Delaware Title Transfer

Transferring a Delaware vehicle title is a single Delaware DMV transaction at any of the four offices in Wilmington, New Castle, Dover, or Georgetown. The seller signs the back of the existing certificate of title, the buyer files the MV-212 Application for Title and Registration within 30 days, and the DMV issues a fresh title in the buyer's name in exchange for the $35 title fee plus the 3.75% Document Fee.

Seller's responsibilities

When you sell a Delaware-titled vehicle:

• Sign the back of the certificate of title in the seller section, including printed name and date.
• Complete the odometer disclosure on the title (federal requirement for vehicles less than 20 model years old).
• Provide a Bill of Sale showing buyer name, seller name, VIN, sale price, and date.
• Remove the license plates from the vehicle (Delaware plates stay with the seller, not the vehicle, and can be transferred to a different vehicle).
• Notify the Delaware DMV of the sale by filing the seller portion of the MV-212 to release liability.
• Cancel insurance only after confirming the buyer has registered the vehicle.

Buyer's responsibilities

The buyer files the title transfer at any Delaware DMV office within 30 days of purchase. Bring:

• The signed certificate of title from the seller (front and back complete).
• Bill of Sale showing the purchase price.
• MV-212 Application for Title and Registration (buyer's section).
• Proof of Delaware no-fault insurance in the buyer's name.
• Delaware driver's license matching the buyer's name and address.
• Lien release if a previous loan has been paid off.
• Payment: $35 title fee, 3.75% Document Fee on the higher of sale price or NADA value, and the prorated registration fee.

Transfer fees

Delaware's title transfer charges:

• $35 title fee — flat fee for the new certificate of title.
• 3.75% Document Fee — calculated on the higher of the sale price or the NADA Clean Trade-In value, with a minimum of $25.
• Registration fee — prorated to the next renewal cycle.
• Lane safety inspection — included with registration if due this cycle.

The Document Fee is the largest single line item. A $20,000 used car incurs $750 in Document Fee plus $35 title plus prorated registration — roughly $825 total at the lane.

The 30-day rule

The buyer has 30 days to file the title transfer at a Delaware DMV office. After 30 days, the DMV adds a late penalty to the title and registration fees. If the transfer is filed more than 90 days late, additional documentation may be required to prove continuous custody. File on time to avoid surcharges and prevent the seller's liability from extending into your ownership period.

Buying from a Delaware dealer

A Delaware-licensed dealer typically handles the title and registration paperwork on the buyer's behalf, collects the fees, and files with the DMV directly. The buyer leaves with a temporary registration; the permanent title and plate are mailed in 4-6 weeks. The dealer is responsible for ensuring the title is clear and the safety inspection is current. If the buyer financed through the dealer, the lender is named as the lienholder on the new title.

Vehicle from out of state

If the buyer is bringing the vehicle from outside Delaware, the process is treated as a fresh registration rather than a Delaware-to-Delaware transfer. See Delaware vehicle registration for the documents and procedures. Out-of-state titles must be surrendered to the DMV, and the Delaware safety inspection is performed at the lane before plates are issued. New residents typically owe Document Fee on the difference between Delaware's 3.75% rate and any sales tax already paid in the prior state.

Family transfers and gifts

A vehicle gifted between family members is still recorded as a transfer at the DMV. The Bill of Sale shows the gift price (often $0 or $1 nominal), and the title is reissued in the new owner's name. Delaware exempts certain immediate-family gifts from the 3.75% Document Fee — between spouses, parent-to-child, and similar lineal relationships — with proof of the relationship. Other family transfers may still owe Document Fee on the NADA value. See Delaware title replacement if the original title has been lost.