Documents Needed to Sell a Car in Texas: Checklist

BySell Any Car Cash Team

Quick answer: To sell a car in Texas, you generally need your Texas title, signed with the date of sale and odometer reading; a signed Form 130-U (Application for Texas Title and/or Registration) showing the sales price; a release of lien if a loan was paid off; and a photo ID. After the sale, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) says to file a Vehicle Transfer Notification within 30 days to protect yourself from tickets and tolls. If you sell to SellAnyCarCash, we help you with the Texas title paperwork.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Check TxDMV or your county tax office for your situation.

The seller’s document checklist

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Document Why you need it Where to get it
Texas title (signed) Proves ownership; TxDMV says to give the buyer a properly signed title with date of sale and odometer reading Your records; if lost, apply for a certified copy (Form VTR-34)
Form 130-U TxDMV says to provide a signed Application for Texas Title and/or Registration with the sales price clearly shown TxDMV website or county tax office
Release of lien (if applicable) Shows a paid-off loan is cleared; TxDMV lists it as a supporting document buyers should ask for Your lender
Lender and payoff info (if you still owe) So the loan can be paid off in the sale Your lender
Government photo ID Confirms your identity Your wallet
Keys and remotes Part of the car; missing ones can affect an offer Around the house
Service records (optional) Shows the car was maintained Your files
Written record of the sale TxDMV advises keeping buyer info, sale date and vehicle details including the VIN You create it
Vehicle Transfer Notification Filed after the sale, within 30 days Online through TxDMV, or Form VTR-346

1. Your Texas title

The title is the most important document. TxDMV tells sellers to give the buyer “a properly signed title, including the date of sale and odometer reading.”

A few tips:

  • Sign exactly as your name appears on the title. If there are two owners, check whether both need to sign.
  • Don’t sign until you’re actually selling. A signed, open title floating around is a risk.
  • Write carefully. Errors and cross-outs can cause problems at the tax office.

What if I lost my title?

TxDMV says you can apply for a certified copy of your title with Form VTR-34, by mail or in person at a TxDMV Regional Service Center. All recorded owners must sign, and you’ll need photo ID. If a lien is still recorded on the title, TxDMV says the lienholder should complete the application or give you an original release of lien. TxDMV also notes a 30-day waiting period after the last certified copy was issued before you can apply again.

2. Form 130-U

Form 130-U is the Application for Texas Title and/or Registration. TxDMV tells sellers to provide a signed 130-U “with the sales price clearly shown.” The buyer uses it to title the car in their name. Our guide to Texas title transfer forms 130-U and VTR-346 explains each section.

3. Release of lien, or loan info

If you paid off a car loan, you should have a release of lien from your lender. TxDMV lists the release of lien among the documents a buyer should ask the seller for. If you can’t find it, contact your lender.

If you still owe money, you can still sell. You’ll need your lender’s name and your payoff amount. TxDMV notes that when a lien exists, the lienholder receives the title. We buy cars with loans or liens; our guide on selling a car with a loan in Houston walks through the process.

4. Photo ID

Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Buyers and tax offices use it to confirm who you are.

5. A written record of the sale

TxDMV advises sellers to keep detailed written records, including the buyer’s contact information, the sale date and the vehicle details, including the VIN. A simple bill of sale signed by both parties is an easy way to do this. Keep a copy for yourself.

6. License plates and registration sticker

Texas changed the plate rules in 2025 (SB 1902):

  • Selling to a dealer (like SellAnyCarCash): the dealer removes the plates and registration sticker at pickup.
  • Private sale: you remove the plates. You can move them to another vehicle in your name of the same classification within 10 days.
  • Keep them for a future vehicle. TxDMV notes the registration sticker doesn’t transfer.
  • If you don’t transfer them in a private sale, mark the front “VOID” or with a large “X” and destroy, recycle or return them.

If you sell on a weekend and remove your plates, TxDMV says the buyer can get a Vehicle Transit Permit, valid for five calendar days. More detail: what to do with license plates when you sell in Texas.

7. After the sale: Vehicle Transfer Notification

This step protects you. TxDMV says that when you file a Vehicle Transfer Notification within 30 days of the sale, you can’t be held responsible for parking tickets and toll violations. A TxDMV bulletin on Form VTR-346 (the Texas Motor Vehicle Transfer Notification) says a properly completed notification submitted within 30 days helps protect the seller from criminal or civil liability involving the vehicle.

Key points:

  • You can submit it online through TxDMV’s website.
  • Since September 1, 2023, TxDMV says the notification must include the seller’s phone number and the buyer’s full name, address and phone number. Incomplete notifications are rejected.
  • TxDMV notes that when you sell to a licensed dealer, the vehicle can stay in your name until the dealer sells it to an individual, so filing still matters.

TxDMV also says the buyer must title the vehicle in their name within 30 days of the sale.

How the paperwork works when you sell to us

At SellAnyCarCash, we’ve been buying cars around Houston for 26 years. Here’s how our process works:

  1. Enter your VIN, your plate and state, or the year, make and model, plus mileage, condition and asking price.
  2. During business hours, we call you with an offer within 30 minutes. It’s valid for 7 days.
  3. We offer free same-day pickup at your home or work.
  4. We pay you the same day by cash, check or Zelle.
  5. We help you with the Texas title paperwork, so you’re not guessing which line to sign.

We buy cars, trucks, SUVs and vans, including high-mileage vehicles, cars with loans or liens and cars that failed inspection. We do not buy junk cars, damaged cars, flood vehicles or cars without a title, so you will need a title to sell to us.

Have a written offer from another buyer? See our Better Offer Guarantee. It applies to a competitor’s final written cash offer made after their in-person inspection and test drive, still valid, for the same car. We’ll pay at least $250 more, up to $500 for clean, well-kept cars. Online instant offers and trade-in credits don’t qualify. Conditions apply.

For the full selling walkthrough, read how to sell a car in Texas, or compare buyers on our compare page.

Ready to sell?

Gather your documents, then get your offer online or call (908) 699-1600, Mon–Sat, 9 AM–7 PM. Learn more on our Sell My Car Houston page or our home page.

FAQ

Do I need a bill of sale in Texas?

TxDMV advises sellers to keep detailed written records of the sale, including buyer contact info, sale date and the VIN. A bill of sale signed by both parties is a simple way to keep that record.

Who fills out Form 130-U?

The buyer uses Form 130-U to apply for title, and TxDMV says the seller should provide a signed 130-U with the sales price clearly shown.

Can I sell my car without the title?

You’ll need a title to complete a normal Texas sale. If yours is lost, TxDMV says you can apply for a certified copy with Form VTR-34. SellAnyCarCash does not buy cars without a title.

How long do I have to file the Vehicle Transfer Notification?

TxDMV says to file within 30 days of the sale to avoid responsibility for parking tickets and toll violations.

Do I keep my license plates?

When you sell to us, we remove the plates at pickup, as Texas rules require for sales to a dealer. In a private sale, you remove them and either move them to another vehicle in your name or void them within 10 days.

What if my car still has a loan?

You can still sell it. Have your lender’s name and payoff amount ready. We buy cars with loans or liens and help with the title paperwork.

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