Minnesota Title Transfer

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

A Minnesota vehicle title transfer happens at any deputy registrar office and must be filed within 10 business days of the purchase date to avoid late filing penalties. The seller's signature on the back of the title, together with the buyer's PS2000 application and damage disclosure, is what moves ownership in the state's records.

Seller responsibilities

Under Minnesota Statutes § 168A.10, the seller must:

Sign the assignment section on the reverse of the title.
Print the buyer's name and address exactly as it appears on the buyer's ID.
Write the actual sale price.
Disclose the odometer reading at the time of sale (federal requirement on vehicles 10 years old or newer).
Complete the Damage Disclosure Statement (PS2031) if the vehicle is 6 model years old or newer.
Provide the buyer with the title, a bill of sale, and any maintenance records.
Remove license plates only if transferring to a new vehicle the seller already owns — Minnesota plates stay with the seller, not the vehicle.

The seller should also file Notice of Sale (PS2010) with DVS within 10 days. The Notice of Sale ends the seller's exposure for any tickets, accidents, or tolls the buyer accumulates before formally transferring the title — it's essentially a release-of-liability filing.

Buyer responsibilities

The buyer brings the signed title, bill of sale, and supporting documents to any deputy registrar office. Required:

The signed title with completed odometer disclosure.
Completed PS2000 Application to Title and Register.
Bill of sale showing the purchase price and date.
Damage Disclosure Statement (PS2031) if the vehicle is 6 model years old or newer.
Government-issued photo ID matching the buyer's name on the title.
Proof of Minnesota insurance on the vehicle effective the date of purchase.
VIN inspection (PS2382) if the vehicle was titled outside Minnesota.
Notarized Lien Release if the title still shows an active lien.

Fees and taxes

Title transfer fees collected at the deputy registrar:

Title fee: $11.
Filing fee: $11.
Technology surcharge: $2.25.
Tab tax: prorated to the next renewal month.
Plate fee: $7.50 if new plates are issued.
Motor Vehicle Sales Tax (MVST): 6.5% of the purchase price.
Transit Sales Tax: 0.5% in metro counties (Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka, Washington, Scott, Carver).
Wheelage tax: $10-$20 in counties that levy it.

MVST applies on the purchase price unless the buyer can show full sales tax was paid in another state. New residents transferring vehicles into Minnesota pay the difference between Minnesota's rate and the prior state's rate.

The 10-day deadline

Minnesota law requires the buyer to file for title transfer and registration within 10 business days of the purchase date. Filing on day 11 or later triggers a $20 late fee. The 10-day window applies whether or not the buyer plans to drive immediately — a vehicle stored at home but not registered still must be titled within the deadline.

Damage Disclosure Statement

Minnesota's Damage Disclosure Statement (PS2031) applies to vehicles 6 model years old or newer. The seller discloses any damage that exceeds 80% of the vehicle's actual cash value, prior salvage status, or any structural damage from a collision. The disclosure stays on the vehicle's title record and follows it through future transfers — buyers can see disclosed damage on the title abstract before purchasing.

Notice of Sale

The Notice of Sale (PS2010) is the seller's tool to release liability immediately after the sale. Filing the notice within 10 days of the sale:

Removes the seller from the registration record at DVS.
Stops the seller from being held responsible for tickets, tolls, and parking violations after the sale date.
Does not transfer title — the buyer still has to file PS2000 separately.

Filing online through Minnesota.gov/DVS is free; the deputy registrar can also process the notice for the standard filing fee.

Out-of-state titles

For a vehicle being titled in Minnesota for the first time:

Surrender the out-of-state title (the prior state mails it to Minnesota on completion).
Complete a VIN inspection (PS2382) by a Minnesota law enforcement officer or licensed deputy registrar.
Provide the most recent registration card from the previous state.
Pay any difference between Minnesota's combined sales tax and the rate paid in the prior state.

Inheritance and Transfer on Death

Minnesota allows a Transfer on Death (TOD) beneficiary designation on a vehicle title under § 168A.125 — when the primary owner dies, the listed beneficiary inherits the vehicle without probate. To complete the transfer, the beneficiary brings a certified death certificate, the original title, and a completed PS2000 to a deputy registrar. Without TOD, vehicles transfer through probate or, for small estates under $75,000, through a small-estate affidavit process.

Once the title is in the new owner's name, future tab renewals can be completed online through Minnesota.gov/DVS.