To transfer a car title in Minnesota, the seller completes the title assignment and the buyer submits the signed title, required documents, taxes, and fees to a deputy registrar. Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) handles vehicle titles, even though many people call the office the DMV. Meeting at a deputy registrar’s office is a practical way to catch missing signatures before money and keys change hands.
What You Need to Transfer a Car Title in Minnesota
For a private sale of a Minnesota-titled car, use this checklist before visiting a motor vehicle office:
- The original certificate of title, with the vehicle identification number (VIN) matching the car.
- Printed names and signatures of all sellers in the title assignment area, plus the buyer’s completed information and signature.
- The actual sale price, sale date, and required mileage and damage disclosures.
- A signed lien release card or notarized lien release for each lien shown on the title.
- Identification and insurance information, including the insurer and policy number when registering the car.
- Payment for the applicable title fees, taxes, and registration charges.
Keep copies of the completed paperwork and payment receipt. A bill of sale is useful as a record of the transaction, but it does not normally replace the original title for a titled passenger car.
How to Transfer a Car Title in MN: Seller and Buyer Steps
Seller: complete the assignment and report the sale
- Check ownership. Compare the names on the title with the people selling the car. Resolve outstanding liens before arranging the handoff.
- Fill in the sale details. Enter the buyer’s information, actual purchase price, date, and required disclosures. Do not hand over a signed title with the buyer’s name left blank.
- Sign and deliver the title. Give the buyer the original assigned title and applicable lien releases.
- Report a private sale within 10 days. Submit the Notice of Sale or report the sale electronically to DVS. Retain confirmation; reporting a sale does not complete the buyer’s title application.
Buyer: apply for a title in your name
- Review the documents before paying. Check the VIN, seller names, title brands, lien releases, signatures, and purchase price. Ask about anything that does not match.
- Complete your application. For a Minnesota title, complete the buyer sections provided. Use the Application to Title/Register a Vehicle, PS2000A, when required for the transaction.
- Submit the paperwork and payment. A deputy registrar can review the documents and calculate the amount due.
- Keep the receipt. Confirm your mailing address and retain evidence that you filed while waiting for the new certificate.
Title transfer deadline: Minnesota Statutes section 168A.10 gives the buyer 20 calendar days after assignment to submit the title application. The seller’s private-sale reporting deadline remains 10 days. File promptly, ideally together at the sale: a separate registration rule in section 168.301 concerns plate and registration-tax rights after 10 days. The buyer’s application deadline is not permission to drive without valid registration or insurance.
Buying a vehicle from a dealer
A licensed Minnesota dealer generally handles the title application. Ask for your purchase documents and confirmation of submission. If the title does not arrive, contact the dealer about the application status instead of assuming the purchase receipt alone has completed the transfer.
Where to Sign a Minnesota Car Title
Follow the labels on your actual certificate. Sellers print and sign their names in the seller’s assignment section; buyers complete and sign the purchaser’s section. Title layouts can differ, so do not rely only on a description such as “Seller X.” Leave dealer reassignment areas for authorized dealer use.
Odometer disclosure: DVS requires it for 20 years for model year 2011 and newer vehicles, subject to exceptions such as vehicles over 16,000 pounds GVWR. A used car is not automatically exempt. Complete the damage disclosure required by DVS as well.
If you sign in the wrong place or enter incorrect information, stop and ask a deputy registrar which correction documents are needed. Do not use white-out, erase information, or sign for another owner. A duplicate title is not a shortcut around an unresolved ownership or lien problem.
Minnesota Title Transfer Fees and Sales Tax
The title fee alone is not the total cost. The following charges can apply to a standard passenger-car transfer; exemptions and additional registration charges depend on the transaction.
| Charge | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Title fee | $8.25 | Issuing a transferred title |
| Filing fee | $12 | Title transaction |
| Technology surcharge | $2.25 | Most title transactions |
| Local office surcharge | $1 | Deputy registrar transactions |
| Public Safety Vehicle fee | $3.50 | Applicable titled vehicle transactions |
| Transfer tax | $10 | Most ownership transfers; exceptions apply |
| New lien recording | $2 per lien | When a security interest is recorded |
| Motor Vehicle Sales Tax | 6.875% | Taxable vehicle sales price unless an exemption or special rule applies |
| Late transfer penalty | $2 | Application submitted beyond 20 calendar days |
| Registration, plates, wheelage tax | Varies | Based on vehicle, registration needs, and county |
Example: on a taxable $5,000 purchase, 6.875% sales tax is $343.75. The six listed title/filing/surcharge/transfer charges total $37 when all apply, making this example $380.75 before registration, plates, liens, or other charges. Ask the office for a transaction-specific total.
Check the current Minnesota DVS fee schedule before paying.
Can You Transfer a Minnesota Car Title Online?
Online availability depends on the service and office. Hennepin County offers an online application for title transfers and duplicate titles, then contacts applicants with instructions to finish. Starting an application or reporting a sale online is not the same as completing every ownership-transfer requirement. Confirm how the office needs the original title, signatures, and payment.
If you prefer an office visit, check appointment requirements and accepted payment methods first. For required paperwork, use the official Application to Title/Register a Vehicle (PS2000A).
Lost Title, Liens, and Other Minnesota Title Problems
How to get a replacement car title
If the Minnesota title is lost, stolen, or damaged, the owner of record should request a duplicate through DVS or a deputy registrar. Have identification and vehicle information ready. The duplicate-title fee is $7.25, with applicable filing fees and surcharges added; it is not the complete transaction price. Confirm available application methods and processing time with the office. A buyer should not assume that a duplicate can be issued in their name before ownership is established.
Can you sell a car in Minnesota without a title?
For an ordinary sale of a titled passenger car, arrange a replacement title before completing the transfer. A registration card or bill of sale alone is generally insufficient. Special rules for vehicles exempt from titling, estates, or lawful vehicle recycling do not create a universal no-title option. Ask DVS and the buyer what documents are required for your exact situation. Our guide to selling a car without a title explains the questions to ask before booking pickup.
What if the car has a loan or a branded title?
Coordinate any loan payoff and lien release with the lender. Paying off a loan and removing its recorded security interest are separate steps to verify. A salvage or rebuilt brand also needs attention: transferring ownership does not by itself make a salvage car eligible for road use. Learn more about branded vehicle titles before choosing a buyer.
Out-of-State Titles, Gifts, and Inherited Vehicles
- Out-of-state purchase: bring the assigned original title, required application, lien releases, identification, insurance information, and payment. Check the issuing state’s signature and notarization requirements before the seller leaves.
- Moving to Minnesota: new residents generally have 60 days to register eligible vehicles with current out-of-state registration. Expired registration and commercial vehicles can require immediate action. This is a different situation from buying a car.
- Family gift: a genuine gift between spouses, parent and child, or grandparent and grandchild can qualify for a Motor Vehicle Sales Tax exemption. Do not assume every relative qualifies; siblings are not included in that listed family-gift exemption.
- Inheritance: inherited transfers can be sales-tax exempt, but proof of authority to transfer ownership is still needed. Ask the office which estate documents apply before signing for a deceased owner.
For any exemption, document the actual transaction and have the office confirm the correct exemption code. Calling a paid sale a gift does not make it exempt.
How to Sell a Car in Minnesota Without Paperwork Delays
Ordinary Minnesota plates generally stay with the vehicle; personalized or certain special plates may need separate handling. Confirm the plate type before removal. Our guide covers what to do with license plates when selling a car.
Before handing over a junk car, confirm the buyer’s identity, agreed price, towing arrangements, required ownership documents, and payment method. Keep the sale receipt and report the transfer when required. A vehicle that no longer runs still needs a lawful ownership handoff.
We buy old, damaged, and non-running cars and offer free towing. Call us at (855) 547-1550 with the VIN, condition, location, and title status. We can confirm the paperwork needed before pickup and check whether same-day service is available in your area. A quote does not replace DVS requirements or resolve an outstanding lien.
FAQ
How long do you have to transfer a car title in Minnesota?
The buyer must submit the title application within 20 calendar days after assignment under Minnesota Statutes section 168A.10. For a private sale, the seller must report the sale within 10 days. Complete the transfer promptly and check registration requirements before driving.
Can I transfer a car title online in Minnesota?
Some offices, including Hennepin County, offer an online application process. Confirm how to submit original documents and finish payment. An online Report of Sale alone does not transfer the title to the buyer.
Do both the buyer and seller need to be present?
Meeting together at a deputy registrar is recommended so staff can check the paperwork. Ask your chosen office about options if one party cannot attend, and arrange all required signatures before submitting the application.
Does a Minnesota car title need to be notarized?
A routine Minnesota title assignment generally does not require notarization of the buyer and seller signatures. A lien release or other supporting document may have its own requirements. For an out-of-state title, follow the issuing state’s rules.
Can I use a bill of sale instead of a Minnesota title?
A bill of sale does not normally replace the title for a titled passenger car. If the original is missing, the owner of record should arrange a duplicate or obtain DVS instructions for the specific ownership situation.
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