How To Transfer a Car Title in California
Transferring a car title is a very important part of making sure the right person is listed as the owner of the vehicle. That matters for legal purposes, insurance, and a number of other reasons. You need to know how to transfer a car title in California if one of these scenarios applies to you:
To start the transfer, you need the certificate of title. That's also known as a pink slip. If it's lost or damaged, complete and submit an application for a duplicate title. Then you can use that duplicate to transfer the ownership. Here's how to work your way through the process.
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You're buying or selling a car
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You need to add or remove an owner
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You're giving a vehicle as a gift
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You're donating a car
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You inherited a car
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You're changing a car's ownership in a divorce settlement
To start the transfer, you need the certificate of title. That's also known as a pink slip. If it's lost or damaged, complete and submit an application for a duplicate title. Then you can use that duplicate to transfer the ownership. Here's how to work your way through the process.
Step 1. Check for a Clear Title
If the legal owner of the car is still paying for it, the title will have a lien on it. The owner needs to pay it off and get a lien release before the title can be transferred to another person.
Step 2. Complete the Application for Transfer by New Owner Section on the Title
After confirming that the owner has a clear title, it's time to complete the Release of Interest section. It's on the front side of the certificate at the bottom and requires:
New owners will then need to complete the transfer section on the back. There's a lot of information required for that section. Be sure to fill out all of it, including:
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The signature of the legal owner
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An odometer disclosure
New owners will then need to complete the transfer section on the back. There's a lot of information required for that section. Be sure to fill out all of it, including:
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Full name as it appears on the driver's license
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Street address
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Mailing address (if different)
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Signature
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Driver's license number
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Date of transfer
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Purchase price (write "gift" if it applies)
Step 3. Complete and Submit Additional Documents
You may need to complete and submit other documents to legally transfer a car title in California. These documents can include:
Step 4. Apply for a New Certificate of Title
Apply for a new car title with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). If everything has been filled out and completed correctly, it shouldn't take long and you shouldn't have trouble getting the title transferred over.
Step 5. Pay Taxes and Fees
There are some fees that come along with transferring a car title in California. Besides use tax and the title transfer fee, you may also need to pay the following fees:
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Registration fee
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California Highway Patrol (CHP) fee
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Vehicle license fee
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Transportation improvement fee
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County or district fee
Conclusion
To transfer a certificate of title in California, you need to both complete the Transfer by New Owner and apply for a new title. You may also need to complete other state forms, depending on your circumstances and specific situation.
When you handle the sale through PrivateAuto, you can benefit from plenty of great features that can make the transaction easier. These include:
PrivateAuto will eliminate the complexity of accepting payments through the following features:
When you're ready to buy or sell a car and transfer the title in California, contact PrivateAuto and get started today!
When you handle the sale through PrivateAuto, you can benefit from plenty of great features that can make the transaction easier. These include:
PrivateAuto will eliminate the complexity of accepting payments through the following features:
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Direct banking integration
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Instant electronic funds transfers
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Verified funds from buyers
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Withdraw funds to your personal bank
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Buyer financing available
When you're ready to buy or sell a car and transfer the title in California, contact PrivateAuto and get started today!