How to Sell a Vehicle With No Copy of the Title

All states require you to have the title of the vehicle you own; this may pose a problem if you want to sell your car but don't have the title. You can simply request a duplicate title if you lost the original title, but you and the buyer will need to follow a few more steps to legally complete the sale if you do not own the title. Your financial institution owns the title to your car until you pay off the loan, so you must pay off the loan at some point so you can transfer the title to the buyer.

Instructions

Selling a Car if You Lost the Title

1

Visit the Department of Motor Vehicles' "Replacing a Lost Title" website (see Resources).

2

Click on your state.

3

Follow the instructions listed for your state, as all states have different steps you must take to replace a lost title. For example, Minnesota requires you to fill out a duplicate title form and pay fees, whereas Delaware requires you to fill out a duplicate title form, include your license number, a fee, the current odometer reading on your car, tag number and expiration date. Most states allow you to mail in the form or fill it out at a local DMV office. You will typically receive your duplicate title in the mail within 15 days.

Selling a Car if You Do Not Own the Title

4

Schedule a date to sell the car with the buyer, and tell him you would like to meet at your bank and will pay off the loan once you receive the money so that you can sign the title over to him.

5

Call your bank. Tell them you would like to pay the remaining balance of your car loan so the lien will be released. Inform them of the date and time.

6

Meet the buyer at the bank. Hand the teller the required amount of money to pay off the loan. The teller will give you the title. Sign the title over to the seller to officially complete the transaction.