Texas Private Car Sale Checklist

Selling or buying a car privately in Texas means signing a clean Certificate of Title, completing a bill of sale, and filing the right Texas DMV forms so the buyer can register and the seller is released from liability. Texas does not require a specific state-issued bill of sale form for private sales, but TxDMV strongly recommends documenting the transaction in writing — and the Form VTR-346 Vehicle Transfer Notification is what protects the seller from being legally responsible for the vehicle after the sale.

Seller checklist (Texas)

• Gather vehicle details: VIN, year, make, model, plate, odometer.
• Take a photo of the odometer at sale time (federal odometer disclosure applies to vehicles less than 20 model years old).
• Verify the Certificate of Title is in your name and free of liens. If a lien exists, contact your lender to clear it.
• Sign the back of the title (Assignment of Title) and complete the odometer disclosure section.
• Sign a written bill of sale with the buyer (price, VIN, odometer, parties, date, signatures).
• File Form VTR-346 (Vehicle Transfer Notification) online or by mail within 30 days — this releases you from civil and criminal liability for the vehicle.
• Decide whether to keep your license plates (Texas lets you transfer plates to your next vehicle) or leave them on for the buyer.
• Notify your insurance company of the sale.
• Keep copies of the signed bill of sale and the front and back of the assigned title.

Buyer checklist (Texas)

• Verify the VIN on the dashboard and door frame matches the title.
• Inspect the vehicle and record the exact odometer reading.
• Sign the bill of sale together with the seller and keep your copy.
• Receive the signed Certificate of Title with the Assignment and odometer sections completed.
• Obtain Texas auto liability insurance (30/60/25 minimum).
• Within 30 days of the sale, file Form 130-U (Application for Texas Title and/or Registration) at your county tax assessor-collector office.
• Pay Texas Motor Vehicle Sales/Use Tax (6.25% on the higher of the purchase price or the Standard Presumptive Value).
• Pay title application fees and registration fees.
• Receive your new title (mailed by TxDMV) and registration sticker.