How to Transfer a Car Title in Texas: 2026 Step-by-Step
Texas title transfers happen at the county tax assessor-collector's office, not the DMV. The structural detail that trips most sellers up: Texas calculates sales tax on the higher of the actual sale price or the Standard Presumptive Value (SPV) — a state-published valuation. Reporting an artificially low sale price doesn't reduce the tax bill.
This page is the step-by-step for both seller and buyer.
TL;DR — Texas title transfer
- Seller: signs the title, fills in odometer, files Vehicle Transfer Notification online within 30 days
- Buyer: takes signed title + Form 130-U + bill of sale to the county tax office within 30 days
- Sales tax: 6.25% of the higher of (sale price OR Standard Presumptive Value)
- Title application fee: $33 (varies slightly by county)
- Penalty for late transfer: $25 + 5% per month after 30 days, up to maximum penalties
What the seller does
Step 1: Sign the title
Texas titles have a section on the back labeled "Assignment of Title." Fill in:
- Seller's printed name
- Seller's signature (must match the printed name on the front)
- Date of sale
- Odometer reading at sale date; mark the box if reading exceeds mechanical limits or isn't actual mileage
- Buyer's printed name and address
- Sale price
Sign in ink. No corrections.
Step 2: Sign Form 130-U (Application for Texas Title)
The seller fills out the seller portion of Form 130-U; the buyer completes the rest. Form 130-U is the title-transfer application — it's what the buyer files at the county tax office to get the title in their name.
Download Form 130-U from txdmv.gov. Both seller and buyer sign in the appropriate sections.
Step 3: File the Vehicle Transfer Notification
Within 30 days of the sale, file the Vehicle Transfer Notification online at txdmv.gov. This is the seller's release-of-liability protection — without it, the seller stays on the registration and is responsible for tickets and accidents the buyer accrues.
Information needed: VIN, plate number, sale date, buyer's name and address. No fee. Five-minute online process.
Step 4: Hand over the documents
To the buyer at the meet-up:
- Signed title
- Signed Form 130-U
- Bill of sale (signed by both)
- Owner's manual, both keys, service records
- Current registration sticker (the buyer can drive on it during the transfer window)
Keep for your records: photo of the signed title (front and back), signed bill of sale, signed Form 130-U, Vehicle Transfer Notification confirmation.
Step 5: Remove license plates
In Texas, the seller keeps the plates. Don't transfer plates with the car. The buyer gets new plates issued at registration.
(Texas plates can be reassigned to a different vehicle the seller owns, or surrendered to the county tax office.)
What the buyer does
Step 1: Visit the county tax assessor-collector's office within 30 days
The 30-day window starts on the sale date. After 30 days: $25 penalty plus 5% per month, escalating.
You file at the county tax office of your residence — not where the car was originally titled. Office locations and hours vary by county. Houston (Harris County), Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth all have multiple offices.
Step 2: Bring the documents
- Signed title (from the seller)
- Signed Form 130-U (from the seller, you complete the buyer portion)
- Bill of sale (recommended; some counties require for tax assessment)
- Your driver's license
- Proof of insurance (Texas requires liability insurance)
- Vehicle Inspection Report (in some counties — see below)
Step 3: Vehicle inspection
Some Texas counties (notably Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, El Paso, and a few others) require a current vehicle safety inspection before registration. The inspection costs ~$25 at any state-certified inspection station.
If you're transferring in a non-inspection county, this step is skipped.
Step 4: Pay the fees
- Title application fee: $33
- Sales tax: 6.25% of the higher of (sale price OR Standard Presumptive Value)
- Registration fee: varies by county; typically $50–$80 annually
- Plate fee: $26 (new plates issued)
The county tax office computes the SPV automatically based on the VIN and current state valuation tables. If the SPV is higher than your reported sale price, you pay tax on the SPV.
Step 5: Get plates and registration
New Texas plates and registration sticker issued at the office. The new title arrives by mail in 4–6 weeks.
Standard Presumptive Value (SPV) — the Texas-specific gotcha
Texas publishes an SPV for every used car based on year, make, model, condition, and mileage. The county tax office assesses sales tax on the higher of:
- The actual sale price (per the bill of sale)
- The SPV from the state's valuation tables
This means underreporting a $15,000 sale as $5,000 doesn't reduce the buyer's tax. The county tax office sees the SPV is $13,500 and assesses tax on the higher amount.
The SPV system was introduced specifically to combat tax evasion via low-balled bill of sale prices. It works.
If your sale price is genuinely below SPV (the car has known issues, salvage title, mechanical problems), document the issues and bring the documentation to the tax office. They can adjust the assessment with proper supporting evidence (repair estimates, salvage history, etc.), but the burden is on the buyer.
Where to file the Vehicle Transfer Notification online
txdmv.gov → Buying or Selling → Vehicle Transfer Notification. Five-minute process. Save the confirmation.
Common mistakes
Reporting an artificially low sale price. SPV catches it; buyer's tax bill comes back at the SPV anyway, and you've created a discrepancy that may flag the transaction.
Forgetting to remove plates. Texas plates stay with the seller. Drive home with them; don't leave them on the car the buyer takes.
Missing the 30-day Vehicle Transfer Notification deadline. Without it, you stay on the registration and the buyer's tickets come back to you.
Pre-signing Form 130-U. Sign at the meet-up, in front of the buyer. Pre-signed forms create swap risk.
Buyer skipping the vehicle inspection in inspection counties. The county tax office won't process the transfer without current inspection. Buyer wastes a trip.
Buyer filing in the wrong county. File in the county of buyer's residence. Filing in the county where the car was previously titled doesn't work.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to transfer a car title in Texas?
The buyer has 30 days from the sale date. After 30 days: $25 penalty plus 5% per month escalation.
Where do I transfer a car title in Texas?
At your county tax assessor-collector's office (the buyer's county of residence). Not at the DMV. Office locations vary; major counties have multiple offices.
What's the sales tax on a private car sale in Texas?
6.25% of the higher of (actual sale price OR Standard Presumptive Value). The SPV system prevents tax evasion via low-balled sale prices.
What's Standard Presumptive Value?
Texas-published valuation table for every used car based on year, make, model, condition, and mileage. The county tax office uses SPV to compute sales tax when the actual sale price is meaningfully below SPV.
Do I need a vehicle inspection to transfer a title in Texas?
In Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, El Paso, Travis, and a few other counties, yes. In most rural counties, no. Inspection costs ~$25 at any state-certified station.
Can I transfer a title online in Texas?
The Vehicle Transfer Notification (release of liability) is filed online. The full title transfer requires an in-person visit to the county tax office.
What's Form 130-U?
The Application for Texas Title — the form the buyer files at the county tax office to get the title in their name. Both seller and buyer sign sections of it. Available at txdmv.gov.
Can I sell my car if I lost the title in Texas?
Apply for a duplicate using Form VTR-34 at the county tax office or by mail to the Texas DMV. $2 fee + $5.45 mailing for a paper duplicate; same-day issuance possible at some offices for an expedited fee.
Do I keep my plates when I sell my car in Texas?
Yes. Texas plates stay with the seller. The buyer gets new plates issued at registration.
What if I sell my car to a family member in Texas?
Family transfers (parent, child, sibling, spouse, grandparent, grandchild) are exempt from the standard sales tax — instead, the buyer pays a flat $10 gift tax. File the standard Form 130-U with the family-transfer notation; the county tax office processes it differently.
Ready to sell in Texas?
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