediate family members does not require a Smog Check.
Do I need to file a release of liability after selling my car in California?
Yes. The form and deadline are in the at-a-glance list, and Step 10 has where to file.
The point people miss: the filing protects you even if the buyer never registers the car, which is the case it exists for.
Article Update History
Every California DMV and Bureau of Automotive Repair rule now links to its source; the title-correction and smog-waiver rules were corrected against the DMV manual; the lost-title, lien, bill of sale and notary cases moved to the FAQ.
All California DMV requirements in this guide have been verified against the California DMV website and the Bureau of Automotive Repair.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
Sources
Release of Liability Filing Deadline
"5 days" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
Release of Liability Form Name
"Form REG 138 (NRL)" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
"with the vehicle" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
Replacement Title Processing Time
"15 to 30 days" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
Title Replacement Available Online?
"yes" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
Safety Inspection Required to Sell?
"not required" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
"$28" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
Duplicate Title Application Form
"Form REG 227" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
"Form REG 135" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
Inherited Vehicle Estate Value Threshold
"$239,700 for deaths on or after April 1, 2026, or $208,850 for deaths from April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026, with registered vehicles excluded from the total" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
Inherited Vehicle Form Requirements
"Download Form REG 5 (Affidavit for Transfer Without Probate) from the DMV website or pick it up at a DMV office, then submit it with the title and a death certificate to transfer ownership. Estate value limits apply." Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
Emissions Test Validity Period
"90 days" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
Where to Get Emissions Testing
"any BAR-licensed Smog Check station (locator on bar.ca.gov)" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
"required for model year 2011 and newer vehicles, with model year 2010 and older, trailers, and vehicles over 16,000 lbs GVWR exempt" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
"California DMV" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
Emissions Testing Required to Sell?
"yes, statewide for most vehicles more than four model years old" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
Expedited Title Replacement Fee
"$15 (Rush Title Processing)" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
"most lenders hold the title through the ELT (Electronic Lien and Title) system, so they need to release it before you can complete the sale" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
Buyer Registration Deadline After Sale
"10 days from the date of sale" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
Conditions to Sell Without Title
"you must apply for a replacement title before, or as part of, the sale: Form REG 227 (Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title) carries a transfer section the buyer can complete, so the replacement and the transfer can be submitted together" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
Emissions Fail: Help Available
"BAR's Consumer Assistance Program offers repair assistance of up to $1,450 for 1996-or-newer cars ($1,100 for 1976 to 1995) and a vehicle retirement payment of $1,350 to $2,000 for a car that can be driven to a BAR-contracted dismantler under its own power. Neither is available while the vehicle is undergoing a transfer of ownership" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
Emissions Waiver and Ownership Change
"a repair cost waiver from the Smog Check Referee postpones the certificate for a registration renewal only; a waived vehicle must be repaired before a change of ownership" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
Emissions Exempt if Dismantled
"no smog certificate is needed when the vehicle is sold to a licensed dismantler to be wrecked or dismantled (Vehicle Code 11520)" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
"an erasure or lined-out entry on the title needs a Statement of Error or Erasure (REG 101) signed by the person who made the error; the title is not voided" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
"1-800-777-0133 (TTY 1-800-368-4327)" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
