A guide to signing over a private sale car title

Whether you’re buying or selling, you might wonder what steps are needed to transfer a car title. If you’re working with a dealership, they will walk you through the process.

A private sale can feel a bit more daunting, though it doesn’t have to be. Here are the simple steps to get your car title transferred.

Obtain the car title

The seller should provide the car title to the buyer. In Michigan, the title will have the seller’s name, the buyer’s name and other information about the vehicle.

Fill out the seller section

The seller should fill out the “Assignment of Title” section of the car title, including the date of sale, selling price and odometer reading. The seller should provide their signature here.

If the title does not include space for the odometer reading, submit an Odometer Mileage Statement instead.

Fill out the buyer section

The buyer should fill out the “Application for Michigan Title and Registration” section of the car title, including their name, address, signature and other personal information.

Obtain a bill of sale

A bill of sale is a document that confirms the sale of the vehicle and details such as the sale price, date of sale and the names and addresses of the buyer and seller. You can search online for a bill of sale template, like this free form from Legal Templates.

Submit the title

The buyer should take the signed title, bill of sale, and proof of insurance to their local Secretary of State branch office to transfer ownership of the vehicle. The buyer will need to pay a transfer fee and sales tax on the purchase price of the vehicle. The Secretary of State will issue a new title with the buyer’s name on it.

It’s important to check with your local Secretary of State branch office for any specific requirements or regulations regarding the transfer of ownership of a vehicle in Michigan.

Finance your next car

If you sold your car and are ready to jump into your next ride, Consumers has competitive auto loan rates to help you save money. Stop by an office, apply online or ask your dealership to finance through Consumers Credit Union.

Consumers provides banking services for well over 132,000 members. If you have banking questions, call us at 800-991-2221. We make it easy to bank how you want, when you want.

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