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The bottom line: Selling a car privately in Texas requires you to sign over the title at your county tax office and file a Vehicle Transfer Notification (Form VTR-346) within 30 days of the sale.
You sign the back of the title, remove your license plates, and file the transfer notification. The buyer handles registration, taxes, and plates on their end.
Key Takeaways
- Title notarization: Texas does not require it. Just sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the title.
- Missing title: A replacement costs $2 by mail or $5.45 in person. Download Form VTR-34 from the TxDMV website and submit it with your ID. Processing typically takes 2 to 4 weeks by mail.
- Buyer deadline: The buyer has 30 days to register the car and complete the title transfer at their county tax office.
- License plates: They stay with you, not the car. Remove them before the buyer drives away.
- Release of liability: Texas requires you to file Form VTR-346 within 30 days of the sale to protect yourself from future tickets, tolls, or violations.
- Bill of sale: Not required by Texas law for titled vehicles, but recommended for your protection.
- Electronic titles: If your title is held electronically, visit your county tax office to print a paper copy ($2) before you can complete the sale.
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Step-by-Step Process for Texas
Step 1: Prepare Your Texas Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens
- Form 130-U – Application for Texas Title and/or Registration. Fill out the seller section and hand it to the buyer along with the title. They can’t complete the title transfer at the tax office without it.
- Valid Texas driver’s license – Name must match exactly what’s on the title
- 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 VTR-34 and submit it to your county tax office or TxDMV Regional Service Center with your ID and $2 (mail) or $5.45 (in person). Processing by mail typically takes 2 to 4 weeks.
If you still owe money on the car:
Your lender needs to release the lien before you can transfer the title. In Texas, lenders typically mail you the title directly once the loan is paid off, or release it electronically through the ELT system. If the title is electronic, your lender must release it so you can print a paper copy at your county tax office before selling. 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:
If your title is held electronically (common when a lender holds it), you can’t hand it to the buyer. Visit your county tax office to print a paper title for $2 before completing 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.
Learn more:
Step 3: Price Your Car
Learn more: Best Free Car Valuation Tools
Step 4: Advertise Your Car
Facebook Marketplace works best in Texas, especially in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin where buyer activity is highest. Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring states.
Texas has one of the strongest truck markets in the country, so pickup trucks tend to sell fast and at strong prices. 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.
Learn more:
Step 7: Complete the Texas Title Transfer
The assignment section is on the back of your Texas title. Fill it out completely in blue or black ink before the buyer takes the car.
You’ll need to enter: the sale date, the purchase price, the current odometer reading (required for vehicles 10 model years old or newer), and the buyer’s full name and address. Your signature as the seller is also required.
Any errors void the title completely. Do not use white-out or cross anything out. If you make a mistake, you must apply for a corrected title using Form VTR-34 before the sale can go through.
If both your name and another person’s name appear on the title joined by “AND,” both of you must sign. If the title says “OR,” either owner can sign alone.
You also need to fill out the seller section of Form 130-U (Application for Texas Title and/or Registration) and hand it to the buyer along with the signed title. Without it, the buyer will be turned away at the tax office and will need to track you down for another signature.
Title transfers in Texas happen at the county tax office, not the TxDMV directly. It’s a good idea to go with the buyer to ensure the transfer is processed correctly the same day.
The buyer has 30 days to complete registration and title transfer at their county tax office. After that, they face late fees and interest charges.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Recommended)
A bill of sale isn’t required by state law in Texas. For standard titled vehicles in private sales, it’s not a legal requirement.
It doesn’t need to be notarized. Creating one is still smart protection for both parties, and 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 Texas License Plates and Registration
Remove your license plates before the buyer drives away. In Texas, plates belong to you (the owner), not the car.
You can transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, or destroy them. By written agreement with the buyer, you can also leave the plates on the vehicle temporarily, but this is uncommon and creates liability risk.
The buyer gets new plates when they register the car.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Submit the Release of Liability
File Form VTR-346 online with the Texas DMV after you sell the car. You must do this within 30 days of the sale date.
This creates a paper trail showing you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle. It protects you from tickets, toll violations, and any criminal or civil liability involving the car after the sale.
You can also download Form VTR-346 and mail it to TxDMV Vehicle Titles and Registration Division, or submit it in person at a TxDMV Regional Service Center or your county tax office.
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?
Texas DMV Resources
State Resources:
- Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV)
- TxDMV Regional Service Center locator
- Vehicle Registration Information
Phone Support:
- (888) 368-4689 or (512) 465-3000
Texas Fees and Costs
| What You Pay? | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $2 mail / $5.45 in person | Before sale |
| E-title paper print (if needed) | $2 | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Vehicle Transfer Notification (VTR-346) | Free | Within 30 days of sale |
| Everything else | $0 | Buyer pays |
Not sure which way to sell? You can compare offers from multiple services with Sell Car Advisor to see who pays most for your car before committing.
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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 from the sale date to complete the title transfer and registration at their county tax office. If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the next business day counts.
After 30 days, the buyer faces late transfer penalties. Active-duty military personnel get 60 days.
Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in Texas?
No, Texas 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.
When is a bill of sale required in Texas?
A bill of sale isn’t required by state law, but it’s recommended for protection. There is no state-issued form, so a generic document works fine. It doesn’t need to be notarized.
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in Texas?
Yes, but you need to coordinate lien release with your lender.
In Texas, once you pay off the loan, your lender mails you the title or releases it electronically through the ELT system. You’ll need a paper title in hand before you can sign it over to the buyer.
If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
My car was inherited. What additional Texas forms do I need?
For small estates that don’t go through probate, Texas allows an Affidavit of Heirship for a Motor Vehicle (Form VTR-262). All heirs must sign it, and it must be notarized.
You then submit it to the county tax office to get the title transferred into your name first before selling.
For larger estates that go through probate, the executor uses the probate court order to transfer the title. In either case, the title must be in your name before you can sell the car.
Both my spouse and I are on the Texas 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 your names are joined by “OR,” either owner can sign alone.
Check the title carefully before the sale to avoid delays at the county tax office.
What if I make a mistake on the Texas title?
Don’t try to fix it yourself with white-out or cross-outs. Any corrections void the title completely.
You’ll need to apply for a corrected title using Form VTR-34, which costs $2 by mail or $5.45 in person at a TxDMV Regional Service Center.
The buyer is from out of state. Does Texas require anything special?
Your obligations as the Texas seller are the same regardless of where the buyer lives. Sign the title, file Form VTR-346 within 30 days, and remove your plates.
The buyer will need to register the car and pay any applicable taxes in their home state.
Some states require a VIN inspection when a vehicle is transferred in from another state, but that’s the buyer’s responsibility, not yours.
Do Texas license plates transfer to the buyer?
No, Texas license plates stay with you (the seller). Remove them before the buyer leaves. You can transfer them to another car you own, or destroy them.
Do I need to file a release of liability after selling my car in Texas?
Yes. Texas requires you to file Form VTR-346 (Vehicle Transfer Notification) within 30 days of the sale. You can file online, by mail, or at a TxDMV Regional Service Center or county tax office.
Filing protects you from liability for tickets, toll violations, accidents, or criminal acts involving the vehicle after the sale. Don’t skip this step.
Article Update History
This article was updated to reflect Texas's current title transfer process, plate rules, and Vehicle Transfer Notification requirements.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.