After you have taken the time to field different offers from potential buyers, you are ready to finish selling your car by finalizing the paperwork. For a private sale, you will be required to sign over the vehicle’s title to the new buyer and any other paperwork required to register the title in the new owner’s name. When you are selling a car privately, you will be required to collect different documents depending on your state.
Check your state’s department of motor vehicle or transportation agency’s website for more information on the documents required for a private sale of a vehicle. Some documents that may be required include the following:
- A bill of sale
- A lien release
- An odometer disclosure statement
In some states, you may also be required to submit a release of liability or notice of transfer forms. This will protect you in the event that the buyer gets a ticket before the title has been transferred over.
If you have chosen to trade your car in at a dealership, they will typically prepare and file all of the necessary paperwork for you to complete the sale.
This convenience is one of the most popular reasons why people choose to sell their car directly to a dealership instead of a private party.
Once you have agreed on a price with the dealership, you will need to sign some paperwork in order to finalize the sale. If you traded In your vehicle for a new car, you will receive a credit for the car’s trade-in value.
Note: Be sure to remove the car from your auto insurance police once the sale has been completed.