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The bottom line: It all comes down to what word appears between the names on your title. That single detail determines whether you can act alone or need every owner involved before you can sell.
Sort out who needs to sign, pay off any loans on the car, and have all required paperwork ready before you accept any offer. Getting ahead of these details prevents the sale from stalling at the last minute.
Once you’re ready, compare offers from multiple services with Sell Car Advisor to make sure you get the best deal.
Key Takeaways
- “OR” between names means either owner can complete the sale on their own. “AND,” no connecting word, or, in many states, “AND/OR” means all owners must sign.
- “AND/OR” is the most confusing wording. Some states let one owner sign alone; others require both. Always confirm with your DMV before assuming you can act without the other owner.
- Any active loan must be fully paid off and a lien release obtained before the title can transfer to any buyer.
- Uncooperative co-owners, owners in different locations, and unpaid loans are the three most common reasons multi-owner sales stall or fall apart.
- Power of attorney for vehicle sales is allowed in many states, but the specific form and requirements vary widely. Don’t count on it until your DMV confirms it.
- Online instant buyers regularly handle multi-owner titles and manage the paperwork for you, which makes coordination much simpler than a private sale.
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Multiple Ownership Types on Car Titles
What the Words Between Names Mean
The small word between owner names on your title is the most important thing to check before doing anything else. It tells you exactly how many people need to be involved for the sale to go through.
| Title Wording | What It Means | Who Must Sign |
|---|---|---|
| “OR” Between Names | Either owner can complete the sale entirely on their own. No permission or involvement from the other owner is needed. | Any one owner, alone |
| “AND” Between Names | Both owners must agree to sell and both must sign the title. Every step of the process requires both parties. There are no exceptions. | All listed owners |
| “AND/OR” Between Names | This one varies by state. In California, either owner can sign alone. In many other states, both must sign. Check with your state DMV before you proceed. | Varies by state. Confirm with your DMV. |
| No Word Between Names | If your title lists two names with no connecting word, most states treat it the same as “AND.” All owners must sign before the car can transfer. | All listed owners (in most states) |
What This Means for Your Next Step
If your title shows “OR,” you can move forward on your own. Get an offer, schedule a pickup, and sign the title as the seller. The other owner doesn’t need to be involved.
If your title shows “AND,” contact all other owners before doing anything else. Get everyone’s agreement and confirm they’ll be available to sign before you accept any offer. Accepting an offer before you have that confirmation is the most common way multi-owner sales fall apart at the last minute.
If your title shows “AND/OR” or has no word between names, call your state DMV first. One phone call will tell you whether you can act alone or need everyone to sign. Getting it wrong can mean a failed sale.
Types of Co-Ownership Structures
Beyond the title wording, there are three main ownership structures that affect what happens if an owner passes away or wants to be removed from the title. These terms may appear on your title or in your original purchase documents.
Joint Tenancy with Right of Survivorship
If one owner dies, the surviving owner automatically becomes the sole owner of the car. Some states show an abbreviation like JTRS after the names on the title to indicate this structure. The surviving owner typically just needs to file a death certificate with the DMV to get a clear title in their name.
Tenants in Common
Each owner holds a specific share of the car, usually 50/50. If one owner dies, their share goes to their heirs through their estate, not automatically to the other owner. This often means probate is required before the car can be sold.
Community Property
Available only to married couples in states with community property laws, such as California, Texas, and Arizona. Both spouses own the car equally, and both are typically required to sign to sell it.
Step-by-Step Process to Sell Your Car with Multiple Owners
Before You Start Selling
Find Your Original Title
You can’t sell without the physical title. If you lost it, you’ll need to get a duplicate from your state’s DMV before you can proceed.
Check the Ownership Wording
Look at the exact words between the owner names on your title. This one detail determines your entire process and who needs to be involved.
Talk to All Co-Owners
Even if only one signature is required, it’s smart to let the other owner know you’re selling. You’ll avoid surprises and potential disputes later.
Check for a Loan
Look at the front of your title to see if a lender is listed. If there’s a loan on the car, you’ll need to pay it off and get a lien release before the title can transfer to any buyer.
Getting All Required Signatures
When You Need Everyone
If your title requires multiple signatures, every owner must sign in the correct seller section on the back of the title. A signature in the wrong spot can make the entire document invalid, even if everyone agreed to sell.
Handling Co-Owners Who Are Far Away
Some states allow you to mail the title to a co-owner for their signature before completing the sale. Others require all parties to be present at some point. Check your state’s rules before planning around this option.
Power of Attorney
Many states allow a power of attorney document if a co-owner can’t be present for the vehicle sale. Contact your DMV to confirm whether this is allowed in your state and what specific form is required.
Handling Outstanding Loans
Contact Your Lender First
Call the bank or finance company that holds your loan. Ask about their specific process for selling a car with multiple owners listed on the title.
Get a Payoff Quote
Find out exactly how much you owe and how long that payoff amount is valid. Most lenders give you 10 to 30 days before the quote expires.
Get Your Lien Release Documents
After the loan is paid off, your lender must provide paperwork confirming the lien is cleared. The buyer needs this to register the car in their name.
When a Co-Owner Is Unavailable or Uncooperative
If Your Co-Owner Won’t Sign
If your title requires all owners to sign and one refuses, there’s no way around it on your own. The first step is a direct conversation. Sometimes agreeing on how to split the proceeds is all it takes.
If that doesn’t work, mediation is the next option. A neutral mediator helps both parties reach an agreement without going to court. It’s faster and cheaper than a lawsuit and works in many situations where the only real issue is disagreement over price or timing.
If mediation fails, a partition action is the legal path of last resort. This is a court filing that forces the sale of jointly owned property and splits the proceeds between owners. It can take several months and comes with legal fees, but courts do grant them when one owner is blocking a reasonable sale.
If Your Co-Owner Can’t Be Located
If you genuinely can’t reach the other owner, most states don’t have a simple DMV process for this. You’ll likely need legal help to move forward.
An attorney who handles vehicle title or property law in your state can advise on the specific options available to you. Some states have affidavit-based processes; others require a court petition. Either way, professional guidance is the only reliable path.
If a Co-Owner Has Passed Away
The process depends on how the title was originally set up. If it indicates joint tenancy with right of survivorship (sometimes shown as an abbreviation like JTRS in states like California), the surviving owner can typically transfer the title by filing a copy of the death certificate with the DMV.
If the title was set up as tenants in common (shown as “AND” between names in most states), the deceased owner’s share must go through their estate. That may require probate before the car can be sold. Our guide to selling a car of a deceased person covers the full process.
Where to Sell a Car with Multiple Owners
Online instant buyers are often the easiest option when multiple owners are involved. They handle all the paperwork, pick up the car from you, and are used to working through multi-owner title situations. For older or damaged vehicles, Peddle and Wheelzy are two of the most widely used options. You get an offer in minutes, and the process requires minimal back-and-forth between owners.
For newer cars in good condition, Carvana is worth considering. They walk you through the process step by step and can work directly with your lender if there’s a loan on the car. This makes the multi-owner setup easier to manage for cars that still have real value.
A private sale can also work, but it takes more effort. You’ll need all owners available to sign, and private buyers may be less comfortable with complex title situations. If you go this route, be upfront about the ownership setup from the first conversation.
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FAQ
What happens if one owner dies before we sell the car?
It depends on how the title was set up. With joint tenancy with right of survivorship, the surviving owner typically inherits full ownership and can transfer the title using a death certificate.
For tenants in common or similar arrangements, the deceased owner’s share has to go through their estate. That may require probate before the car can be sold, depending on your state’s rules.
Does selling a car with multiple owners affect how much money I get?
The number of owners on a title doesn’t directly affect the offer. Buyers price cars based on condition, mileage, year, and title type. The number of people listed on the title isn’t part of that calculation.
Where it can hurt is timing. If coordinating signatures drags on for weeks, market conditions may shift or a strong offer may expire. Lining everyone up before you start is the best way to protect the offer you get.
How do we split the money when multiple owners sell a car together?
The buyer pays one agreed sale amount. How that gets split between owners is a separate matter you and the other owner handle directly. For equal ownership, the split is typically 50/50. For tenants in common with different percentages, each owner gets their recorded share.
It’s worth agreeing on the split before you accept any offer. Last-minute disagreements over the money are one of the most common reasons co-owner sales fall apart after an offer is already on the table.
Can I remove a co-owner from the title without selling the car?
Yes, but it works the same as a standard title transfer. The co-owner being removed signs as the “seller,” and the remaining owner signs as the “buyer.” You’ll pay the standard title transfer fees at your DMV.
Adding a name to the title works the same way. Both changes go through the DMV as a new title application.
Learn more: Selling or Gifting a Car to a Family Member: Paperwork Guide
What if the title says “AND” but we want to change it to “OR”?
You can change it, but it requires going through the DMV first. Both owners sign off the current title, then apply for a new title that shows “OR” between the names.
This is worth doing if you want either owner to be able to sell or refinance the car independently down the road, without needing the other person’s involvement every time.
Can an online car buyer handle a multi-owner title?
Yes. Most online instant buyers, including Peddle, Wheelzy, and Carvana, regularly purchase cars with multiple owners on the title. They’ll tell you exactly which signatures and documents they need when you schedule the pickup.
If all owners need to sign, make sure everyone is available on or before pickup day. Online buyers typically give you a window of a few days to schedule, which gives you time to coordinate.
What documents do I need when selling as a co-owner?
You need the original title signed by all required owners, a bill of sale, a lien release if there’s a loan on the car, and any state-specific forms your DMV requires. Bring valid ID for all signing parties.
If you’re selling to an online buyer or dealer, they’ll typically generate the bill of sale for you. For private sales, prepare it yourself before the handoff.
How long does it take to sell a car when multiple owners are listed?
If all owners are available and in agreement, the process can move as fast as a single-owner sale. Online buyers can schedule pickup within a few days of accepting an offer.
The delays come from coordinating signatures across different locations or resolving an outstanding loan. If both of those are handled before you start, the whole sale can wrap up in under a week.
Can I sell a jointly owned car that has problems or won’t start?
Yes. The number of owners doesn’t affect who will buy the car. Junk car buyers like Peddle and Wheelzy accept cars in any condition, including ones that won’t start, have body damage, or carry a salvage title.
The title rules still apply. If all owners need to sign, you’ll still need to coordinate those signatures regardless of the car’s condition. The buyer handles the towing, so the car not running isn’t a barrier to selling.
Article Update History
We updated this guide after verifying the AND/OR wording rules directly against official state DMV sources, including California's DMV handbook. The ownership signing requirements and legal processes in this article reflect current DMV rules across all 50 states.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.