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The bottom line: Minnesota is one of the few states where license plates stay with the car when you sell it, not with you. There’s no emissions testing required, so no pre-sale inspections to worry about.
You sign the title over and report the sale to Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) within 10 days. The buyer handles the title transfer and pays all registration taxes after that.
Key Takeaways
- Title notarization: Minnesota does not require it. Sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the title.
- Missing title: A replacement costs $21.50 total ($7.25 base fee, $12 filing fee, and $2.25 technology surcharge). Download Form PS2067A and submit it to any deputy registrar office. Most offices can print same-day duplicates.
- Buyer deadline: The buyer has 10 business days to transfer the title and pay registration taxes.
- License plates: In Minnesota, plates stay with the car for in-state sales. If the buyer is taking the car out of state, remove your plates before they leave and have them get a transit permit.
- Release of liability: Minnesota requires you to report the sale online within 10 days to protect yourself from future violations the new owner might cause.
- Bill of sale: Not required by Minnesota law for private car sales, but strongly recommended for your own protection.
- No emissions testing: Minnesota eliminated its emissions testing program in 1999, so no pre-sale inspection is required.
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Step-by-Step Process for Minnesota
Step 1: Prepare Your Minnesota Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens
- Valid Minnesota 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. Download Form PS2067A and submit it to any deputy registrar office with your ID and $21.50 total ($7.25 base fee, $12 filing fee, and $2.25 technology surcharge). Most offices print same-day duplicates, so you won’t have to wait long.
If you still owe money on the car:
Your lender needs to release the lien before you can transfer the title. Minnesota requires an original, signed lien release card or a notarized lien release letter from your lending institution. DVS won’t accept photocopies, so make sure you have the original document. 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:
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 Minnesota, especially in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Rochester where buyer activity is highest. Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring states like Wisconsin and Iowa.
Minnesota has no emissions testing requirement, so older vehicles and high-mileage cars sell well in the private market here. Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, and Carvana will give you competitive offers if you have a newer car. You can also compare offers from multiple services with Sell Car Advisor in one place before deciding.
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Offers pickup or free drop-off
Competitive trade-in value
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Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
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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.
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Step 7: Complete the Minnesota Title Transfer
The assignment section is printed on the back of the Minnesota title. Fill it out completely in blue or black ink. Write the buyer’s full legal name exactly as it appears on their driver’s license, along with their current address, the sale price, the date of sale, and the exact odometer reading.
Odometer disclosure is required for vehicles from Model Year 2011 and newer, up to 20 years old, and under 16,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. So if you’re selling a 2011 to 2016 model in 2026, you still need to fill out the odometer section even though it’s over 10 years old. This is completed in the odometer disclosure section on the title itself, not a separate form.
All owners listed on the title must sign. If the title shows two names joined by “AND,” both owners must sign. If the names are joined by “OR,” either owner can sign alone.
Don’t make any corrections with white-out or cross-outs. Any alterations void the entire title and you’ll need to apply for a duplicate. If you make an error, stop and get a replacement title before the sale.
Minnesota strongly recommends that both the buyer and seller visit a deputy registrar’s office together to complete the transfer process. The buyer has 10 business days from the sale date to register the car and pay the Motor Vehicle Sales Tax (MVST) of 6.875% on the purchase price.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Recommended)
A bill of sale isn’t required by Minnesota law for private vehicle sales. It’s still smart protection for you and gives the buyer a clear record of the transaction.
It doesn’t need to be notarized in Minnesota. 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 Minnesota License Plates and Registration
In Minnesota, license plates stay with the car when you sell it. Leave them on the vehicle when the buyer drives away. The paid registration taxes also transfer to the new owner under Minn. Stat. § 168.12.
After the sale, contact DVS to cancel your registration so you stop receiving renewal notices and fees for a car you no longer own.
The one exception is personalized or specialty plates. You can keep those and transfer them to another vehicle you own by filing the appropriate transfer application with DVS.
Learn more: How to Handle License Plates When Selling a Car
Step 10: Submit the Release of Liability
File online with Minnesota DVS after you sell the car. You must do this within 10 days of the sale date.
This creates a paper trail showing you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle. It protects you from parking tickets, citations, or other violations the new owner causes after the sale.
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?
Minnesota DVS Resources
State Resources:
- Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS)
- Find your nearest deputy registrar office through the DVS website above. There are nearly 200 locations statewide.
- You can also find information about all 50 state DMV websites at our state DMV directory.
Phone Support:
- DVS Motor Vehicle Services: (651) 297-2005
Minnesota Fees and Costs
| What You Pay? | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $21.50 total | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before 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?
The buyer has 10 business days from the sale date to complete the title transfer at a deputy registrar office. If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the next business day applies.
If they miss the deadline, they’ll face late fees on top of the standard transfer costs. Make sure your buyer knows about this deadline upfront so there are no surprises.
Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in Minnesota?
No, Minnesota 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 title, and fill in all the required fields completely.
When is a bill of sale required in Minnesota?
A bill of sale isn’t required by state law in Minnesota for private vehicle sales. No notarization is needed even if you do create one.
It’s still a good idea for both parties to have a written record. Use our free bill of sale generator to make one quickly.
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in Minnesota?
Yes, but you need to coordinate a lien release with your lender first. Minnesota requires the original, signed lien release card or a notarized lien release letter from your lender. DVS won’t accept copies, so get the original.
If you owe more than the car is worth, you’ll need to pay the difference at closing so the title can transfer free and clear.
My car was inherited. What additional Minnesota forms do I need?
If the estate went through probate, the executor signs the title using their authority under the letters testamentary. If the estate is small enough to skip probate (generally under $75,000 in vehicle value), you may be able to use an Affidavit of Transfer Without Probate instead.
Check directly with DVS or a deputy registrar office to confirm which forms apply to your situation before signing anything.
Both my spouse and I are on the Minnesota title. Do we both need to sign?
It depends on how the title reads. If your names are joined by “AND,” both owners must sign. If they’re joined by “OR,” either owner can sign alone.
Check the title before the buyer arrives so you don’t get to the deputy registrar’s office and find out you’re missing a signature.
What if I make a mistake on the Minnesota title?
Don’t try to fix it with white-out or cross-outs. Any alteration or erasure voids the entire title.
You’ll need to apply for a duplicate title using Form PS2067A, which costs $21.50 total ($7.25 base fee, $12 filing fee, and $2.25 technology surcharge). Then complete the assignment correctly on the new title.
The buyer is from out of state. Does Minnesota require anything special?
Your obligations as the seller are the same. You sign the title, report the sale to DVS within 10 days, and hand over the car with the plates still on it — but only if the car is staying in Minnesota.
If the buyer is taking the car out of state, remove your plates before they leave. The “plates stay with the car” rule only applies to in-state sales. Out-of-state buyers will need a temporary transit permit, either from their home state or from a Minnesota deputy registrar office, to drive the car legally until it’s registered elsewhere.
The buyer still needs to complete the Minnesota title transfer process first, then use that transferred title to register the car back home. They should check whether their state requires a VIN inspection before registration.
Do Minnesota license plates transfer to the buyer?
Yes, Minnesota plates stay with the car. Leave them on when the buyer drives away. The remaining paid registration taxes transfer to the new owner as well under state law.
The exception is personalized or specialty plates, which you can keep. File the appropriate plate transfer application with DVS to move them to another vehicle you own.
Do I need to file a release of liability after selling my car in Minnesota?
Yes. Report the sale online through DVS within 10 days. This is the only option since Minnesota handles this online only.
Filing protects you from tickets, parking violations, or other issues the new owner might create after buying your car. It’s a quick process and worth doing the same day you sell.
Article Update History
This guide was last updated to reflect current Minnesota DVS requirements, fees, and filing deadlines.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.