DC Title Transfer

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

Transferring a DC vehicle title between buyer and seller is handled at any DC DMV service center. The District gives the buyer 30 days to complete the transfer, and the title fee is a flat $26 regardless of vehicle value. The 6% excise tax (calculated by weight class) is paid at the same time.

Seller's responsibilities

DC requires the seller to:

Sign and date the back of the existing title in the assignment section.
Print the buyer's name and address.
Disclose the current odometer reading on the title (federal law requires odometer disclosure for vehicles less than 20 model years old; DC follows the federal rule).
Provide a bill of sale showing the purchase price.
Remove the license plates — DC plates stay with the seller, not the vehicle.
Notify DC DMV of the sale to release liability.

Sellers should keep a copy of the bill of sale and the front and back of the assigned title for at least 3 years in case of follow-up questions.

Buyer's responsibilities

The buyer has 30 days from the date of purchase to complete the title transfer at a DC DMV service center. Driving the newly purchased vehicle without registration during the 30-day window is allowed only with a temporary tag from a DC dealer or a 10-day temporary registration. After 30 days, late penalties apply.

To complete the transfer, the buyer brings:

The properly assigned title from the seller.
A bill of sale showing the purchase price.
A completed DMV-VR-200 Application for Certificate of Title.
A completed DMV-VR-100 Vehicle Registration Application.
Proof of DC auto insurance meeting the 25/50/10 plus $100,000 PIP minimum.
The buyer's DC driver's license or other government ID.
A passing safety inspection certificate (required at title transfer for DC vehicles).
Payment for the $26 title fee, the 6% excise tax (by weight class), registration fees, and the inspection fee.

Lien on the previous title

If the seller's title shows a lien from a previous loan, the lien must be released before the title can be transferred. Common scenarios:

The seller paid off the loan and received a lien release letter from the lender. The buyer presents the release letter and the title at DC DMV; the DMV processes the title with the lien removed.
The lender holds the title electronically (ELT). The seller pays off the loan, the lender releases the lien electronically, and the seller obtains a paper title from DC DMV before selling.
The seller has not paid off the loan. The transaction cannot complete in this form — the loan must be satisfied before the title can be assigned to a new buyer.

Excise tax calculation

DC charges 6% to 8% excise tax by vehicle weight class:

Under 3,500 pounds: 6% of fair market value.
3,500 to 4,999 pounds: 7% of fair market value.
5,000+ pounds: 8% of fair market value.
Hybrid and electric vehicles: reduced rates apply.

The fair market value is typically the higher of the bill of sale amount or the National Auto Dealers Association (NADA) book value. Trade-in deductions apply only to dealer purchases.

Family transfers and gift transfers

A vehicle gifted between family members (parent, child, spouse, sibling, grandparent) is exempt from excise tax in DC, but the title fee, registration fees, and inspection fee still apply. The transferor signs an affidavit on the DMV-VR-200 attesting to the family relationship and the gift status. Other relationships (cousin, friend) are taxed as ordinary sales.

Out-of-state title transfers

If you're moving to DC with a vehicle titled in another state, DC DMV handles the title swap. Bring the out-of-state title, your bill of sale (if recently purchased), proof of DC residency and insurance, the DMV-VR-200, a current odometer reading, and a passing DC inspection certificate. The 6% excise tax applies on the fair market value of the vehicle even if you've owned it for years. See vehicle registration for the new-resident sequence.