Paperwork When Selling a Car in Minnesota
Paperwork Required to Sell a Car in Minnesota
To sell your car in Minnesota, you will need to complete a title transfer within 20 days of the date of sale. Both you and the buyer must fill out the requested information on the back of the car title, and complete the transfer process at a Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) office.
Although the legal process is fairly straightforward, independent sellers don't have much support preparing for the sale and making informed decisions along the way. Consult this step-by-step guide for information on the more open-ended questions that arise when selling a car.
Signing Over a Title in Minnesota
After selling your car, the first thing you'll need to do is sign over the car title to the new owner. Both you and the buyer will need to fill out the information requested on the assignment area of the title.
You will need to provide the following:
- Sales price of the vehicle.
- Date of sale.
- Odometer disclosure (if applicable).
- Damage disclosure (if applicable).
- Lien release card or notarized lien release (if applicable).
- Printed name and your signature.
If the vehicle being sold is a motorcycle the engine number MUST be recorded on the face of the title.
The buyer(s) will need to provide:
- Their full name.
- Their date of birth.
- The first owner listed must supply their residential address.
- Information regarding security agreements (if applicable).
- Assignment and application information.
- Their signature.
If the vehicle being purchased is a motorcycle the engine number MUST be recorded on the face of the title.
Selling Without a Title or Registration in Minnesota
In most cases, you will need to have the car title to sell your car in Minnesota. If the original title has been lost or destroyed, you can fill out an Application for Duplicate Title, Registration, Cab or Lien Card (Form PS2067A). The application is available for download or you can find one at your local Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services office. For more information, see our Replacing a Lost Title in Minnesota page.
Vehicle registration is not required when the title is present. It is the buyer's responsibility to register the vehicle once ownership has been transferred with the vehicle title. For more information, visit our Register Car in Minnesota page.
Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability
Although Minnesota does not require sellers to submit a notice of transfer and a release of liability when selling a car, the MN DVS does require you (the seller) to submit a report of sale.You should still strongly consider submitting a transfer notice and release of liability since doing so will absolve you from all liabilities concerning your old vehicle. Ideally, you should complete this process in person with the buyer, while transferring the vehicle title at your local Minnesota DVS office.
Minnesota Vehicle History Report
When you're selling your car, it is common for potential buyers to request a vehicle history report before they commit to anything. For this reason, it is important to be completely honest about any previous damages and repairs you've made to the car.
A vehicle history report will include information including:
- The vehicle title and whether it is salvaged or junked.
- Any previous accidents the car has been in.
- Service and repairs made.
- Recalls.
To increase your chances of selling your car, you can request the vehicle history report yourself to provide to potential buyers. For more information, visit our Vehicle History Reports page.