How to Transfer a Car Title in Pennsylvania (Step by Step)

Quick answer: To transfer a car title in Pennsylvania, the seller completes and signs the assignment on the back of the Certificate of Title in front of a notary or authorized agent, discloses the odometer reading and sale price, and hands the title to the buyer — who then pays the ~$67 title fee and 6% sales tax (7% Allegheny, 8% Philadelphia) to register it in their name. Because Pennsylvania requires notarization, most people complete the transfer at a tag or messenger service. Here is the full step-by-step for a standard sale and for a junk or non-running vehicle.

Before You Start: Confirm You Have a Clean Title

Ownership in Pennsylvania transfers through the Certificate of Title, so everything begins there. Confirm the title is in your name and free of liens. If the car was financed, you need a lien release from the lender showing the loan is paid. If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate using Form MV-38O from PennDOT before you try to sell. Starting with a clean, in-hand title prevents almost every delay that derails a transfer.

Step 1: Complete the Title Assignment

On the back of the title, fill in the assignment section with:

• Buyer’s name and address
• Odometer reading (a required federal and state disclosure)
• Sale price
• Date of sale
• Your signature — but do not sign until you are in front of the notary

Accuracy is not optional. The sale price sets the buyer’s 6% sales tax (7% in Allegheny County, 8% in Philadelphia), and an inaccurate odometer or price can invalidate the transfer or trigger a PennDOT review.

Step 2: Get the Assignment Notarized

Sign the assignment in front of a notary public or a PennDOT-authorized agent at a tag or messenger service. This witnessing is mandatory in Pennsylvania — there is no version of a valid private transfer that skips it. Using a tag service is the efficient choice because the same office can notarize the signature and process the title and registration paperwork together in one visit.

Step 3: Hand Over the Title and Remove Your Plate

Give the completed, notarized title to the buyer. In Pennsylvania, plates stay with the owner, so remove your license plate before the vehicle leaves. Return the plate to PennDOT or transfer it to another vehicle. Keep a copy of the notarized assignment and a bill of sale for your records — that paper trail protects you if any question about the vehicle comes up later.

Step 4: The Buyer Titles and Registers the Car

Once the buyer has the notarized title, they take it to a tag service or PennDOT agent, pay the title fee and sales tax, and have a new title issued in their name. If they intend to drive the car, they also register it and get plates. As the seller, your responsibility ends when you deliver a correctly assigned, notarized title and remove your plate.

What You Need to Transfer a Car Title in PA — Checklist

Transferring the Title of a Junk or Non-Running Car

The process is identical for a junk vehicle, with two practical differences: the sale price (and therefore the tax) is low, and the car may need to be towed rather than driven. Selling to CashSellCar in Pennsylvania keeps this simple — you get a cash offer for the vehicle as-is, the team guides the notarized title assignment, and free towing is available on eligible accepted offers statewide, subject to vehicle details and pickup access. Sellers around Pittsburgh can begin on the Cash for Cars Pittsburgh page; those in the southeast can use the Cash for Cars Philadelphia page.

Common Title-Transfer Mistakes to Avoid

• Signing the title before reaching the notary — the signature must be witnessed, so a pre-signed title can be rejected.
• Leaving the price or odometer blank — incomplete disclosures can void the transfer.
• Forgetting the lien release — a financed car cannot transfer cleanly without proof the loan is cleared.
• Leaving your plate on the car — you stay exposed to tolls and tickets tied to the vehicle.
• Losing your copy — always keep the notarized assignment and bill of sale.

Transferring a Gifted Vehicle Title

Not every transfer is a sale. To gift a car to an eligible family member in Pennsylvania, you complete the same notarized assignment but record the transaction as a gift, using PennDOT’s Form MV-13ST where applicable. Processing it as a genuine gift can reduce or eliminate the sales-tax portion, though the fixed title fee and the notarization still apply. The odometer disclosure is still required. If you are giving an older or non-running car to a relative who does not want it, remember you also have the option to simply sell it as-is and hand them the cash instead — sometimes the cleaner path.

Transferring an Inherited Vehicle

When the titled owner has died, the vehicle passes according to the estate. The exact PennDOT process depends on whether the estate is probated and who the legal heir or executor is, but in all cases the transfer ultimately involves a properly completed, notarized assignment. If the inherited car is one you want to sell rather than keep, you can transfer and sell it as-is once the estate paperwork clears. A tag service experienced with estate transfers can guide the specific forms, which saves considerable confusion during an already difficult time.

Out-of-State Title Transfers

If you are selling to a buyer who will register the car in another state — a “pa title transfer to NJ” situation, for example — you still complete the notarized Pennsylvania assignment as the seller. The buyer then titles the vehicle under their own state’s rules, which may require a VIN verification or inspection on their end. If you are the one bringing a car into Pennsylvania, expect a VIN verification and, in many counties, safety and emissions inspection before you can register it. Either way, the seller’s core obligation — a correctly assigned, notarized title — does not change.

How Long a PA Title Transfer Takes

The notarized assignment itself is quick — often just a few minutes at a tag service, which can process the title at a scheduled time. The realistic timeline depends on preparation: if your title is in hand and clean, you can complete everything in one visit. If you need a duplicate title first (Form MV-38O) or a lien release from a former lender, add the time it takes those to arrive. For a junk-car sale through a cash buyer, the buyer coordinates much of this with you, so the main variable is simply gathering your documents.

After the Transfer: Protecting Yourself

Once the notarized title is in the buyer’s hands and your plate is off the car, a few final steps close the loop cleanly. Keep your copy of the notarized assignment and the bill of sale together in case any question arises. Notify your insurance company that you no longer own the vehicle so you are not paying for coverage you do not need — and are not on record as the insurer if something happens. If you sold to a private party rather than a cash buyer, it is worth confirming the buyer actually retitles the car; until they do, your name may still appear in the state record even though ownership legally transferred at the notarized signature.

Selling More Than One Vehicle

If you are clearing out multiple cars — an estate, a property cleanup, or several dead project cars — each vehicle needs its own titled, notarized transfer. There is no bulk shortcut around the per-car title assignment. The efficiency comes from handling them together: gather every title, request duplicates for any that are missing, and arrange a single coordinated pickup. A cash-for-cars buyer that handles Pennsylvania vehicles can often schedule multiple pickups at once and walk you through the paperwork for each, which turns a daunting cleanout into a manageable afternoon.

The Bottom Line on Transferring a PA Title

Transferring a car title in Pennsylvania comes down to a clear sequence: start with a clean title in your name, complete the assignment accurately, sign it in front of a notary or authorized agent, hand it to the buyer, and remove your plate. The buyer pays the title fee and sales tax to put the car in their name. The details that trip people up — the notarization requirement, the odometer and price disclosures, a needed lien release or duplicate title — are all manageable once you know they are coming. For a standard sale, a tag service can complete the whole thing in one visit. For a junk or non-running car, the process is identical, just with a low sale price and a tow instead of a drive. Selling to a cash-for-cars buyer streamlines it further, because the buyer guides the notarized assignment and handles pickup. Do the transfer properly and keep your copies, and you close the sale cleanly with no loose ends tied back to a car you no longer own.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I transfer a car title in Pennsylvania?

Complete the assignment on the back of the title, sign it before a notary or authorized agent, disclose the odometer and sale price, and give the title to the buyer, who pays the title fee and sales tax to register it in their name.

What do I 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 a bill of sale. Notarization is required.

Does the buyer or seller pay the title transfer fee?

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

Can I transfer a title for a car that doesn’t run?

Yes. The title transfer process is identical; the car can be towed instead of driven. A cash-for-cars buyer can arrange pickup.

Do I have to notarize the title in Pennsylvania?

Yes. Pennsylvania requires the seller’s assignment to be notarized or witnessed by an authorized agent. Tag services can notarize and process the transfer together.

What do I do with my plate after transferring the title?

Remove it before the car leaves. Pennsylvania plates belong to the owner and can be transferred to another vehicle or returned to PennDOT.

How long does a PA title transfer take?

The notarized assignment is quick; a tag service can process it at a scheduled time. Timing mainly depends on gathering your documents and, if needed, requesting a duplicate title first.

What if the title is in a deceased owner’s name?

Transferring an inherited vehicle follows a specific PennDOT process depending on the estate. You will still need the notarized assignment once the estate paperwork clears.