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The bottom line: Nebraska requires a bill of sale for all private car sales, and it must be notarized. That’s stricter than most states.
You sign the title over to the buyer and remove your license plates before they drive away. After the sale, you file an online notice of sale to release yourself from liability. The buyer handles registration through their local County Treasurer office within 30 days.
Key Takeaways
- Title notarization: Nebraska does not require your signature on the title to be notarized. Sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the title.
- Bill of sale: Required for all private vehicle sales in Nebraska, and it must be notarized. You can use the state’s official form.
- Missing title: A replacement costs $14.00. Download Form RV-707a and submit it to your county treasurer’s office.
- Buyer deadline: The buyer has 30 days to register the car through their county treasurer’s office.
- License plates: They stay with you, not the car. Remove them before the buyer drives away.
- Notice of sale: Nebraska requires you to file a notice of sale online immediately after the transaction. Filing this protects you from liability after the car changes hands.
- No DMV offices: Nebraska handles all vehicle title transactions through County Treasurer offices, not a traditional DMV. There are 93 counties, each with their own office.
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Step-by-Step Process for Nebraska
Step 1: Prepare Your Nebraska Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens
- Valid Nebraska driver’s license – Name must match the title 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 RV-707a and submit it to your county treasurer’s office with your ID and $14.00. Everyone listed on the title must sign the application, and their signatures must be notarized. Processing typically takes 3 to 5 business days.
If you still owe money on the car:
Your lender needs to release the lien before you can transfer the title. Contact them to get a lien release letter on their letterhead. If your loan is paid off but the title still shows a lien, request a lien release from your former lender before you list the car.
If you owe more than the car’s 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.
Electronic titles:
Nebraska uses an Electronic Lien and Title (ELT) system for lienholders only. If a lender is holding your title electronically, they’ll need to release it to you as a paper title before you can complete the sale.
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.
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Step 3: Price Your Car
Learn more: Best Free Car Valuation Tools
Step 4: Advertise Your Car
Facebook Marketplace works best in Nebraska, especially in Omaha, Lincoln, and Bellevue where buyer activity is highest. Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring states like Iowa, Kansas, and Colorado.
Nebraska has no emissions testing, so older vehicles and high-mileage cars sell more easily here than in states with strict inspection requirements. Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, and Carvana will give you 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.
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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 Nebraska Title Transfer
Read the title carefully before you write anything on it. Use only blue or black ink. Any other color will void the title, and any error or stray mark turns it into a mutilated title. A mutilated title means you’ll need to apply for a duplicate before the sale can go through.
On the seller’s section of the title, fill in the buyer’s complete legal name and current address, the date of sale, the purchase price, and your odometer reading. Sign using only the exact legal name shown on the title. Do not use nicknames or shortened versions of your name.
Odometer disclosure: Nebraska requires odometer disclosure for vehicles under 10 years old or weighing less than 16,000 pounds. Most Nebraska titles have the odometer section built into the lower half of the title. Some older titles have it on the back. If your title has no odometer section, you’ll need to use the official Nebraska Odometer Disclosure Statement form. You can find it on the Nebraska DMV website.
Joint ownership: If the title shows two names connected by “AND,” both owners must sign. If it shows “OR,” either owner can sign alone.
What the buyer does next: The buyer takes the signed title to their county treasurer’s office and has 30 days to register the car. Nebraska does not have traditional DMV offices. All vehicle title transactions go through the County Treasurer.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Required)
Nebraska requires a bill of sale for all private vehicle sales. It must include the seller and buyer’s names, the Vehicle Identification Number, the date of sale, and the sale price.
The bill of sale must be notarized. Notarization documents the sale price, which the buyer uses to calculate sales tax when registering the car. You can get it notarized at any bank, credit union, or your county treasurer’s office.
Use the official state form. Nebraska Bill of Sale (State Form)
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Step 9: Handle Nebraska License Plates and Registration
Remove your license plates before the buyer drives away. In Nebraska, plates belong to you (the owner), not the car.
You can transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, or return them to the county treasurer’s office where the plates were originally issued to get a potential credit on unused registration fees.
The buyer gets new plates when they register the car at their county treasurer’s office.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Submit the Notice of Sale
File the notice of sale online with the Nebraska DMV as soon as the sale is complete. This creates a record showing you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle.
The notarized bill of sale supports this filing and protects you if the buyer is involved in an accident or gets a ticket before they register the car.
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?
Nebraska DMV Resources
State Resources:
- Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles
- Nebraska Title and Registration Info
- Online Notice of Sale Filing Portal
Phone Support:
- Nebraska DMV: (402) 471-3918
Nebraska Fees and Costs
| What You Pay? | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $14.00 | Before sale |
| Notary fee for bill of sale | $5 to $15 (varies) | At signing |
| 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 30 days to register the car through their county treasurer’s office. If they miss that deadline, they’ll face late fees. The buyer is responsible for this, not you.
Once you sign the title over and file your notice of sale, your legal responsibility ends.
Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in Nebraska?
No, Nebraska doesn’t require your signature on the title to be notarized. The title assignment itself doesn’t need a notary. However, the bill of sale does need to be notarized separately.
When is a bill of sale required in Nebraska?
Nebraska requires a bill of sale for all private vehicle sales. There are no exceptions for older vehicles or low-sale-price transactions.
The bill of sale must be notarized because the buyer needs it to document the purchase price when they pay sales tax at the county treasurer’s office.
The same bill of sale also supports your online notice of sale filing, which protects you from liability after the car is gone.
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in Nebraska?
Yes, but you need to coordinate lien release with your lender first.
Nebraska uses an Electronic Lien and Title (ELT) system, so if your lender holds the title electronically, they’ll need to release it as a paper title before you can sign it over to the buyer.
Contact your lender early in the process so there are no delays on the day of sale.
If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
Learn more: How to Sell a Financed Car?
My car was inherited. What additional Nebraska forms do I need?
For probate estates, you’ll need a certified copy of the Letters of Personal Representative or a court order before you can transfer the title.
Bring that documentation to your county treasurer’s office along with the title and completed paperwork.
For small estates valued under $50,000, Nebraska allows an affidavit process that can avoid formal probate. The county treasurer’s office can tell you which option applies to your situation.
Both my spouse and I are on the Nebraska title. Do we both need to sign?
It depends on how the title is worded. If it says “AND” between your names, both of you must sign. If it says “OR,” either one of you can sign alone.
Check the exact wording on your title before the buyer shows up.
What if I make a mistake on the Nebraska title?
Don’t try to fix it yourself with white-out or cross-outs. Any alteration or signature in the wrong place turns the title into a mutilated title.
You’ll need to apply for a duplicate using Form RV-707a and pay the $14.00 fee before the sale can go through.
The buyer is from out of state. Does Nebraska require anything special?
Your obligations as the seller are the same. Sign the title, complete the bill of sale, and file your notice of sale online.
The buyer will need to handle title transfer in their own state, which may have additional requirements like a VIN inspection. That’s their responsibility, not yours.
Do Nebraska license plates transfer to the buyer?
No, Nebraska license plates stay with you (the seller). Remove them before the buyer leaves.
You can transfer them to another vehicle you own or return them to the county treasurer’s office where they were issued to receive a credit on unused registration time.
Do I need to file a notice of sale after selling my car in Nebraska?
Yes. File the notice of sale online immediately after the transaction is complete. You can do this through Nebraska’s online DMV portal.
This is the step that officially removes you from responsibility for the vehicle, so don’t skip it.
The notarized bill of sale you completed at the time of sale supports this filing and provides a paper trail showing the transfer of ownership.
Want to skip the private sale process entirely?
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Article Update History
All legal requirements in this guide were verified against Nebraska DMV records and cross-checked with state statute.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.