How Much Is a Car Title Transfer in Pennsylvania?

Quick answer: A car title transfer in Pennsylvania costs $67 for the title fee (the current PennDOT rate as of 2026 — always confirm on the official schedule) plus 6% sales tax on the purchase price — 7% in Allegheny County and 8% in Philadelphia — and a small notary or tag-service fee, typically $10–$25, because Pennsylvania law requires the title assignment to be notarized. For a $500 junk car outside those two counties, that works out to roughly $67 title fee + $30 tax + notary — under $110 total. For a running car sold at fair market value, the tax portion is larger because it scales with price.

Pennsylvania Title Transfer Cost at a Glance

When people ask “how much is it to transfer a title in PA,” they are usually adding up three separate charges. Here is the full breakdown in one place:

Because PennDOT adjusts its fee schedule periodically, treat the title fee figure as a close estimate and confirm the exact amount on the official PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services site before you finalize numbers.

How the PA Title Transfer Fee Works

The title transfer fee is a flat, one-time charge PennDOT collects to issue a new Pennsylvania Certificate of Title in the buyer’s name. Unlike sales tax, it does not change with the value of the car — a $300 junk car and a $30,000 truck carry the same title fee. This is the charge people mean when they search “pa title transfer fee” or “title transfer cost pa.” It is separate from your annual registration and from the plate itself.

If the vehicle is financed and a new lien is being recorded, a small additional lien-recording fee applies. For a straightforward private sale of a paid-off vehicle, you will not encounter that.

Sales Tax: The Part That Changes With Price

Pennsylvania charges 6% sales and use tax on a vehicle transfer statewide. Two jurisdictions add a local surcharge:

• Allegheny County (including Pittsburgh): 7% total
• City of Philadelphia: 8% total

The tax is calculated on the purchase price you report on the title assignment, so the number you write matters. On a $500 vehicle, 6% is $30; in Philadelphia at 8% it is $40. On a $5,000 vehicle, 6% is $300. PennDOT can review a reported price that appears far below fair market value, so report the actual sale price honestly. This is why “how much is a title transfer in PA” has no single answer — the fixed title fee is constant, but the tax scales with what the car sold for and where the buyer lives.

Why Pennsylvania Requires a Notary (and What It Costs)

Pennsylvania is a notarization state for vehicle title transfers. The seller’s signature assigning the title must be witnessed by a notary public or an authorized PennDOT agent — you cannot simply sign the back of the title and hand it over the way some states allow. This is a fraud-prevention safeguard, and it is the reason “pa notary title transfer” and “pa title transfer without notary” are such common searches.

A notary typically charges a modest fee, often in the $10–$25 range. Many sellers combine steps by using a tag or messenger service, which is a PennDOT-authorized agent that can both notarize the assignment and process the title and registration paperwork in a single visit. AAA offices also handle title work for members in Pennsylvania, which is why “aaa title transfer pa” comes up — it can be convenient, though fees and member requirements vary.

What You Need to Transfer a Car Title in PA

Before you pay any fee, make sure you have everything required, so you only make one trip. To transfer a Pennsylvania title you generally need:

• The Pennsylvania Certificate of Title, in your name, with the assignment section completed
• Accurate odometer disclosure on the title
• The purchase price recorded on the assignment
• Valid photo ID matching the name on the title
• A lien release if the vehicle was ever financed
• A bill of sale (recommended for your records)
• Payment for the title fee, tax, and notary/agent fee

If your title is lost or damaged, you must request a duplicate title (Form MV-38O) from PennDOT before any transfer can happen. Budget extra time for that step.

Title Transfer Costs When You Sell a Junk or Damaged Car

Here is the good news if you are selling a low-value vehicle: because sales tax is a percentage of the price, the tax on a junk or non-running car is small. A $400 junk car carries roughly $24 in state tax (6%). The costs you cannot avoid are the fixed title fee and the notarized assignment — and a reputable cash-for-cars buyer handles the paperwork logistics with you so nothing is missed.

When you sell to CashSellCar’s Pennsylvania car-buying service, you get a cash offer for the vehicle as-is, the team walks you through the notarized title assignment, and free towing is available on eligible accepted offers statewide, subject to vehicle details and pickup access. Sellers in the Pittsburgh area can start on the Cash for Cars Pittsburgh page; those in the southeast can use the Cash for Cars Philadelphia page, where the 8% city tax rate applies. For a broader regional view, the Allegheny County page covers southwestern PA.

Title Transfer Cost for a Gifted or Inherited Vehicle

Not every transfer is a sale. If you are giving a car to a family member or handling a vehicle after an owner’s death, the cost picture changes. For a genuine gift between eligible family members, Pennsylvania allows the transaction to be processed with the sale price recorded as a gift, which can reduce or eliminate the sales-tax portion — but the fixed title fee and the notarized assignment still apply, and you must complete the appropriate PennDOT gift documentation (Form MV-13ST). For an inherited vehicle, the title passes according to the estate, and PennDOT provides a specific process depending on whether the estate is probated. In both cases the notary requirement does not go away. If an inherited car is one you simply want to sell rather than keep, you can transfer it and sell it as-is once the estate paperwork clears.

Transferring an Out-of-State Title Into Pennsylvania

If you are bringing a vehicle into Pennsylvania from another state — or selling a PA car to a buyer who will register it elsewhere, such as a “pa title transfer to NJ” situation — extra steps apply. Titling an out-of-state vehicle in PA typically requires a VIN verification, proof of insurance, and, in many counties, a safety and emissions inspection before registration. The title fee and 6% sales tax (7% Allegheny, 8% Philadelphia) still apply, with tax based on the purchase price or the vehicle’s value. When a PA seller transfers to an out-of-state buyer, the seller still completes the notarized PA assignment; the buyer then titles the car under their own state’s rules. If you are selling a non-running out-of-state vehicle sitting in Pennsylvania, a cash buyer that handles PA paperwork can simplify the whole thing.

Who Pays the Title Transfer Cost — Buyer or Seller?

By custom and by how the fees are structured, the buyer pays the title fee and the sales tax, because the new title is issued in their name and the tax is based on what they paid. The seller’s job is to complete the title assignment accurately and honestly — correct odometer reading, correct sale price, and signature before a notary. In a cash-for-cars transaction, the buyer typically manages the title processing, and a trustworthy buyer will tell you clearly which costs, if any, fall to you. For most junk-car sales, the seller’s out-of-pocket cost is little more than the notary fee, if that.

Ways to Lower or Avoid Extra Title Costs

• Use a tag service to combine steps — notarizing and processing in one visit saves a second trip and sometimes a second fee.
• Report the honest sale price — it keeps your tax accurate and avoids a PennDOT fair-market-value review.
• Sort out a lost title early — request the MV-38O duplicate before you line up a buyer so the sale is not delayed.
• Sell as-is to a buyer who handles paperwork — you avoid repair costs entirely and let the buyer manage the title fee and tax.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a title transfer in PA?

Expect roughly a $67 PennDOT title fee (verify the current rate) plus 6% sales tax on the purchase price — 7% in Allegheny County, 8% in Philadelphia — and a notary or tag-service fee of about $10–$25. The title fee is fixed; the tax scales with the sale price.

How much does it cost to transfer a title on a junk car in Pennsylvania?

Because tax is a percentage of price, a low-value junk car carries only a few dollars of tax. Your main costs are the fixed title fee and the required notarized assignment — often little more than $80–$110 total outside Allegheny and Philadelphia.

Does PA require a notary for a title transfer?

Yes. Pennsylvania requires the seller’s title assignment to be signed before a notary public or an authorized PennDOT agent. Tag and messenger services can notarize and process the transfer in one visit.

Who pays for the title transfer, the buyer or the seller?

The buyer normally pays the title fee and sales tax, since the new title is issued in their name. The seller completes and notarizes the title assignment.

What do you need to transfer a car title in PA?

The Pennsylvania title with a completed assignment, accurate odometer and price disclosure, photo ID, a lien release if the car was financed, and payment for the fees. A bill of sale is recommended.

How much is the sales tax on a car in Pittsburgh or Philadelphia?

Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh, charges 7%. The City of Philadelphia charges 8%. The rest of Pennsylvania is 6%.

Can I transfer a PA title without paying a notary?

No. The notarized assignment is mandatory in Pennsylvania. Using a tag service that notarizes on-site is the closest way to avoid a separate notary trip.

What if I lost my title before selling?

Request a duplicate title from PennDOT using Form MV-38O before the transfer. You cannot notarize or complete a sale without the title in hand.