How to Sell a Car Privately in Texas

Sources checked October 9, 2026 · Every rule below links to the official page it came from

Selling your car yourself in Texas comes down to a signed title, the right paperwork, and a few steps people often miss. This guide summarizes what the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and state law say, so you and the buyer can finish the transfer cleanly.

Transferring the title

• The seller gives the buyer a signed title that shows the sale date and odometer reading. txdmv.gov
• The seller also gives the buyer a signed Form 130-U showing the sales price. txdmv.gov
• TxDMV advises the seller to go with the buyer to the county tax office so the title application is filed. txdmv.gov
• The buyer files the title application with a county tax office, not with TxDMV directly. txdmv.gov
• The buyer must title the vehicle within 30 days of the sale, and late transfers can bring penalties. txdmv.gov
• The buyer needs proof of liability insurance to register, or can apply for title only without it. txdmv.gov
• Until the buyer titles it, the vehicle stays in the seller's name. txdmv.gov

License plates

• Plates stay with the seller, who can move them to another vehicle of the same classification. txdmv.gov
• The seller may instead keep the plates for a future vehicle, but the registration sticker does not transfer. txdmv.gov
• A seller who discards plates should deface the front so they cannot be misused. txdmv.gov

Inspections and emissions

• Since Jan. 1, 2025, non-commercial vehicles no longer need a safety inspection to register. txdmv.gov
• Non-commercial vehicles registered in 17 listed counties (such as Harris, Dallas, Travis) still need an emissions inspection. txdmv.gov
• DPS says Bexar County is being added to the emissions counties in 2026. dps.texas.gov
• If the inspection is not in the state database, the buyer brings a Vehicle Inspection Report. txdmv.gov

Telling the state you sold the car

• The seller can file a free Vehicle Transfer Notification (online at txdmv.gov/VTN, by mail with form VTR-346, or at a regional service center). txdmv.gov
• TxDMV recommends filing within 30 days of the sale. txdmv.gov
• Filing helps protect the seller from the buyer's parking tickets and toll charges and other liability tied to the vehicle. txdmv.gov
• Filing does not transfer ownership, and false information on the form is a felony. txdmv.gov

Taxes and fees the buyer pays

• The buyer pays 6.25% motor vehicle sales tax, due within 30 days of the purchase. comptroller.texas.gov
• On used private-party purchases, tax can be figured on the state's standard presumptive value instead of the sales price. comptroller.texas.gov
• The buyer pays the tax at the county tax office with Form 130-U. comptroller.texas.gov
• Late tax payment carries a 5% penalty (1 to 30 days late) or 10% (over 30 days). comptroller.texas.gov
• Title, registration and local fees are also due, and the county tax office has the amounts. txdmv.gov

Loans and liens

• When a lien is paid off, the lienholder has 10 days to release it. txdmv.gov
• Buyers should get the release of lien from the seller as a supporting document. txdmv.gov
• For an electronic title, the lienholder removes the lien with TxDMV, and the paper title is then mailed out. txdmv.gov

Easy-to-miss rules in this state

• If a seller keeps the plates and the sale falls on a weekend, the buyer can get a Vehicle Transit Permit to drive to the tax office. txdmv.gov
• The transit permit is valid for five calendar days and only one is issued per sale. txdmv.gov
• Buyers should confirm the dash VIN is present and unaltered, and that the title matches the seller's name. txdmv.gov
• A tax office can check the title for salvage or legal problems when the seller attends. txdmv.gov
• Gifts between certain relatives follow different rules, including a $10 gift tax. txdmv.gov

Official Texas resources

• TxDMV: Buying or Selling a Vehicle
• TxDMV: Vehicle Transfer Notification (VTN)
• TxDMV: Form VTR-346 Vehicle Transfer Notification instructions
• TxDMV: Form 130-U Application for Texas Title and/or Registration
• TxDMV: Register Your Vehicle (inspection rules)
• Texas Comptroller: Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax

Next steps

Once you know the rules, create a free listing and print a QR code sign for the car window. For the general process, see our step-by-step private sale guide, the paperwork checklist, and how to get paid safely. Need paperwork? Use our free bill of sale generator.

More state guides

• Selling a car in Utah
• Selling a car in Vermont
• Selling a car in Virginia
• Selling a car in Washington
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