Vehicle title guide
Does a car title need to be notarized?
It depends on the state. Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wyoming put a notary on the title or the buyer's application in a private sale; most states need only the signatures. This guide explains which vehicle papers get notarized, lists 23 states we checked against DMV and statute sources, and shows where an online notary helps and where you still need one in person.
The paperwork in a private vehicle sale
Selling a car to another person usually involves a handful of documents. Only some of them are ever notarized, and which ones depends on the state that issued the title, not the state where the buyer lives. Boats, trailers and motorcycles generally follow the same rules as cars.
Certificate of title
The assignment on the back carries the seller's signature, the buyer, the date, the price and the mileage. In states that notarize, the notary's certificate goes here.
Bill of sale
A receipt naming buyer, seller, vehicle, price and date. A few states want it notarized when the price looks low or the title is electronic.
Odometer disclosure
Federal rules require the seller to state the mileage on vehicles from model year 2011 on until they are 20 years old, usually on the title itself.
Title application
The buyer's request for a title in their name. Washington has it signed before a licensing agent or notary.
Power of attorney
Lets someone sign for an owner who cannot be there. Most DMVs want it notarized.
Lien release and affidavits
A lender's release, a duplicate title application, a gift or heirship affidavit: often notarized even where the title is not.
Why a state asks for a notary
A notary checks the seller’s photo ID and watches the signature, which makes forged and stolen-car transfers harder. States that dropped the requirement, such as Montana in 2025 and Maryland for bills of sale in October 2026, now rely on electronic records and book values instead.
Which states require a notarized title or bill of sale
Private sales between individuals, as each state’s motor vehicle agency or statute describes them in October 2026. Dealer sales often follow different rules. States are listed only where an official source says what is required; where the sources are silent or disagree, we left the state out rather than guess.
| State | Notary | What the state requires | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | In some cases | A standard transfer needs no notary. If the record shows a lienholder, section 5 of the REG 227 duplicate title application must be notarized. | |
| Florida | No notary | FLHSMV procedure says the Transfer of Title by Seller section does not need a notary, even on titles that print a notary space. | |
| Hawaii | Optional | Honolulu calls a notarized seller signature optional; it prevents rejection when the signature does not match the one on file. | |
| Illinois | No notary | The Secretary of State answers no to whether an Illinois title must be notarized. The seller signs and dates the back of the title. | |
| Indiana | No notary | The BMV states that a bill of sale does not have to be notarized or signed under penalty of perjury. | |
| Kentucky | Notary required | Signatures on a signed-over Kentucky title must be notarized before the county clerk will transfer it. | |
| Louisiana | Notary required | The title is assigned before a notary, or the bill of sale is notarized. Since 2023, sales to or from a licensed Louisiana dealer are exempt. | |
| Maryland | No notary | Until October 1, 2026, a notarized bill of sale (VR-181) was needed when a vehicle under 7 model years old sold for more than $500 below its book value. That requirement is repealed; the MVA now compares the reported price with NADA value when it charges excise tax. | |
| Missouri | In some cases | Seller and buyer signatures on the title do not need a notary. A lien release (Form 4809) must be notarized when the title shows a lien. | |
| Montana | No notary | House Bill 165 (2025) deleted the rule that a seller's signature in a private sale be acknowledged before a notary or county treasurer, and bars the MVD from requiring notarized affidavits. | |
| Nebraska | No notary | Every owner signs the seller section and the seller provides a bill of sale or Form 6. The DMV asks for a notary only on forms such as the deceased-owner affidavit. | |
| New Jersey | No notary | The seller signs the title and hands over a bill of sale. The MVC wants notarized papers only for a power of attorney or an untitled vehicle. | |
| New York | No notary | The seller signs the Transfer by Owner section and can use the MV-912 bill of sale. A title from certain other states must arrive with its transfer section notarized. | |
| North Carolina | Notary required | The back of a North Carolina title must be notarized. When a vehicle has more than one owner, every signature on the required documents is notarized. | |
| Ohio | Notary required | The seller's signature on the paper title assignment is notarized. For an electronic title, seller and buyer each sign their page of form BMV 3770 before a notary. | |
| Oklahoma | Notary required | A paper title must be properly assigned and notarized. An electronic title transfers with Form 718, Bill of Sale of an Electronic Title, which is also notarized. | |
| Pennsylvania | Notary required | The seller's signature on a Pennsylvania title must be notarized or verified by an authorized agent. PennDOT tells buyer and seller to meet at a notary, tag service or dealer. | |
| Texas | No notary | TxDMV lists the seller's signature on Form 130-U as not required. The gift affidavit (Form 14-317) is notarized and may be acknowledged by an online notary. | |
| Utah | No notary | The Utah DMV states that no notary is needed to sign off on a title. | |
| Virginia | In some cases | No notary on the title or bill of sale. For a vehicle 5 years old or newer sold well under its NADA value, DMV may require a notarized Affidavit of Vehicle Purchase Price (SUT 1A). | |
| Washington | Notary required | The buyer's Vehicle Title Application is signed in front of a licensing agent or, if signed beforehand, a notary. A Release of Interest form sent by mail must also be notarized. | |
| West Virginia | In some cases | Seller and buyer sign the title. When a private buyer pays under 50% of NADA Clean Loan value, a bill of sale signed by both and notarized must go with the application. | |
| Wyoming | Notary required | The owner signs and dates the title assignment before a notarial officer (W.S. 31-2-104). A title endorsed with an electronic signature needs no notary. |
Buying a car titled in another state? The rules of the state that issued the title usually apply to the assignment, so a Pennsylvania or Ohio title should be notarized even if you register the car elsewhere. Your own DMV has the final word on what it accepts.
What to have ready
- The original title, with the seller section still blank. Do not sign until the notary or clerk is watching.
- A government photo ID for every person signing, matching the name printed on the title.
- The vehicle’s VIN, year, make and model, the sale price, the date and the odometer reading.
- A lien release from the lender if the title still shows a loan.
- A bill of sale signed by both parties, even where it is optional; it fixes the price and date if anything is disputed later.
- A notarized power of attorney if someone is signing for an owner.
Online notarization: what works and what does not
A certificate of title is printed on security paper, and an online notary seals an electronic document. The notary cannot reach through the screen and stamp your original title, so where the notary’s certificate belongs on the title itself, as in Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Wyoming, plan on an in-person notary. Kentucky clerks work from the signed paper title, and PennDOT steers both parties to an authorized agent or tag service.
Online notarization fits the documents that stand on their own: a bill of sale, a power of attorney for the transfer, a gift or heirship affidavit, a lien release or a duplicate title application. You sign on a video call, the notary seals the PDF, and you print it and mail or carry it to the DMV with the title. Texas, for example, names online notaries as acceptable on its gift affidavit. Ask the office first whether it accepts a printed copy of an electronically notarized document; a few still want wet ink on everything.
Vehicle forms by state
We index city, county and state vehicle forms (bills of sale, odometer statements, duplicate title and parking permit applications) for these states. Each link opens the vehicle section of that state’s forms page.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Common questions
Does a car title need to be notarized?
Only in some states. Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Wyoming put a notary on the seller's title assignment, and Washington has the buyer's title application signed before an agent or notary. Most other states, including California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Texas and Utah, need only the signatures.
Does a bill of sale need to be notarized?
Usually not, but there are exceptions. Louisiana expects a notarized bill of sale or title, West Virginia wants one when the price is under half of book value, and an Oklahoma electronic title moves with a notarized Form 718. Elsewhere a notarized bill of sale is optional; it simply makes the sale harder to dispute later.
Can a car title be notarized online?
A paper title is a security document, and an online notary's electronic seal cannot be placed on the physical original. Where the notary must sign the title itself, plan on an in-person notary, a PennDOT agent or a county clerk. Separate papers such as a bill of sale, a power of attorney, a gift affidavit or a lien release can be notarized online and printed, if the receiving office accepts them; Texas, for one, names online notaries on its gift affidavit.
Do both the buyer and the seller need to be notarized?
Mostly it is the seller's signature, because the seller is the one giving up ownership. Ohio also notarizes the buyer's page of form BMV 3770 on electronic titles, Washington notarizes the buyer's title application, and some Kentucky county clerks ask for both signatures.
What if the seller signed the title without a notary?
In a state that requires the notary, the office will reject the title. The seller usually has to sign again in front of a notary, and if the title was marked up, apply for a duplicate title first. Do not cross out or white-out a signature: DMVs reject a title with corrections or erasures.
General guidance, not legal advice. Motor vehicle rules change; confirm with the title office before you sign. See also notarizing a bill of sale online and the power of attorney guide.