Related Questions from DMV Answers

• If a family member gives me a car, do I need a gift form to transfer ownership?

  • Buying and Selling > Car Donation and Gifts

  It depends on your state. Check the grid below. Some states waive taxes for recipients of gifts, whether or not the relationship between the giver and receiver is a family one, and oftentimes these states require a gift form or affidavit to verify that the title transfer is a gift transaction. Keep in mind that if your state doesn’t list a gift form it doesn’t mean the recipient isn’t eligible for tax exemption or that there aren’t other special instructions in place for family or gift transfers. Be sure to contact your motor vehicle agency for more information about special instructions, as well as to find out about any tax deduction you can take advantage of if the gift counts as a car donation...

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• Where can I get a release of liability form?

  • Title

  Not every state requires a specific release of liability form (see grid below) during a title transfer. If, however, you do reside in a state that requires this form, you can grab one from your local DMV office. Or, in some instances, download a copy from your state's DMV Web site. This form goes under many names. Arizona, for example, calls it a Sold Notice. California refers to it as a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability. And Ohio names it a Customer Request to Cancel Vehicle Registration form. Keep in mind that just because your state does not require a specific Release of Liability form, does not mean you're free from notifying your DMV office. In lieu of a specific form, many states substitute surrendering the vehicle's license plates as adequate notification. Others require a..

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• Am I required to have a bill of sale when I sell my car?

  • Buying and Selling > Auto Sales Forms > Bill of Sale

  Please review the grid to determine if your state requires you to have one. However, even if it doesn’t appear that you need a bill of sale, you may want to inquire with your state’s motor vehicle division to be sure. That’s because while some states normally don’t make sellers produce a bill of sale, they will do so in certain situations. Even if you don’t need a bill of sale, it’s still a good idea to have this document for your records. You can often obtain a bill of sale form online or at a motor vehicle division office...

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• Does a Bill of Sale need to be notarized?

  • Buying and Selling > Auto Sales Forms > Bill of Sale

  If your state requires the owner of a used car to furnish the new buyer with a Bill of Sale, you will also need to know whether the Bill of Sale needs to be notarized in order to be legal. Check our list below to make sure...

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• I lost my Bill of Sale in New Jersey, what can I do?

  • Buying and Selling > Auto Sales Forms > Bill of Sale

  You’re in luck. New Jersey does not require a car bill of sale form for registering and titling. The transferred title contains all of the needed information, including sale price, date of sale and odometer reading. Having an auto bill of sale for your own files, however, is recommended. You should try to contact the seller about the possibility of obtaining a copy of his or her bill of sale. Chances are good you’ll probably never need this document. But if you do, you’ll be glad you took the time to hunt down a..

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