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

The buyer has 45 days from the date of sale to apply for a new title at the Indiana BMV. If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, they get until the next business day.

Miss the deadline and the BMV charges a $30 administrative penalty. It’s worth reminding buyers of this window, especially since some assume they have longer.

Title notarization is not required in Indiana. The title assignment itself never needs a notary. Just sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the front of the title, and you’re good.

A bill of sale is recommended for private vehicle sales of titled cars in Indiana. In practice, though, the buyer will likely need one to register the car without issues.

If the purchase price on the title is unclear, the BMV may use fair market value to calculate sales tax, which can mean a higher tax bill for the buyer.

It takes five minutes and protects both of you. Indiana has an official form (Form 44237) at any BMV branch. Notarization is not required.

Yes, but you need to coordinate lien release with your lender first. Indiana requires all lienholders to release their interest in the vehicle before you can legally transfer the title.

In Indiana, the lienholder signs the lien release section on the title or provides a lien release letter on company letterhead. For electronic titles, the lien release is submitted electronically through the E-lien system. If the lender is no longer in business, a court order is required.

If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference out of pocket at closing.

It depends on the estate situation.

If probated: letters testamentary or letters of administration plus the original title and Form 205. If not probated: Form 18733 plus a copy of the death certificate; at least 5 days must have elapsed since the death and no personal representative may be pending.

Either way, you’ll need to title the vehicle in your name at the BMV before you can sign it over to a buyer. Contact the Indiana BMV directly to confirm which documents apply to your situation.

It depends on how the names are listed on the front of the title.

If the title shows “First Owner OR Second Owner,” only one of you needs to sign the seller section. If it says “First Owner AND Second Owner,” both of you must sign before the sale is valid.

Look carefully at the exact wording before signing. The BMV will reject a title where a required co-owner signature is missing.

Don’t try to fix it yourself with white-out or cross-outs. Any corrections on the title will void it completely.

You’ll need to apply for a corrected duplicate title from the Indiana BMV using Form 205, which costs $15.00.

You can apply online at myBMV.com, in person at any BMV branch, or by mail with Form 205 to BMV Central Office. Once you have the corrected title, you can complete the sale.

Your obligations as the seller are the same regardless of where the buyer lives. Sign the title over correctly, provide a bill of sale, and handle your plates per Indiana rules.

The buyer will take the completed Indiana title and register the vehicle in their home state.

Some states require a VIN inspection for out-of-state vehicles, but that’s the buyer’s responsibility to handle on their end.

No, Indiana license plates stay with the seller.

Transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, or destroy them. The Indiana BMV does not require you to return them.

You still need the title, even for junk cars. If the original is lost, apply for a duplicate using Form 205 for $15.00.

Services like Peddle and other junk car buyers handle most of the paperwork and offer free pickup, but you’re still responsible for having proper ownership documentation ready.

Yes, if they live in Lake or Porter County. Indiana doesn't require emissions testing for private sales, but vehicles registered in Lake or Porter County must pass an emissions test every two years for registration. That’s your buyer’s responsibility to handle after the sale, not yours.

But it’s worth a quick heads-up if you have any reason to think the car might not pass. It won’t stop the sale, but it avoids a frustrated buyer calling you after the fact.

In Indiana, release of liability filing is None required for private sellers. Your signed title copy and bill of sale are your proof that the vehicle changed hands.

Keep copies of both documents for several years, just in case a question about the vehicle comes up after the sale.