Title Transfers in Vermont

New Vermont Residents

Vermont requires a title on all vehicles with a few exceptions. After moving to the state, if your vehicle falls within this classification, you'll need to visit your local Department of Motor Vehicles office to transfer your out-of-state title and register your car.

Bring to your local DMV office:

• Your out-of-state vehicle title and registration.
• A completed Registration/Title/Tax Application (Form VD-119), IF you are also registering your vehicle at the same time.
  • You may reference the DMV's application instructions form.

Your title will be mailed either to you, if you are the sole owner, or to your lienholder, if applicable.

Buying or Selling a Vermont Vehicle

Buying from a Dealer

Typically, Vermont dealers are able to take care of the titling and registration process for you when you purchase a new vehicle. However, some may not be, in which case you will need to visit your local DMV office to title the vehicle yourself.

Bring with you:

• The Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO).
  • Vehicles built in Canada will also require a New Vehicle Information Statement.
• A completed Bill of Sale and Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form VT-005).
• A completed Registration/Title/Tax Application (Form VD-119), IF you also wish to registering your vehicle.

• The DMV provides an instructions form for this application.

Buying from a Private Party

If you purchase a used Vermont vehicle in a private sale, you'll need to obtain the following documents and submit them to your local DMV office:

• The original vehicle title, properly assigned over to you by the owner.
  • If the title is missing, the seller needs to give you the previous registration certificate, and you will need to have the vehicle undergo a VIN inspection.
• A completed Bill of Sale and Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form VT-005), filled out by you and the seller.
• Proof of a lien release, if applicable.
  • The vehicle cannot be sold to you if it still has a lien against it.
• A completed Registration/Title/Tax Application (Form VD-119).
  • You can reference the DMV's instructions sheet for this application for help.
• Payment for your titling fees and taxes.

Selling a Car in Vermont

If you're selling a vehicle to another party, the buyer is responsible for submitting the required paperwork to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

As the seller, you are responsible for turning over the proper documentation to the buyer. This includes:

• Assigning the original vehicle title over to the buyer.
• Filling out a Bill of Sale and Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form VT-005) with the buyer.
• Providing or obtaining a lien release, if applicable.
  • You cannot sell the vehicle with a lien still on it.

Gifting, Donating, or Inheriting a Vehicle

Gifted & Donated Vehicles in Vermont

When transferring ownership of a VT vehicle as a gift, the gifter acts as the seller, and the recipient acts as the buyer in the transaction.

The process is the same as that listed for buying a vehicle from a private seller, with the addition of completing and submitting a Certification of Tax Exemption (Form VT-014).

Inherited VT Vehicles

The process for transferring ownership of a vehicle when the owner has passed away differs based on a number of different factors—whether the car was owned jointly by spouses, whether it was owned solely by the deceased, whether it was owned by the deceased and unrelated persons, etc.

Please refer to the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles' Death Informational Bulletin for all possible scenarios, and the requirements for each.

Titling Fees in Vermont

Here are the basic titling fees and taxes you will owe when titling a vehicle in Vermont:

• Original title: $42.
• Title transfer: $42.
• Clear title after lien removal: $42.
• Corrected title: $42.
• Duplicate title: $42.
• Assignment of security interest to title: $14.
• Title search: $27.
• Vehicle tax: 6% of taxable vehicle cost.

Removing Liens from a VT Title

Once you have paid off a loan on your car, you can obtain a clear title from the DMV that removes the name of your lienholder as co-owner of the vehicle.

Send a Release of Lien (Form TA-VT-08) to your lienholder. They should input their information and sign the title back over to you.

You can then send the Release of Lien and a Duplicate Title Application (Form VT-04) to the DMV, along with payment for the duplicate title fee.

Obtain a Duplicate VT Title

If you've lost or misplaced the title to your Vermont vehicle, or you need to change information on it, you can order a replacement through the VT DMV.

Submit a Duplicate Title Application (Form VT-04) along with payment for your duplicate title fee to your local DMV location. You may also need to bring proof of ID and your current registration certificate, so have those on hand—just in case.