States will keep the title on file until it is released by the lien holder. If moving from one State to another you may have to have the lien holder submit a form to the DMV in order to change the title to the new State. Once you own the vehicle outright, then you are normally issued the title.
If you don't have the California Certificate of Title, you need to use an Application for Duplicate or Transfer of Title (REG 227) to transfer ownership. The lienholder's release, if any, must be notarized. The buyer should then bring the completed form to a DMV office and we will issue a new registration and title.
Your car's title is the proof that you are the rightful owner. State governments issue car titles, typically through their department of motor vehicles or a similar agency. If you need a replacement car title, you can get one online, in person, or by mail, depending on the state.
The most common documents that you need to have with you are the following:
- Deed of Absolute Sale (DAS), original copy and photocopies.
- Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) or Condominium Certificate of Title (TCT), duplicate copy and photocopies.
All you need is the vehicle identification number, purchase price and date, and buyer and seller details. If your car is newer than 15 years old, this won't work. But you should probably have a title for it anyway.
Title jumping is the act of buying a vehicle and selling it without registering the vehicle in your name. Formerly, title jumping was a practice used by car dealers to avoid having to pay taxes on vehicles.
Use the form Vehicle Registration/Title Application (PDF) (MV-82), available at any motor vehicle office, by request from a DMV Call Center or by download from the DMV internet site. You must pay the registration and license plate fees, any appropriate sales tax, and the fee for a title certificate $50.00.
You can take your release of lien letter to your Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or Secretary of State (SOS). Getting a new title in your name typically takes around 30 days.
Send these items to the DMV
- a completed Application for Duplicate Title (PDF) (MV-902)
- proof of identity - this can be a photocopy of your NY State Driver License, Learner Permit, or Non-Driver ID (see Proofs of Identify for Registration and Title (PDF) (ID-82) for other acceptable proof)
If you did not receive your title certificate in the amount of time indicated above, contact the DMV. You can call the DMV Call Center for your area code, call the Title Services Bureau at 518-486-4714, or email the DMV.
How to Sign Your Title in Connecticut (CT)
- Back of the title - sign name(s) in the box where it reads "Signature(s) of Seller(s)."
- Back of the title right next to where you signed your name(s) - print name(s) where it reads "Printed Name(s) of Seller(s)."
If a vehicle is over 20 model years old, a Connecticut title will not be required to sell a vehicle. If title is not available, a Supplemental Assignment of Ownership form (Form Q-1) can be completed in full to indicate the buyer and the seller.
Enter any license plate number, including the plate class, to check for the status. Each title search request costs $20. Simply complete a Title Copy Records Request Form which contains the make, year, and identification number of the vehicle and mail together with a Check or Money Order to the Connecticut DMV.
While some car owners consider selling the car for a dollar instead of gifting it, the DMV gift car process is the recommended, not to mention more legitimate, way to go. They might not like the car or might be offended by a hand-me-down gift. Be sure that they afford insurance and maintenance costs.
Registering a Vehicle for Someone ElseIf, for some reason, a family member or friend cannot go to the DMV to register a new vehicle, you may be able to go instead. You need to have Power of Attorney to be able to sign a form for the vehicle owner, and you usually need proof of identity for both of you.
Can I get car insurance without a license? Generally, yes. You can buy insurance and register a car even if you don't have a driver's license. However, you might need to list yourself as an excluded driver on the policy, and not every insurer will sell you a policy.
To register the vehicle you must provide the following:
- Application for registration and certification title.
- Current registration certificate and certificate of title if registering a used vehicle.
- Bill of sale.
- Current Connecticut insurance card.
- Identification, such as driver's license, learner's permit, or ID card.
Can a car be registered and insured in different names? Most U.S. states allow their residents to register and insure their vehicles under different names. However, using separate names for the registration and insurance of a car may confuse the insurer and affect payment of settlements to insured drivers.
No, your car cannot be registered in one state and insured in another. Generally, your car should be both registered and insured in your state of legal residence.
According to department staff, state law requires the owner of a vehicle to provide the minimum financial security (i.e., insurance) required by law (CGS § 38a-371). It is an infraction to register a vehicle you do not own (CGS § 14-12). As a result, the title and registration must be in the same name.
Every state now accepts electronic proof of insurance. Every major auto insurer now allows customers to display their ID cards using a mobile app. Today, all 50 states and Washington, D.C., allow drivers to show proof of insurance on their phones, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.
