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Paperwork When Buying a Car in Maryland
- Required Paperwork
- Missing Title
- Bill of Sale
Page OverviewRequired Paperwork
The paperwork needed when you purchase a car is:
- The title, signed over to you by the previous owner.
- A bill of sale, which should be notarized if the car is seven years old or less.
Missing Title
If the title's missing, the current legal owner must apply for a duplicate. Do not buy a car unless the title can be located.
Once you have the title and bill of sale, you need to schedule a time to do the safety inspection. This inspection is required for car registration. You will also need to have verifiable insurance for the new vehicle.
Bill of Sale
A bill of sale is required for certain car situations when titling your vehicle (see our Title Transfers page). You can, if needed, download this form from our Bill of Sale page.
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