Quick answer: In Pennsylvania you fill out the Assignment of Title section on the reverse of the Certificate of Title — printing the buyer’s full name and address, entering the odometer reading and the sale price, and signing as seller. The critical rule is that your signature must be made in front of a notary or PennDOT-authorized agent, not beforehand. Do not leave the buyer’s section blank, do not use correction fluid, and do not guess at the mileage. A spoiled title generally means applying for a duplicate and starting again.
Find the Assignment Section First
Turn the title over. The reverse carries the assignment area — the block where ownership formally moves from you to the buyer. Everything that matters happens there.
Read the whole section before writing anything. Pennsylvania titles have been reissued in different designs over the years, so the exact layout on a 2009 title differs from a recent one. What stays constant is the information required: who is buying, the mileage, the price, and your notarized signature.
Write in Blue or Black Ink, and Print
Use blue or black ballpoint. Print rather than write in cursive, because the details are transcribed by someone who has never met you and cannot ask what a letter is.
Do not use pencil, gel pens that smear, or anything erasable. And never use correction fluid or tape — a title with white-out on it is routinely rejected, because an alteration cannot be distinguished from a forgery.
The Buyer’s Full Legal Name and Address
Print the buyer’s name exactly as it appears on their identification, and their full address. If you are selling to a business, use the business’s legal name rather than a trading name.
Two names on a title are joined by “and” or “or”, and the difference matters later: “and” generally requires both signatures for a future sale, “or” usually allows either. If the buyer asks for both names, ask which they want.
The Odometer Reading
Enter the mileage exactly as shown, with no commas and no tenths. Read it twice.
Federal law requires an odometer disclosure on most transfers, and there are boxes to indicate whether the reading reflects actual mileage, has exceeded mechanical limits, or is not the actual mileage. Tick the honest one. An overstated reading on a car that has rolled over is a disclosure problem, not a rounding error.
Very old vehicles may be exempt from odometer disclosure. If yours is genuinely ancient, ask the agent rather than guessing.
The Sale Price
Enter the actual amount. Pennsylvania charges sales tax on vehicle transfers — six percent in most of the state, seven percent in Allegheny County and eight percent in Philadelphia — and it may be assessed on the vehicle’s value rather than a stated price.
So writing “$1” on a real sale achieves nothing useful and misdescribes the transaction. If it is genuinely a gift between qualifying family members, use the gift route with the correct affidavit instead — see gifting a car in Pennsylvania.
Do Not Sign Until You Are In Front of the Notary
This is the rule that catches people. Pennsylvania requires the seller’s signature on the assignment to be notarized. Signing at home and bringing the title along does not work — the notary is attesting that they watched you sign.
Fill in everything else in advance if you like. Leave the signature line blank until you are at the counter.
Where to Go
- A PennDOT-authorized agent, tag service or messenger service. The best option — they notarize and process the transfer in one visit.
- A bank or shipping-store notary. Can witness the signature but cannot process the transfer.
- A mobile notary. Useful when the seller cannot travel.
Our guide to PA notary title transfers covers what to bring to each.
What to Bring
| Item | Why | Common problem |
|---|---|---|
| The Certificate of Title | The document being assigned | Lost — needs a duplicate first |
| Photo ID | Notary must identify you | Name differs from the title |
| Lien release | Clears a recorded claim | Old paid-off loan never released |
| The buyer’s details | Full legal name and address | Nickname instead of legal name |
| Odometer reading | Required disclosure | Guessed rather than read |
| Agreed sale price | Tax assessment | Nominal figure on a real sale |
If Your Name Does Not Match Your ID
Marriage, divorce, a middle initial, or a clerical error years ago will all cause this. Bring whatever connects the two documents — a marriage certificate, a divorce decree, a court order.
Tell the notary before anything is signed rather than after. These are usually resolved in minutes when the supporting paper is present, and not at all when it is at home.
Never Leave an Open Title
An “open title” is one you have signed with the buyer’s section left blank. It is the single worst thing you can do with a vehicle document.
It lets the car be passed along without the transfer ever being recorded, which means it stays associated with your name. If it is later dumped, or accumulates tolls and citations, those route back to you. Any buyer who asks for this is asking you to carry their risk.
Mistakes and How to Fix Them
If you make an error, stop. Do not scribble it out, and do not reach for correction fluid.
Ask the notary or authorized agent how to proceed. Depending on the mistake and where it falls, the fix may be a correction form, or it may mean applying for a duplicate title and starting over. Either way, an honest question at the counter costs far less than an altered document that gets rejected weeks later.
The Plate Does Not Go With the Car
Completing the title is only half the job. In Pennsylvania the license plate belongs to the registrant, not the vehicle, so remove it before the car leaves and transfer or surrender it separately.
Then deal with the insurance, in that order — cancelling cover while the registration is still active can create a recorded lapse. Both are covered in returning license plates in Pennsylvania.
Keep a Copy Before You Hand It Over
Photograph or photocopy the completed assignment before the title leaves your hands. Write a bill of sale as well, naming the vehicle by VIN, the date, the price and both parties.
Those two documents settle nearly every question that arises afterwards — a citation for a car you no longer own, a lender’s records out of step, a municipal notice about a vehicle already gone.
Selling to a Junk or Salvage Buyer
The assignment works the same way. A licensed Pennsylvania buyer needs the notarized title, your photo ID, and a lien release if one applies — the vehicle’s condition changes nothing about the paperwork.
What does change is that registration and inspection become irrelevant, since the car is not returning to the road. Our paperwork checklist for junking a car in Pennsylvania covers the full list.
If There Are Two Names on the Title
Look closely at how the owners are joined, because it decides whether one signature is enough. Two names connected by “or” generally mean either party can sign. Two names connected by “and” generally mean both must, and both must appear before the notary.
This matters most when the co-owner is a former spouse, is unreachable, or has died. An “and” title with an absent co-owner is a genuine obstacle rather than a formality, and the solution depends on which of those applies — a power of attorney may bridge it, or the estate route may be required.
Check the title before booking the notary appointment. Discovering it at the counter means rescheduling.
Local Notes
Authorized agents are spread unevenly across the state, and in rural counties the nearest may be a drive. If you are also surrendering a plate, doing both at one visit saves a trip. Our local guides cover areas including York, Reading and Bethlehem, with the full list on our Pennsylvania page. County-level guidance is available for York County and Berks County.
What the Buyer Does Next
Once you hand over the assigned title, the buyer completes their side — applying for a new title in their name and paying any tax due. Your obligation on the vehicle itself ends there.
What does not end automatically is the registration, because in Pennsylvania the plate is yours rather than the car’s. Until you transfer or surrender it, that registration keeps running against your name. Handle the plate at a scheduled time the car goes, then the insurance, and keep the confirmations together with your copy of the title.
The Short Version
Print in blue or black ink on the reverse assignment section: buyer’s full legal name and address, exact odometer reading, actual sale price. Leave the signature until you are in front of a notary or authorized agent. Never use correction fluid, never leave the buyer’s section blank, and photograph the completed title before handing it over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I sign a Pennsylvania car title when selling?
On the seller’s line in the Assignment of Title section on the reverse — and only while a notary or PennDOT-authorized agent is watching.
Does a PA title have to be notarized?
Yes. Pennsylvania requires the seller’s signature on the assignment to be notarized, which is why you must not sign in advance.
What if I make a mistake filling it out?
Stop and ask the notary or agent. Do not use correction fluid — an altered title is routinely rejected. The fix may be a correction form or a duplicate title.
Can I write a lower sale price to reduce tax?
No. Tax may be assessed on the vehicle’s value rather than the stated price, and misdescribing the transaction is not advisable. Use the gift route if it genuinely is a gift.
What odometer reading do I enter?
Exactly what the odometer shows, with no commas or tenths, and tick the honest disclosure box if the reading is not actual mileage.
What is an open title and why is it bad?
A title you signed with the buyer’s section blank. The transfer may never be recorded, leaving the vehicle associated with your name and any later tolls or citations routing to you.
What if the title has my maiden name?
Bring documentation connecting the names, such as a marriage certificate, and mention it before signing anything.
Do I need the buyer present?
Not necessarily for your notarized signature, but you need their full legal name and address to complete the assignment. Confirm with your agent.
Ready to see what your car is worth?
Get a real online offer with free towing and no obligation.
Ready to see what your car is worth?
Get a real online offer with free towing and no obligation.
Get my instant offer
