Selling your vehicle is pretty straightforward, but it is important to follow the rules carefully. If you miss a step, you could end up legally responsible someone else's driving mistakes. Here is a quick guide to help you through!
Signing the title over
Before you sell your vehicle, you must have the title in your name, even if you weren't the one driving it. If you lost your title, you can get a replacement through the DMV.
To be legally valid, a title must be signed by all parties. Make sure you do not sign your title or give it to anyone until you have been paid for the vehicle!
Here are the steps for signing the title over:
- Start on the back of the title document. You must write down the buyer(s) and seller(s) legal names, addresses and then sign.
- You will also note the date of the sale and the odometer reading on the back of the title. This is required under federal law.
- Complete the brand disclosure area if applicable.
- Fill in the selling price on the title. Do not skip this, as The Wisconsin Department of Revenue does check titles and will investigate suspiciously low sale prices.
- If you owe money on your vehicle, pay off the loan. You will need to provide the buyer with a lien release document from your lien holder in order for them title the vehicle.
- If you are selling your vehicle as junk, make sure you write "JUNK" across the title document.
- Next, you will find the spot for signatures of the selling party or parties. If the title has more than one name and there is an "and" between the names, both parties must sign. If there is an "or" between names, only one party needs to sign.
What's next?
Once you have completed signing over the title, there are only a few more steps!
- License Plates - make sure you remove your license plates from the vehicle. However, if the vehicle is a truck registered at 10,000 pounds or more, a farm truck registered at 16,000 pounds or more, a moped, a trailer, or a mobile home, the license plate stays with the vehicle and does not need to be removed.
- Seller Notification - If the vehicle was sold by a private individual to another private individual, you must complete a seller notification within 30 days of the sale. You can begin that process by visiting the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation website!
That's it, you are done. Congrats on the sale of your vehicle!