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Paperwork for a private sale

Fill in the details once and download a bill of sale and an odometer disclosure, ready to print and sign. Nothing you type is saved.

17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield or the driver's door frame.

Required for the odometer disclosure.

Mileage statement (for the odometer disclosure)

The seller certifies one of these federal statements when signing.

Transferring the title in Texas

General guidance for a private sale between two people, not legal advice.

  1. The seller signs the title over. On the back of the Texas title, the seller signs and prints their name, and writes the sale date and the odometer reading. The buyer signs too. Hand the buyer the signed title, the signed bill of sale and, if there was a loan, the lien release from the lender.
  2. The buyer files Form 130-U within 30 days. Both people sign the Application for Texas Title and/or Registration (Form 130-U). The buyer takes it, the signed title and proof of insurance to their county tax assessor-collector office, and pays the title fee and the motor vehicle sales tax. Waiting longer than 30 days adds late fees.
  3. The seller files a vehicle transfer notification. Within 30 days, the seller tells the Texas DMV the car was sold (online, or with Form VTR-346). This protects the seller from tickets, tolls and crimes involving the car after the sale.
  4. The plates stay with the car. In Texas the license plates and registration sticker go with the vehicle. The seller should remove any toll tag and cancel insurance only after the transfer notification is filed.
Official steps and forms on the Texas DMV site(opens in a new tab)

Rules and fees change, and other states use their own forms. Check the official TxDMV pages or your county tax office before you sell.