To get someone’s name off a car title, you’ll sign the title over to the remaining owner, submit a new-title application to your state DMV along with any documents your situation requires, and pay the transfer fee. Whether you can do this alone depends on one small word on the title and on whether the vehicle still has a loan.
Check the Title Before You Do Anything
Pull out the physical title and look at how the two names are joined. That word controls everything that follows.
- “Or” between the names: Either owner can sign the title over independently. You don’t need the other person’s signature. Most states treat an “or” title like joint tenancy, so each co-owner has the full right to transfer the vehicle alone.
- “And” between the names: Both owners must sign. Neither of you can transfer or retitle the vehicle without the other’s signature. This is the version that causes problems when the relationship sours.
Then check whether a lienholder is listed. If a bank or credit union financed the car, its name appears on the title and effectively locks it until the loan is paid off. The lender won’t release the title for a name change while a balance is outstanding. If you need to remove a name before the loan is paid, refinancing is usually the only path, covered further down.
About a third of states also require signatures on the title to be notarized, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, and Oklahoma. Some require only the seller’s signature notarized, others both parties. A title signed without a required notarization will be rejected, so check your state’s DMV site before anyone puts pen to paper.
Documents You’ll Need
Forms vary by state, but the core package is consistent:
- The original certificate of title, signed by the appropriate parties. If it’s lost or damaged, apply for a duplicate first.
- A completed title application listing the VIN and, for newer vehicles, the current odometer reading.
- A lien release from the lender, if a lien appears on the title and the loan has been paid off.
- A valid driver’s license or state ID for the person staying on the title.
- A bill of sale. Some states require one even when no money changes hands.
You’ll pay a title transfer fee, generally somewhere between $15 and $75 depending on the state. New titles typically arrive by mail within two to six weeks.
When the Co-Owner Cooperates
This is the simple case. The departing owner signs on the “seller” or “transferor” line on the back of the title. The person staying signs on the “buyer” or “transferee” line. It doesn’t matter that no money is changing hands; the mechanics are the same whether it’s a sale, a gift, or ownership cleanup. Submit the signed title, application, and any supporting documents to the DMV in person or by mail.
If the co-owner being removed can’t appear in person, a power of attorney can bridge the gap. Many states have a DMV-specific POA form authorizing someone else to sign title documents on the absent co-owner’s behalf. The form usually identifies the vehicle by VIN, needs the absent co-owner’s signature, and in some states must be notarized. Get the correct form from your DMV before you proceed.
When the Vehicle Still Has a Loan
An active loan is where most name-removal plans stall. The lender approved the loan based on both borrowers’ credit and income, and it won’t release one borrower just because the co-owners want a change.
Refinancing is the standard fix. The person keeping the car applies for a new auto loan in their name alone and uses the proceeds to pay off the joint loan. Once the original loan is satisfied, the lender releases its lien, and the DMV can issue a new title with a single owner. The whole thing typically takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
To qualify solo, lenders generally look for a credit score of at least 600, a clean payment history on the existing loan, and enough income to carry the payment alone. If you can’t qualify by yourself, some lenders will let you bring in a new co-signer to replace the departing one. Watch for fees on both sides: an application fee from the new lender and a possible early-termination fee from the old one. Compare offers before committing.
Removing a Name After Divorce
Divorce is one of the most common reasons people need to change a title, and it’s where the “and” versus “or” distinction matters most. If the title reads “or” and your ex is cooperative, either of you can handle the transfer alone. If it reads “and” and your ex won’t sign, you’ll need a court order.
Most divorce decrees or settlement agreements specify who gets the vehicle. Bring a certified copy of the decree to the DMV along with the title and a new-title application. The decree acts as the legal authority to retitle the vehicle without the other spouse’s signature. Make sure the order identifies the car by make, model, and VIN to avoid processing delays.
One point that catches people off guard: a decree that awards you the car does not automatically remove your ex from the title. You still have to complete the DMV transfer yourself. Until you do, both names remain on the document, and your ex could still have a legal claim on a future sale.
If a loan is still active, the decree can reassign ownership but can’t change the loan contract. Both borrowers stay on the hook with the lender regardless of what the court ordered. You’ll usually need to refinance in the remaining owner’s name before the DMV will issue a clean title.
Removing a Deceased Co-Owner’s Name
When a co-owner dies, the path depends on how the title was held. If it listed both owners joined by “or,” most states treat that as a joint tenancy with right of survivorship. The surviving owner brings the original title, a certified copy of the death certificate, and a new-title application to the DMV. No probate is needed; the vehicle passes automatically to the survivor.
If the title used “and” without survivorship language, or if your state doesn’t treat “or” titles as survivorship by default, you may need probate court documents. The most common is a letters testamentary or letters of administration, issued by the court to the executor or administrator of the estate. Most DMV offices accept it alongside the death certificate as proof of authority to retitle.
Some states have simplified small-estate procedures, often called affidavits of heirship, that let you bypass full probate for assets below a certain value. Ask your local DMV or probate court clerk whether one applies to your situation.
When a Co-Owner Refuses to Sign
If the title reads “or,” an uncooperative co-owner isn’t a dealbreaker. You can sign the title over on your own. But if it reads “and” and the other person won’t sign, the DMV can’t help you. You’re looking at legal action.
The most direct remedy is a partition action, a lawsuit asking a court to divide jointly owned property. Because you can’t split a car in half, courts handling partition claims on vehicles typically order the car sold and divide the proceeds according to each owner’s share. Partition works, but it isn’t cheap or fast. You’ll need an attorney, you’ll pay court filing fees, and the process can take months. On a $10,000 vehicle, legal costs can consume a meaningful share of the proceeds. A direct conversation, mediation, or a buyout offer is usually worth trying first.
In a divorce, a family court judge can order a spouse to sign the title as part of the proceedings. If your ex is ignoring an existing order to transfer the vehicle, your divorce attorney can file a motion to enforce it, which can carry contempt-of-court consequences.
Taxes You Shouldn’t Overlook
State Sales and Use Tax
Most states charge sales or use tax on vehicle title transfers, calculated on the sale price or fair market value. Many states exempt gift transfers between immediate family — typically spouses, parents, children, and sometimes siblings or grandparents. The qualifying relationships vary, so confirm with your state’s DMV or tax authority. Even for exempt transfers, you’ll usually need to fill out a gift affidavit confirming that no money changed hands.
Federal Gift Tax
If you’re giving up your ownership share without receiving fair market value in return, the IRS considers it a gift. For 2026, you can give up to $19,000 per recipient per year without filing a gift tax return.1Internal Revenue Service. Frequently Asked Questions on Gift Taxes If the vehicle or your share of it is worth more, you’ll need to file IRS Form 709, though the lifetime exemption means you likely won’t owe any actual tax.2Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form 709 (2025) Transfers between spouses are generally unlimited and tax-free under the marital deduction, so spousal transfers during divorce typically raise no gift tax issue.
Close the Loop After the Transfer
Getting the paperwork signed isn’t quite the finish line. Many states require, or strongly recommend, that the person leaving the title file a notice of transfer or release of liability with the DMV. This tells the state you no longer own the vehicle, so you aren’t held responsible for parking tickets, toll violations, or accidents that happen afterward. Some states impose a tight deadline, as short as five days, so file it right after signing.
Then contact your auto insurer to have your name removed from the policy or to cancel your coverage on the vehicle. Keep copies of the signed title, any bill of sale, the lien release, and your release of liability filing. Those documents are your proof of when the transfer happened if any dispute comes up later.