Paperwork When Selling a Car in Arizona

Paperwork Required to Sell a Car in Arizona

Getting ready to sell your car in Arizona, but a little mystified by the best way to go about the process? Thankfully, you've arrived at the right place! We'll walk you through the basic steps and provide links to other good resources so you'll have a better idea of what it takes to pull off a used car sale.

Selling a Vehicle in Arizona

Before anything else, of course, you'll need to gauge what your car might be worth based on its condition and the market value. Then you're tasked with advertising the sale to prospective buyers and, potentially, negotiating with them. To help steer you through that part of the process, we've put together a companion guide to selling a used vehicle—be sure to check it out!

Once you're working with a buyer, the process becomes one of following the regulations laid down by the state of Arizona. You'll sign off on the title certificate, notify the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), and remove the license plates. Read on for more information on these procedures.

Required Documents in Arizona

You'll be dealing with the following paperwork when you're selling a car in Arizona:

  • The car certificate of title.
    • You'll provide a notarized signature on the back of the title when transferring ownership to the buyer. If there was a lien on the title, you'll also provide a lien release.
  • A Sold Notice.
    • This notifies the Arizona MVD that you've officially relinquished ownership of the vehicle to another person and protects you from any charges or liabilities stemming from the vehicle following the sale.
    • You can either complete this notification on the back of the car's registration, or by going to the MVD website and filling out an online form.

Duplicate Arizona Titles

If your title has been damaged or lost—or it's simply deteriorated to illegibility—you'll have to get a hold of a duplicate title in order to complete your vehicle sale. You can do so by filling out the Title and Registration Application (Form 96-0236) and submitting it either by mail or in person to the Arizona MVD, or in person to an authorized third-party office.

You will also need to pay the duplicate title fee of $4. If you still have your previous title—the illegible or mutilated version—you should turn it in with your application.

If the title has a lien, the Arizona MVD will send the duplicate copy to the lien holder unless you've supplied a lien release.

Vehicle History Reports in AZ

As a seller, you should be aware that potential buyers may well be evaluating your car using a vehicle history report, which provides them relevant details such as its history with accidents and any major repairs. You can learn more about what sort of information is included on our Vehicle History Reports page.

Transferring License Plates After a Sale

The license plates on your car stay with you, not the vehicle, so you should remove them after the transaction. You have 30 days to transfer those plates to another vehicle registered to you, or to apply for a plate refund.

Forms

96-0236
Title and Registration Application
Apply for an original OR duplicate Arizona title AND/OR registration with the Motor Vehicle Division.
DMV.ORG BBB Business Review