Texas Title Transfer

Transferring a Title in Texas

In the state of Texas, a person who sells a motor vehicle and holds the general distinguishing number issued under the Texas Transportation Code must, in the time and manner provided by law, apply, in the name of the purchaser of the vehicle, for the registration of the vehicle, if the vehicle is to be registered, and a certificate of title for the vehicle.  The seller must also file with the appropriate designated agent each document necessary to transfer title to or register the vehicle and at the same time remit any required motor vehicle sales tax.  Apologies if that blew your mind.  There's a reason lawyers go to school for years to understand these things.
           

Basically, when you sell your car, you have to make sure the car gets registered and titled in the name of the person who is buying the car as well as pay any sales tax involved with the transfer.  Wasn't that easier to say? Yes.  Yes, it was, but if it were meant to be easy then the state of Texas wouldn't have chapters and chapters of this information.
           

The above doesn't apply to vehicles that have been declared a total loss by an insurance company in the settlement or adjustment of a claim.  It also doesn't apply to a vehicle that has had its certificate of title surrendered in exchanged for a salvage vehicle title, a non-repairable vehicle title, a certificate of authority or an ownership document issued by another state that is comparable to an ownership document issued in Texas.  Vehicles with a gross weight in excess of 11,000 pounds are also excluded from this law.  If it's too messed up then it's exempt from this process.

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