At some time in
our lives we might want to buy or sell a vehicle. It is important to understand
the procedure that must be followed to complete a title transfer. This
page will walk you through the requirements, fees and documents needed.
It will also offer thorough instructions and sample forms. You can file
a title transfer at any of our five tax office locations.
PLEASE NOTE:
For private party sales, we highly recommend, whenever possible, coming to the tax office together in person (both seller and buyer) to guaranty accuracy and timely filing of all title transfer transactions. Calling (512) 854-9473
will provide basic help in assembling documentation so that you can come to the office fully prepared. However, processing the transaction and exact fees
depend upon visual inspection of documents with a title specialist. Having both parties together in person at the office during the transaction, while not a requirement of the law, is generally the best way to guaranty that the transaction will go as smoothly as possible.
Assuming that the title is free of liens and has not been
previously assigned, these are the GENERAL steps to follow.
The seller assigns the title to the buyer on the back, in the "assignment of title" section, with his or her
signature, the odometer disclosure and the sale date. From the date of the seller's signature, the buyer
has 30 calendar days to submit the documetnation and fees needed to transfer the title to avoid penalty for late filing. The buyer can sign the back of the title at the same time or wait and sign it when they are at the office in person.
Seller and buyer must also complete, sign and date the sales tax affidavit
form VTR 130-U Application for Texas Title. Get help with completing the Application for Texas Title, if needed, by using this
form.
The 130-U form and title do NOT
need to be notarized.
Proof of liability insurance is required at the time
of transfer. The insurance used during the transaction may be in either the
name of the seller or buyer, however, the seller MUST be present at the time of the title transfer to accept their insurance in this transaction. If the transfer is filed within 30 calendar
days of the seller's dated signature, the buyer may satisfy proof of liability
insurance requirements by displaying a Texas insurance card (or declarations
page) showing current coverage in their name on another, similar vehicle (truck insurance for another truck, car insurance for another car, motorcycle insurance for another motorcycle).
On October 1, 2006 Texas law regarding vehicle sales
price between private parties (not dealers) changed to include requirements for using a vehicle's Standard Presumptive
Value (SPV). SPV is the calculated price of a vehicle's worth based on
similar sales in Texas. Review more information about when and how SPV is applied to a transaction on our SPV
Fact Sheet. You can look up 100% of your vehicle's Standard
Presumptive Value here. Sales tax is calculated at 6.25% of EITHER the sales price documented on the 130-U OR 80% of the SPV, whichever is higher.
VEHICLE TRANSFER NOTIFICATION FORM VTR-346
This form is not required, but is strongly recommended if the seller is NOT available to transfer the title in person with the buyer. Submission of this form to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) WILL NOT remove the seller's name from the state record, (that will only happen when someone else applies for a new title in their name) but it will put a notation on the statewide vehicle record to show clearly that the vehicle was signed over to a new person on a specific date and that, as of that date, it is no longer in the title owner's possession. Access
form here.
6.25% sales tax on either the
purchase price of the vehicle or 80% of the vehicle's SPV, whichever is higher. (You can look up 100% of your vehicle's Standard
Presumptive Value here.)
$33 title transfer fee
vehicle registration renewal
fee - if the vehicle's renewal month falls within 30 days of the title transfer or the seller has removed the plates from the vehicle at the time of sale.
(See our vehicle
registration page for details about registration fees and how they are calculated.)
OR $2.50 - if the registration is current at the time of the title transfer and the seller is leaving the plates on the vehicle for the buyer to use.
Penalties for late application go into effect when the title work is presented for processing after the 30th calendar day from the date of sale (indicated on the title and title application forms). If you need help determing what, if any, late fees will apply to your transaction, please call (512) 854-9473 with the title in hand. We can provide an estimate of your late fees by phone. The final calculations will be determined by the title specialist on the day of the actual transaction using all available information present in the documentation provided.
If you need to mail the title work and fees to our office for processing please make your check or money order payable to the Travis County Tax Office and send everything together to us either via overnight or certified mail to the following address:
Travis County Tax Office 5501 Airport Blvd. Austin, TX 78751 Attn: Motor Vehicles
