Congratulations on the purchase or sell of your vehicle!

If you have bought a vehicle from a Texas dealer and you are a Texas resident, the dealership will transfer the title at the tax office.  However, individuals must come in or mail the documents to the county tax office of the buyer, seller, or lienholder.  The buyer, seller, or lienholder may transfer title with the appropriate documents.  The seller (other than the dealer) or lienholder must also provide a Permission Letter from the buyer and an acceptable form of ID for the buyer.

To transfer a Texas titled vehicle, bring in or mail the following to our offices:

1.    Texas title, signed and dated by the seller(s) and buyer(s).  If the vehicle is less than 10 years old, the odometer reading must be completed.  

       Erasures, mark-throughs and alterations are not acceptable in most cases.  An affidavit of fact signed by the seller is necessary to correct

       errors on a title assignment.

2.    VTR-130U (Application for Texas title), signed and dated by the seller(s) and buyer(s).  If the vehicle is less than 10 years old, the odometer

       reading section (line 18) must be completed without errors.  The sales price section (line 21) must be completed without errors.  

3.    Proof of insurance in the buyer's name.

4.    Acceptable form of ID.

5.    Proof of inspection.

6.    Fees.

Please note:  If the documents were signed by Power of Attorney, the original Power of Attorney document must be presented along with an acceptable form of ID for the person signing.  If there is a Rights of Survivorship notation on the record, an additional signature may be required.  Please contact us for more information.

To transfer an Out-of-State titled vehicle, bring in or mail the following to our offices:

1.    Out of State title, signed and dated by the seller(s) and buyer(s).  If the vehicle is less than 10 years old, the odometer reading must be completed.

       Erasures, mark-throughs and alterations are not acceptable in most cases.  An affidavit of fact signed by the seller is necessary to correct errors on

       a title assignment.

2.    VTR-130U (Application for Texas title), signed and dated by the seller(s) and buyer(s) or a Bill of Sale from the out of state seller.  If the vehicle is less

       than 10 years old, the odometer reading section (line 18) must be completed on the Form 130U without error or provided on the Bill of Sale.  The

       sales price section (line 21) must be completed on the Form 130U without error or provided on the Bill of Sale.   

3.    Proof of insurance in the buyer's name.

4.    Acceptable form of ID.

5.    Vehicle safety inspection that has been completed sometime in the past 90 days.  These services are available at a state-approved

      Safety Inspection Station.  The inspection facility will provide you with a Vehicle Identification Certification (Form VI30A), which you must provide to us

       with your application for Texas registration.   If your vehicle has never been titled (or registered in a foreign country), the VI30A is not required.

6.    Fees.

Please note:  If the documents were signed by Power of Attorney, the original Power of Attorney document must be presented along with an acceptable form of ID for the person signing.  If there is a Rights of Survivorship notation on the record, an additional signature may be required.  Please contact us for more information.

How do I sell a vehicle that is titled in my spouse's name after a divorce?

• The certified copy of the Divorce Decree awarding the vehicle to you should be presented with the title transfer documents.  Determine if there is a Texas title or an Out of State title and follow the corresponding list above.  A certified copy of the Divorce Decree may be used in lieu of a Texas title (not out of state titles) if there was no lien showing on the face of the title. You may sell the vehicle without transferring the vehicle to your name if the vehicle is specified and awarded to you by the court.  Title and registration fees will apply and motor vehicle sales tax may be due.

• A properly assigned title is required if the Divorce Decree does not award the vehicle to you.  You are required to transfer the vehicle to your name before selling the vehicle.  Title and registration fees will apply.  Motor vehicle sales tax may be due unless the vehicle was community property.

• Contact us or a VTR Regional Office for additional assistance.  You may also visit any one of our eight locations.

How do I sell a vehicle that is titled in my late spouse's name?

Determine whether there is a will, trust, etc. 

1.    If there is no will, or the will is not and will not be probated, we can accept one of the following in lieu of a Texas title:

•   Certified copy of the Muniment of Title issued by the Probate Court and certified copy of the will filed with the Muniment of Title, OR
•   VTR-262 Heirship Affidavit

       If there is a lien on the record, a lien release is also required.  However, if a lien is to be carried forward to the buyer (or family member taking

       ownership of the vehicle), then one of the documents listed above is required in addition to the original title.  The title is not required to be signed

       by anyone as seller.  Please note:  The original title is required if there is more than one owner listed on the title that is still living, and that person

       must sign the title as seller.

2.    If there is a will, and it was probated, we can accept the following in lieu of a title:

•     Letters of Testamentary issued by the Probate Court and a Bill of Sale to the buyer.

      If there is a lien on the record, a lien release is also required.  However, if a lien is to be carried forward to the buyer (or family member taking

      ownership of the vehicle), then the original title is required and must be signed by the Executor or Executrix as seller.  Please note:  The original

      title is required if there is more than one owner listed on the title that is still living, and that person must sign the title as seller along with the

      Executor/Executrix.

3.    If there is a trust document, a copy of the trust is required, or an Affidavit of Trust signed by the Trustee.  If there is a lien on the record, a lien release        is required.  The trust document is not used in lieu of the title, but it gives authority to someone signing on behalf of the deceased owner.

Contact us or a VTR Regional Office for additional assistance.  You may also visit any one of our eight locations.