How to transfer a car title to a family member? This article is for you. We will be telling you how to transfer a car title to a family member.
It is quite saddening when we see the stress that people have to go through when they try to transfer a car title to a family member, and so we wish to facilitate the process and make it a more pleasant experience.
How to Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member
You may get to possess a car you did not buy. This possession may have come through any of the following means.
- The vehicle was inherited
- The car was given to you by a family member
- The car was sold to you by a family member
When any of these happens, it is expected of you to transfer ownership of the car as soon as possible.
Usually, the vehicle title is a document that shows who the actual owner of a vehicle is and so, when you do not have your name on this slip, then the car is not yours technically.
The vehicle title is also known as the pink slip or car title. For you to fully own the vehicle in all ramifications, the vehicle title should be transferred to your name. Let’s learn more about How to Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member:
A transfer requires that there will be a change in the registered or legal ownership. When there is a change in the ownership of a vehicle either by gift, inheritance or sale, the new owner’s name needs to be placed on the Department of Motor Vehicles records. When this has been done, we can now say that there has been a transfer.
The transfer of title requires two parties. These parties include the seller and the buyer when the family member buys the vehicle from another family member.
Also, there is a situation where the car is given by a family member to another member of the family. In both scenarios, the buyer and the seller, as well as the giver and the recipient, will be part of the car title transfer proceedings.
Gifted Vehicles in California
It is outstanding when you decide to give away your vehicle as a gift rather than selling it. This kind of gift is usually seen within family members, either through inheritance or a hand-down.
There are specific requirements the transfer and the recipients must have to meet to successfully transfer the car title from the transfer to the recipient who is a family member.
In California, family members are defined differently from the way other states may choose to define it. The California Department of Motor Vehicles defines family members to be children, spouses, domestic partners, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings.
For the transfer of the title to go smoothly, the recipient of the title must be related to you in any of the ways mentioned above.
Car Title Transfer Requirements for The Giver
When you are giving your vehicle as a gift, it is expected that you should inform the California Department of Motor Vehicles that there is a change of ownership within five days of giving the vehicle to a member of the family as a gift.
To notify them, you will have to submit a release of liability to the Department of Motor Vehicles by any of the following methods:
- Through the online Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability system, or
- By sending an email of a completed Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (Form REG 138) to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, using the address card included with this form.
- The transfer will have to provide the car recipient with the following when giving out the vehicle as a gift to the recipient.
- The vehicle title that has been appropriately signed by the transfer and any lien holders, if there are any. This is a necessary document that must be handed over. However, there are times when these documents may not be available owing to being stolen or lost.
- When this is the circumstance you get to find yourself in, there is a way out.
- All that will be required of the transfer is to complete and sign either an Application for Duplicate or Transfer of Title (Form REG 227) or a notarized Lien Satisfied/Legal Owner/Title Holder Release (Form REG 166) to verify any lien releases, if applicable.
- The Application for Duplicate or Transfer of Title should be signed by the transfer and the car recipient.
- When the vehicle is less than ten years old, you will be required to provide the odometer reading. And when the title does not have space for the mileage of the odometer, you should complete and submit a Vehicle/Vessel Title Transfer and Reassignment Form (Form REG 262).
There is usually no need for a smog certification when the car is not being powered by diesel, or the vehicle is 4 model years or less.
Also, when the car is a two years model or under, then it is mandatory that you apply and correctly sign a replacement title since the original title is unavailable.
Car Title Transfer Requirements for the Car Recipient
There are also requirements for the car recipient, and so, it is expected of the car recipient to meet these stipulations to get the title transfer to him/her. Within ten days of receiving a vehicle as a gift, it is expected that the title and registration begin to bear your name.
You should immediately go to the California Department of Motor Vehicles with all the documents that were handed to you by the previous owner of the car. Also, you will need to go there with some documents to make the proceedings go smoothly. The extra stipulations that will be required include:
- A completed Statement of Facts (REG 256), to claim exemption from the states for used tax and smog exemption, if applicable.
- When the vehicle is inherited, there will be a need for an Affidavit for Transfer Without Probate (Form REG 5).
- How to Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member
- It is necessary to go along with some cash as you may be required to make payments as there are fees that apply to the title transfer. You are exempted from use tax since the vehicle was acquired as a gift.
Once you can meet the requirements stipulated, then you can go home with a title in your name.
Buying a car from a family member
You can become a proud owner of a vehicle by buying the car directly from a family member and not just by getting it as a gift.
When you buy a car from a family member, the vehicle title must bear your name. This means that the vehicle title must be transferred to you immediately.
In California, DMV requires that the vehicle title transfer is done within ten days of purchasing the car. You will be required to meet certain stipulations. The seller will make most of the documents necessary to make a smooth transfer process available.
We advise that you should make an appointment before going to your local DMV agency. This is necessary so that you will be attended to on time and not be kept to wait unnecessarily. As you head to DMV, you should go along with the following:
- The previous car title the seller gave to you. The car title should be duly signed with the seller’s signature. If there are lien releases, it should be appropriately indicated on the appropriate lines of the car title.
- In situations where the title was misplaced, you will be required to complete and submit an Application for Duplicate or Transfer of Title (Form REG 227). You should sign this document as the buyer, alongside the family member from which you are buying the car.
You will also be required to indicate lien releases if applicable by filling out the Lien Satisfied/Legal Owner/Title Holder Release (Form REG 166). This form must be notarized.
- In situations where the name on the title is not the person selling the vehicle to you, you must include all bills of sale as evidence showing the changes that have occurred in ownership until it got to you.
- An odometer mileage recorded on the title of the car is less than ten years old. If there is no space to note this record, then you as the buyer and the family member that is selling must complete and sign a Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form (Form REG 262).
- How to Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member
- A proof of smog certification that was handed to you by the seller will be required from you if the car is above 4 model years and is diesel-powered. You will be asked to pay an $8 fee instead if the vehicle is not diesel-powered of less than 4 model years.
- Go along with some cash to make the payment for the $15 vehicle title transfer fee and all use tax fee.
Meeting all of these stipulations will immediately put the car title in your name.
Selling a Vehicle to a Family Member
The Department of Motor Vehicles will require you to give your family members the following documents when you sell your vehicle to him/her. Likewise, learn more about selling a car with a title loan …
- The car title should be properly signed with your signature. If there are lien releases, it should be properly indicated on the appropriate lines of the car title.
- In situations where the title was misplaced, you will be required to complete and submit an Application for Duplicate or Transfer of Title (Form REG 227). This document must be signed by you and the family member you are selling the car to.
- You will also be required to indicate lien releases if applicable by filling out the Lien Satisfied/Legal Owner/Title Holder Release (Form REG 166). This form must be notarized.
- How to Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member
- An odometer mileage recorded on the title of the car is less than ten years old. If there is no space to note this record, then you as the seller and the family member that is buying must complete and sign a Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form (Form REG 262).
- You should hand over a current smog certification to the buyer when the vehicle you are selling is more than four years old, and the vehicle is powered by diesel.
- Bill(s) of sale indicates the change(s) in ownership if your name is not what is on the car title.
When you are selling your vehicle to a family member, it is expected that you should inform the California Department of Motor Vehicles that there is a change of ownership within five days of selling the car. To notify them, you will have to submit a release of liability to the Department of Motor Vehicles by any of the following methods:
- Through the online Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability system, or
- By sending an email of a completed Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (Form REG 138) to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, using the address card included with this form.
The car title must be in your name and not in the name of a family member. This is because your car title can serve as a source of instant cash to you in difficult moments when everyone may turn their back on you or may not have the wherewithal to get you out of money problems when you need them.
If you still have your car title in a family member’s name, we can always help you make a transfer of the title to your name.
Now you know How to Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member! Learn more about online title loans here with us if you need emergency money.
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