In the Vehicle Registration guide
California vehicle title transfer — buying, selling & gifts
Reviewed by the DMVCA editorial team · Last verified July 2, 2026
Transferring a California vehicle title is how ownership officially changes hands — and the two things that trip people up are the deadlines and the tax. The buyer and the seller each have their own clock, and a private sale, a gift, and an inheritance are taxed very differently.
This hub splits the steps by side (buyer vs. seller), lays out each transfer scenario with its form and tax treatment, and covers the fee. The rule to remember: the buyer has 10 days to apply, the seller has 5 days to file the release of liability — and missing either one has a real cost.
Buyer deadline
10 days
to apply for transfer
Seller deadline
5 days
file the release of liability
Transfer fee
$15
Use tax
% of value
at your local rate
Gift / family
Often tax-exempt
with REG 256
Smog
On change of ownership
if required
Key form
REG 262
transfer & reassignment
Out-of-state
VIN + smog
then title in CA
Most common
The ones most people need
Transfer scenarios at a glance
Each path has its own form and tax treatment.
ScenarioMain formUse tax
Private-party sale REG 262 + signed titleDue — on the price paid
Gift REG 256 statement of factsGenerally exempt
Family transfer REG 256 statement of factsGenerally exempt
Inheritance / deceased owner REG 256 + estate documentsGenerally exempt
From a dealer Dealer files the paperworkCollected by the dealer
Out-of-state vehicle Title + VIN verification + smogDue if recently purchased
Your steps — buyer vs. seller
The obligations are different depending on which side you're on.
If you're BUYING
- Get the signed title (pink slip) from the seller, plus a completed REG 262 (Vehicle/Vessel Transfer & Reassignment)
- Apply for the transfer at the DMV within 10 days of the sale — a late transfer adds penalties (Vehicle Code §5902)
- Pay the $15 transfer fee plus any use tax due
- Provide a valid smog certification if the vehicle requires one at change of ownership
If you're SELLING
- Sign the title over to the buyer and give them a valid smog certification if required
- File a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (NRL, form REG 138) within 5 days — online or by mail
- Filing the NRL ends your liability for what happens with the vehicle after the sale; keep your copy
Gifts, family & inheritance
- A vehicle received as a gift or transferred between certain family members is generally exempt from use tax
- You claim the exemption with a REG 256 (Statement of Facts) — the same form covers estate and inheritance transfers
- Use tax is administered by the CDTFA; the DMV collects it at transfer
Title transfer fees & tax
Cluster-level summary.
Title transfer fee $15
Use tax (on a purchase) % of value
Gift or qualifying family transfer Use-tax exempt
Late transfer Penalty added
How to
How to transfer a title
The standard buyer flow for a private-party purchase.
1
Collect the paperwork
The seller's signed title, a completed REG 262 (transfer & reassignment), the odometer reading, and a bill of sale. For a gift or family transfer, add a REG 256.
2
Handle smog if required
Most change-of-ownership transfers need a current smog certification from the seller. Check the smog rules — newer, electric, and pre-1976 vehicles are usually exempt.
3
Apply within 10 days
Submit the transfer to the DMV within 10 days of the sale. You can start much of it online, but a title transfer often finishes at an office.
4
Pay the fee and tax
The $15 transfer fee plus any use tax due. Gifts and qualifying family transfers are generally tax-exempt with a REG 256.
5
Get the new title
California issues a new Certificate of Title in your name; the registration card and any sticker follow.
Related sub-topics
Other clusters in the vehicle registration pillar.
Bill of sale (REG 135) What it is, and when the DMV needs one Register a revived-salvage vehicle The registration process for a Revived Salvage brand Duplicate / replacement title REG 227 — lost, stolen, or damaged title Smog & emissions Change of ownership can trigger a smog check Registration renewal Once it's in your name New vehicle registration Dealer, out-of-state, and first-time
The bigger picture
How these connect to the rest of the DMV system
A title transfer ties together several systems: a change of ownership can trigger a smog check, the buyer owes registration going forward, and the DMV collects any use tax at the same time. The forms — REG 262, REG 256, and the release of liability — live in our forms & fees library. The single most important step is timing: the buyer has 10 days and the seller has 5, and missing either one costs money or leaves you on the hook.
Frequently asked questions
Comparison and definitional — to help you pick the right type.
How long do I have to transfer a title after buying a car in California?
The buyer must apply for the transfer within 10 days of the sale (Vehicle Code §5902). Transferring late adds penalties on top of the fee.
What does the seller have to do?
The seller signs over the title and, within 5 days, files a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (NRL, form REG 138) — online or by mail. That's what ends the seller's liability for the vehicle.
How much is a title transfer in California?
The DMV title transfer fee is $15. On a private-party purchase you also owe use tax — a percentage of the price at your local tax rate. See DMV fees.
Do I pay use tax on a gift or a transfer from family?
Generally no — vehicles received as a gift or transferred between certain family members are exempt from use tax. You claim the exemption with a REG 256 Statement of Facts.
What about a car I inherited?
An inherited vehicle is transferred with a REG 256 plus the estate documents (the exact paperwork depends on whether the estate goes through probate). It's generally use-tax exempt.
Do I need a smog check to transfer a title?
Usually yes on a change of ownership — the seller provides a valid smog certification — unless the vehicle is exempt (newer, electric, or a 1975-or-older gas vehicle). See smog requirements.
I bought from a dealer — do I handle the title?
No. A licensed dealer processes the title transfer and registration for you and collects the fees and tax at the time of sale.
I lost the title — can I still transfer it?
Yes. The seller (or owner) uses a REG 227, Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title, to replace a missing title and complete the transfer. If you just need to replace your own title (not sell), see duplicate title.
What is a branded title in California?
A branded title is a Certificate of Title that carries a permanent label describing something significant about a vehicle's history — most often that it was salvaged. California's brands include Salvage, Revived Salvage, Original/Prior Taxi, Original/Prior Police, and Non-USA (grey market). The brand stays with the vehicle through every future sale. Registering a salvage or revived salvage vehicle frequently relies on a bill of sale to establish the chain of ownership.
What does a 'salvage' title or salvage certificate mean?
California issues a salvage certificate when a vehicle has been in an accident or has considerable damage — including flood or vandalism — and for vehicles previously dismantled or classed as junk. A salvage certificate means the vehicle is not legally drivable.
What is a 'revived salvage' title?
A revived salvage vehicle is a salvage vehicle that has been repaired and reregistered with the DMV. A revived salvage title is issued only after the repairs plus the required inspections are completed — the step that turns a not-drivable salvage certificate into a registrable vehicle. California's term is revived salvage; it is not called "rebuilt" or "reconstructed" (those are other states' terms). To replace a title that is merely lost or damaged (not branded), see duplicate title.
What do the Original/Prior Taxi, Original/Prior Police, and Non-USA brands mean?
Original/Prior Taxi and Original/Prior Police mean the vehicle is, or once was, in taxi or law-enforcement service. Non-USA (a grey-market vehicle) means it was manufactured for a market outside the United States. Each is a permanent brand recorded on the California title.
Sources. California DMV — Title transfers · California Vehicle Code §5902 (transfer within 10 days) · California DMV — Registration fees (transfer fee, VC §9255) · California CDTFA — Use tax on vehicles
Last verified July 2, 2026.