Texas Title Transfer

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

A Texas title transfer moves ownership from seller to buyer through the county tax assessor-collector's office in the buyer's county of residence. Texas requires both the buyer and the seller to take specific steps, and missing the 30-day deadline on the buyer's side adds a penalty that grows each month the title sits.

What the seller does

The Texas seller's job is short but important:

Sign and date the back of the original Texas Certificate of Title in the assignment block, with the buyer's printed name and address.
Complete the odometer disclosure on the title (vehicles 9 model years old or newer).
Provide the buyer with a bill of sale if a separate one is used (Form VTR-346 is the standard TxDMV vehicle transfer notification, not a bill of sale).
File a Vehicle Transfer Notification (Form VTR-346) with TxDMV within 30 days of sale to release liability for any future tickets, tolls, or accidents in the vehicle. Filing is free and can be done online.
Remove the license plates and either keep them for a future Texas-registered vehicle or destroy them.

What the buyer does

Within 30 days of the sale date, the buyer goes to the county tax office in their county of residence with:

The signed Texas title from the seller, with all assignment fields completed.
A completed Form 130-U (Application for Texas Title and/or Registration) listing the buyer, the seller, the sale price, and the lienholder if any.
Proof of Texas insurance in the buyer's name.
A current Texas inspection where required (see emissions counties).
Photo ID — usually a Texas driver license.
Payment for the title application fee, sales tax, registration fees, and any local fees.

Fees and sales tax

$33 title application fee in most counties (some counties charge $28).
6.25% Motor Vehicle Sales Tax on the higher of the sale price or the Standard Presumptive Value (SPV).
Base registration of $50.75 for passenger vehicles up to 6,000 pounds plus county add-ons.
$1 reflectorization fee, $1 automation fee.
Local emissions inspection transfer fee in the 17 emissions counties.

Late title transfers face a $25 per month penalty capped at $250, plus interest on unpaid sales tax. The penalty is enforced even when the delay is the buyer's fault — so the seller should help confirm the buyer files within 30 days.

Liens

If a lien is being added (typical for a financed purchase), the lender's information goes on Form 130-U. The county collects the title fee and forwards the title to the lender, which holds the original until the lien is satisfied. If a lien is being released, the seller must present a written lien release on lender letterhead or the original title with the release stamped on it.

Family transfers and gift tax

Texas allows a $10 gift tax in lieu of the 6.25% sales tax when the vehicle is gifted between certain family members: spouses, parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, or a guardian to a ward. Both parties sign Form 14-317 (Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Gift Transfer), and either the donor or recipient must appear in person at the county office. This is one of the friendlier family-transfer rules in the country.

Out-of-state title transfers

A vehicle moving in from another state needs the out-of-state title, an in-person Texas VIN inspection (Form VTR-272) by an authorized inspector, an emissions inspection if registered in an emissions county, proof of Texas insurance, Form 130-U, and the standard fees. Out-of-state lien holders are notified by TxDMV automatically once the title transfers.

Lost title

If the seller never had the original title, or it's been lost, they must apply for a Certified Copy of Title before the transfer can be completed — see Texas title replacement.