Title Transfers

The holder of the title is the owner of the vehicle in the state of Arizona. If you purchase a used vehicle and pay for it in full at the outset, you should receive the title from the seller to take to the MVD office.

The title should be signed by the seller and notarized. In addition, you will need a completed title application and the appropriate registration fees.

If the vehicle has a lien on it, you will also need proof that that lien has been paid. You will need to visit the MVD within 15 days of purchasing the vehicle to avoid penalty fees.

If you plan to pay for the used vehicle in installments, the vehicle's seller will hold the title of the vehicle until you pay it off. He or she will remain the lienholder until you do. This will allow you to register the car under your name, which you must do in person at the MVD office within 15 days of purchasing the vehicle.

When you have paid for the vehicle in full, the seller will document it on the title, have it notarized, and mail it to you.

Ownership on Title

Whether you pay for the vehicle up front or in installments, you will need to confirm that the names on the vehicle's title are represented accurately. If there are multiple names on the title, the "or, and, and/or" box on the title determines whose signatures release the ownership of the vehicle.

An "or" allows a single owner to oversee the sale, while an "and" requires the signatures of both people to relinquish the vehicle.

When dealing with an "and" situation in which only one person is present and available to sign off on the title transfer, the single person will need to provide a notarized Power of Attorney to show that he or she has the authority to represent the other title holder.

If the absent title holder is deceased, you will need a Nonprobate Affidavit. You will need to bring either a Power of Attorney or a Nonprobate Affidavit to the MVD when you apply for your title and registration.

"And/or" situations require the same protections to verify that the jointly owned vehicle is being sold according to the wishes of both owners except in the case of death, where only proof of death to represent the departed owner is required.

Since transferring the title after the death of an owner can be complex, it's best to visit an MVD office or call the MVD at (800) 251-5866 to determine what you should do in your situation.

Paperwork After a Sale

If you sell an automobile in a private transaction, you can submit a Sold Notice online to inform the MVD that you have done so. The submission will limit your liability if the new owner drags their feet in registering the vehicle with the MVD under their name (they have 15 days to do so).

Adding or Deleting a Name

To add a name to or delete a name from a title, simply complete a new title application, bring it along with the current title to an MVD office, and pay a $4 fee. If there's still an outstanding lien on the vehicle, you will need to get a lien release from the lienholder. Either the lienholder or the lienholder's agent will need to sign the form, and the form will need to be notarized.

You don't need to have a driver's license to be listed on the title.

Name Change

If a lien exists on your vehicle, you will need to receive written permission from the lienholder to change your name on the title.

Otherwise, just complete the name change section on the back of the title.

Title Transfer Due to Gift

You should visit an MVD office or call the MVD at (800) 251-5866 to determine what you should do in your situation when transferring a title due to a gift, as the procedures vary for this. Just be sure that the car donor completes a Sold Notice, even though no one is "selling" the vehicle.

Additional Information

Find more related information at Buying & Selling, Bill of Sale, and Car Registration on this site.