To sell a car, you sign the title in the “Assignment of Title” or “Transfer of Ownership” section, which on most titles is printed on the back. The seller signs on the line marked for the current registered owner (often labeled “Seller” or “Transferor”), and the buyer signs a separate line in the same block, usually directly below. A few states place both lines on the front of the title instead, but the labels are the same.
Where the Signature Lines Sit on the Title
The front of a vehicle title shows ownership information: the registered owner’s name, the vehicle identification number, and any lienholder with a financial interest in the car. That side is not where the sale is signed.
Turn the title over. The transfer section is divided into clearly labeled blocks for the seller and the buyer. The seller’s signature line usually appears at the top of the section, next to or just below a line for the seller’s printed name. The buyer’s signature line sits in its own block beneath the seller’s, with space for the buyer’s printed name and address. The “Seller/Transferor” and “Buyer/Transferee” labels make the lines easy to identify no matter how the state has arranged them.
Fill In the Transfer Fields Before Signing
The signatures only mean something once the fields around them are complete. Before either party signs, the seller fills in:
- The buyer’s full legal name and current address, matching the buyer’s government-issued ID exactly, since the state uses this to issue the new title and registration.
- The sale price in dollars. Some states use this figure to calculate sales or use tax when the buyer registers the car.
- The exact calendar date of the sale.
- The odometer reading at the time of delivery, required by federal law for most vehicles.
Errors in these fields will generally cause the state to reject the title application, which can force the parties to obtain a corrected or replacement title and add weeks and fees to the process. If the original title has been lost or destroyed, the seller has to apply for a duplicate through their state motor vehicle agency before the sale can proceed; replacement fees vary by state and processing can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
The Odometer Disclosure Next to Your Signature
Federal law requires every person transferring ownership of a motor vehicle to give the buyer a written odometer disclosure. The disclosure has to include the odometer reading at the time of transfer, the date, both parties’ printed names and current addresses, and identifying details about the vehicle such as make, model, year, and VIN.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 49 U.S. Code 32705 – Disclosure Requirements on Transfer of Motor Vehicles The seller also has to certify one of three things: that the reading reflects the actual mileage, that the mileage exceeds the odometer’s mechanical limits, or that the reading is not accurate and should not be relied on.2eCFR. 49 CFR Part 580 – Odometer Disclosure Requirements
Most titles include the odometer statement directly on the document, built into the transfer section near the signature lines. Both the seller and the buyer sign the disclosure, the seller certifying the mileage and the buyer acknowledging receipt.2eCFR. 49 CFR Part 580 – Odometer Disclosure Requirements A false odometer statement is a federal offense that can result in fines and imprisonment.
Not every vehicle requires the disclosure. For transfers occurring in 2026, vehicles with a model year of 2010 or older are exempt under a 10-year threshold. Vehicles with a model year of 2011 or newer fall under a 20-year threshold, so none of them are exempt yet in 2026; the earliest exemption for a 2011 model year vehicle would be 2031. Vehicles with a gross weight rating over 16,000 pounds and vehicles that are not self-propelled, like trailers, are also exempt.3eCFR. 49 CFR 580.17 – Exemptions
Signing the Title Correctly
Use a pen with blue or black ink. These colors are permanent, legible, and scan well through state processing systems. Pencil, felt-tip markers, and other colors can cause a title to be rejected.
Never use correction fluid, correction tape, or any form of white-out on a vehicle title. Alterations of that kind are treated as unacceptable and will void the document, forcing the seller to apply for a new title before the transfer can proceed. If you make a mistake while filling in the title, the safest step is to contact your state motor vehicle agency. Many states offer an affidavit of correction that lets minor errors, such as a misspelled name or wrong address, be fixed with a sworn supplemental form rather than a replacement title. An affidavit of correction generally cannot fix odometer readings, sale dates, or information that has been obscured by erasure or correction fluid.
Notarization
Roughly eight states require the signatures on a vehicle title to be notarized before the transfer is valid. In those states, both the buyer and the seller have to sign the title in the presence of a commissioned notary public and present government-issued identification. The notary then applies an official seal and signature certifying that the parties signed voluntarily and are who they claim to be. Notary fees for a standard signature acknowledgment typically range from $2 to $25, though remote online notarization and travel fees can run higher. If you are not sure whether your state requires notarization, check with your state motor vehicle agency before completing the sale.
Titles With Two or More Owners
When a title lists more than one owner, the word connecting their names decides how many signatures are needed. If the names are joined by “and,” every listed owner has to sign; a single missing signature invalidates the transfer. If the names are joined by “or,” either owner can sign independently and transfer the vehicle without the other’s involvement. The distinction is easy to miss on the front of the title and has significant legal consequences.
When Someone Other Than the Owner Signs
Titles With an Active Lien
If you still owe money on the car, a lienholder (usually a bank or credit union) has a financial interest recorded on the title, and you cannot transfer a clear title to a buyer until that lien is released. Contact your lender for the exact payoff amount, which may differ from your remaining balance because of accrued interest. Once the loan is paid in full, the lender provides documentation confirming the lien is satisfied. In some states the lender sends the release directly to the motor vehicle agency; in others the lender signs the lienholder section on the title itself or issues a separate release form that the seller submits. After the release is processed, the state issues a new title without the lienholder listed, or updates the existing one. Only then can you sign the transfer section.
A growing number of states use electronic lien and title systems, where no paper title exists while the loan is active. In those states, the seller may need to use a special bill of sale form in place of the traditional paper title when transferring ownership after the lien is released. Confirm the steps with your lender and motor vehicle agency.
Signing Under a Power of Attorney
If the registered owner cannot be present for the sale, an agent can sign the title on their behalf using a valid power of attorney. The document has to specifically authorize the agent to handle vehicle transactions, and many states require a particular motor vehicle power of attorney form rather than a general one.
The agent signs the title with the owner’s name followed by the agent’s own name and a notation such as “as attorney-in-fact.” The power of attorney document, or a certified copy depending on state rules, has to be submitted alongside the title when the buyer applies for registration. A power of attorney becomes invalid if the owner dies, revokes it, or, unless the document is specifically designated as “durable,” becomes incapacitated. If the agent is transferring the title to themselves, many states impose stricter requirements, such as requiring the original power of attorney rather than a copy.
After Both Parties Sign
Once the title is fully signed, the seller hands the physical document to the buyer. Before doing so, make a photocopy of both sides of the signed title for your records.
File a notice of transfer (sometimes called a release of liability) with your state motor vehicle agency as soon as possible. This notification puts the state on record that you no longer own the vehicle and protects you from responsibility for parking tickets, toll violations, or accidents after the sale. Deadlines vary by state, with some requiring the notice within five days and others within 30.
A separate bill of sale, signed by both parties and recording the purchase price, date, and vehicle details, is useful alongside the signed title. Some states require it for registration; others do not but recommend it as independent proof of the transaction if the title is lost or delayed in processing.