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The bottom line: Massachusetts handles release of liability through registration cancellation. There’s no separate notice of sale form like most other states use. That’s the most important thing to know before selling.
You sign the title over to the buyer, then cancel your registration with the Massachusetts RMV Immediately. Plates stay with the seller in Massachusetts.
The buyer has 10 days from the purchase date to register the vehicle and pay 6.25% sales tax based on whichever is higher: the sale price or the NADA clean trade-in value. A bill of sale is required when registering a privately purchased vehicle; the title price space serves as the bill of sale, but a separate bill of sale is required if the title has no space for the sale price or the vehicle is title-exempt due to age because the buyer needs it to register.
If you’re not sure where to sell, you can compare offers from multiple buyers.
Massachusetts at a glance
- Title required to sell: yes.
- Title notarization: not required. Sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the title.
- Missing title: A replacement costs $25 and can be applied for at the myRMV Online Service Center. Processing takes up to 10 business days.
- Bill of sale: required when registering a privately purchased vehicle; the title price space serves as the bill of sale, but a separate bill of sale is required if the title has no space for the sale price or the vehicle is title-exempt due to age for all private sales. Notarization is not required, and the form is generic (no state form).
- Emissions and safety inspection: not required of the seller, but the buyer must complete an annual safety and emissions inspection within 7 days of registration.
- License plates: Plates stay with the seller. You can transfer your plates to another vehicle you own (within a 7-day grace period), or cancel your registration online and recycle or destroy the plates by cutting them in half.
- Buyer deadline: The buyer has 10 days from the purchase date to submit their title and registration applications to the RMV.
- Release of liability: Cancel your registration Immediately. This protects you from future excise tax bills and liability.
- Sales tax: The buyer pays 6.25% on whichever is higher: your sale price or the NADA clean trade-in value. Setting a low price doesn’t save your buyer money on taxes.
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Step-by-Step Process for Massachusetts
Step 1: Prepare Your Massachusetts Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens
- Valid Massachusetts driver’s license – Names must match exactly
- Lien release documentation – If you still owe money on the car
If your title is missing:
You’ll need to get a replacement first. You can apply online through the myRMV portal, by mail to Title Division at P.O. Box 55885, Boston, MA 02205-5885, or in person at any full-service RMV Service Center. The fee is $25 made payable to MassDOT, and processing takes up to 10 business days. The mail-in form is Form TTL 117. The RMV rejects any application with white-out, erasures, or alterations, so be precise.
If you can’t get a duplicate title:
Massachusetts has two exceptions: licensed junk car buyers can accept vehicles with alternative ownership documents instead of a title when the vehicle is going to scrap; passenger vehicles model year 1980 or older purchased before November 26, 1990 are also exempt from titling.
For the junk path, the form is Form TTL 108 (Junking or Scrapping a Motor Vehicle, filed by the licensed buyer); the seller provides registration plus a bill of sale plus a photo ID. Filing happens within 10 days of the sale. The car gets a “JUNK” record after that and can never be re-titled or driven again. That’s why this only works for cars going to scrap.
The age-exempt path is narrow: both the model year and purchase date conditions must be true. For those cars, your last registration and a bill of sale serve as proof of ownership.
To see what your car is worth without a title, head to our Compare Instant Offers tool. In step 4 of the form, mark “I don’t have a title.” You’ll see cash offers from buyers in your area.
For every other car, you’ll need a replacement title first.
Watch the video: Can You Sell a Car Without a Title in Massachusetts?
If you still owe money on the car:
Your lender must release the lien before you can transfer the title. Contact them for their exact payoff amount and process. In Massachusetts, the lender holds the title until the loan is paid off, then provides a lien release letter on official letterhead specifying the year, make, VIN, and all owner names; faxes and photocopies are not accepted.
If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference before completing the sale.
Learn more: How to Sell a Financed 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 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 Massachusetts, especially in Boston, Worcester, and Springfield where buyer activity is highest. Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring states.
Massachusetts has no pre-sale emissions testing requirement, which makes selling older cars locally a lot simpler. Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, and Carvana will give you competitive offers if you have a newer car.
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
-
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
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 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 Massachusetts Title Transfer
The “Assignment of Title” section is on the back of your Massachusetts Certificate of Title. Fill it out carefully with black or blue ink only. The RMV rejects any title with white-out, cross-outs, or alterations, so take your time.
You’ll need to fill in the buyer’s complete name and address, the sale date, the exact sale price, and the current odometer reading. Both you and the buyer must sign and print your names, then date the document.
If two names appear on the title with the word “AND” between them, both owners must sign. If the title uses “OR,” either owner can sign alone.
The buyer has 10 days from the purchase date to submit their title and registration applications to the RMV. Missing this deadline triggers 1% of the sales tax amount per month for late filing, plus 0.5% per month for late payment, each capped at 25% of the tax owed, plus interest from the due date. The buyer also needs to complete the required safety and emissions inspection within 7 days of registration. Massachusetts prohibits registration transfers between different owners, so the buyer must apply for completely new registration and plates.
Keep a copy of the signed title for your records before handing it over.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Required)
The form is generic (no state form), and notarization is not required.
The sale price matters in Massachusetts. The RMV calculates the buyer’s 6.25% sales tax on whichever is higher: your stated price or the NADA clean trade-in value.
You can use our free bill of sale generator to create one in minutes.
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Step 9: Handle Massachusetts License Plates and Registration
In Massachusetts, plates stay with the seller. You can transfer your plates to another vehicle you own (within a 7-day grace period), or cancel your registration online and recycle or destroy the plates by cutting them in half.
The plate transfer fee is $25 plus title fee and applicable taxes.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Submit the Release of Liability
Cancel your registration Immediately. You can do this File online through the myRMV portal (single-owner vehicles only), or by mail or in person at an RMV Service Center using the Affidavit for Cancellation of Registration..
Canceling your registration creates a record showing you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle. Otherwise, you face continued exposure to annual excise tax bills, plus liability for any tickets, tolls, accidents, or other actions tied to the vehicle until the registration is officially canceled.
The cancellation is free and only takes a few minutes online. Download your cancellation receipt as proof.
Step 11: Cancel Insurance
Cancel your insurance only after the title transfer is complete and you’ve cancelled your registration.
Learn more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?
Massachusetts Sale Checklist
Before the Sale
At the Sale
After the Sale
Massachusetts RMV Resources
State Resources:
Phone Support:
- Massachusetts RMV: 857-368-8000
Massachusetts Fees and Costs
| What You Pay? | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $25 | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Plate transfer (if applicable) | $25 plus title fee and applicable taxes | At sale |
| Registration cancellation | $0 | After sale |
| Everything else | $0 | Buyer pays |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the buyer have to transfer the title after we complete the sale?
Massachusetts buyers have 10 days from the purchase date to submit their title and registration applications to the RMV. Missing this deadline triggers 1% of the sales tax amount per month for late filing, plus 0.5% per month for late payment, each capped at 25% of the tax owed, plus interest from the due date.
After registration, the buyer has 7 days to complete the required Massachusetts Vehicle Check inspection.
Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in Massachusetts?
When is a bill of sale required in Massachusetts?
A bill of sale is required when registering a privately purchased vehicle; the title price space serves as the bill of sale, but a separate bill of sale is required if the title has no space for the sale price or the vehicle is title-exempt due to age for all private vehicle sales in Massachusetts. The form is generic (no state form), so a generic template is fine.
Notarization is not required. Make sure both parties sign and include the exact sale price, since Massachusetts calculates the buyer’s 6.25% sales tax based on it.
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in Massachusetts?
Yes, but you need to coordinate the lien release with your lender first.
If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference before you can transfer a clear title to the buyer.
My car was inherited. What additional Massachusetts forms do I need?
It depends on the estate situation. The form options are Affidavit of Surviving Spouse (for surviving spouse), Voluntary Administration Statement Form MPC 170 (for small estates), or Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (for probated estates).
For small estates, the threshold is $25,000 in personal property excluding one motor vehicle (small estate threshold for voluntary administration under MGL Chapter 190B Section 3-1201).
Both my spouse and I are on the Massachusetts title. Do we both need to sign?
It depends on how the title reads. If “AND” appears between your names, both owners must sign the title for the sale to go through. If “OR” appears between the names, either owner can sign alone.
What if I make a mistake on the Massachusetts title?
Don’t try to fix it yourself with white-out or cross-outs. The RMV will reject any title with corrections. You’ll need to apply for a new duplicate title using Form TTL 117, which costs $25.
You can apply online through the myRMV portal, by mail to Title Division at P.O. Box 55885, Boston, MA 02205-5885, or in person at any full-service RMV Service Center. Processing takes up to 10 business days.
The buyer is from out of state. Does Massachusetts require anything special?
Your obligations as a seller are the same regardless of where the buyer lives. Complete all Massachusetts paperwork normally, including proper title assignment and a signed bill of sale.
The buyer uses your completed Massachusetts title documentation to register the vehicle in their home state. Their state may have its own requirements, but that’s the buyer’s responsibility to sort out.
Do Massachusetts license plates transfer to the buyer?
Do I need to file a release of liability after selling my car in Massachusetts?
Yes. Cancel your registration Immediately. You can do this File online through the myRMV portal (single-owner vehicles only), or by mail or in person at an RMV Service Center using the Affidavit for Cancellation of Registration..
Otherwise, you face continued exposure to annual excise tax bills, plus liability for any tickets, tolls, accidents, or other actions tied to the vehicle until the registration is officially canceled.
Article Update History
All legal requirements in this article were verified against the Massachusetts RMV and reflect the current rules for private vehicle sales.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
Sources
"Massachusetts RMV" Accessed May 9, 2026
Release of Liability Filing Deadline
"Immediately" Accessed May 9, 2026
"yes" Accessed May 9, 2026
"not required" Accessed May 9, 2026
"$25" Accessed May 9, 2026
"myRMV Online Service Center" Accessed May 9, 2026
Buyer Registration Deadline After Sale
"10 days from the purchase date" Accessed May 9, 2026
Emissions Testing Required to Sell?
"not required of the seller, but the buyer must complete an annual safety and emissions inspection within 7 days of registration" Accessed May 9, 2026
Duplicate Title Application Form
"Form TTL 117" Accessed May 9, 2026
Conditions to Sell Without Title
"licensed junk car buyers can accept vehicles with alternative ownership documents instead of a title when the vehicle is going to scrap; passenger vehicles model year 1980 or older purchased before November 26, 1990 are also exempt from titling" Accessed May 9, 2026
Buyer Penalty for Missing Registration Deadline
"1% of the sales tax amount per month for late filing, plus 0.5% per month for late payment, each capped at 25% of the tax owed, plus interest from the due date" Accessed May 9, 2026
"$25 plus title fee and applicable taxes" Accessed May 9, 2026
"Vehicles with onboard diagnostic systems less than 15 years old must pass an annual emissions test, in addition to the mandatory safety inspection. Vehicles model year 1983 or older are exempt from emissions testing." Accessed May 9, 2026
Inherited Vehicle Title Transfer Form
"Affidavit of Surviving Spouse (for surviving spouse), Voluntary Administration Statement Form MPC 170 (for small estates), or Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (for probated estates)" Accessed May 9, 2026
Inherited Vehicle Estate Value Threshold
"$25,000 in personal property excluding one motor vehicle (small estate threshold for voluntary administration under MGL Chapter 190B Section 3-1201)" Accessed May 9, 2026
"Form TTL 108 (Junking or Scrapping a Motor Vehicle, filed by the licensed buyer); the seller provides registration plus a bill of sale plus a photo ID" Accessed May 9, 2026