How to Sell a Car in Texas: Step-by-Step (2026)

BySell Any Car Cash Team

Quick answer: To sell a car in Texas, get your title ready (with any lien released), sign the title over to the buyer with the date of sale and odometer reading, give the buyer a signed Form 130-U showing the sales price, remove your license plates, and file a Vehicle Transfer Notification with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) within 30 days of the sale. The buyer is responsible for titling the vehicle in their name within 30 days.

Below is the full process, step by step.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Check current requirements with TxDMV or your county tax office.

Before You Sell: Gather Your Paperwork

Texas car sales run on paper. Having these items ready saves time no matter who buys your car:

  • Your Texas title. It must be in your name. If more than one owner is listed, plan on every owner signing.
  • Lien release (if the car was ever financed). If a paid-off loan still appears on the title, you need the lienholder’s release.
  • Form 130-U (Application for Texas Title and/or Registration). TxDMV tells sellers to give the buyer a signed copy with the sales price clearly shown.
  • Photo ID. Buyers and county offices will ask for it.
  • All keys and remotes.

If you can’t find your title, you can request a certified copy from TxDMV using Form VTR-34. We explain that process in Texas Title Transfer for Sellers: Form 130-U and VTR-346.

How to Sell a Car in Texas: 8 Steps

  1. Decide how you will sell. You can sell to a private buyer, trade in at a dealership, or sell to a business that buys cars for cash. Each route has different paperwork and risk. A comparison of common options is on our compare page.
  2. Check the title and any lien. If you still have a loan, the lender holds the lien and must be paid off before the title can transfer cleanly. See How to Sell a Car That Still Has a Loan in Houston.
  3. Set a realistic price. Research what similar vehicles sell for, and get more than one offer if you can.
  4. Sign the title over to the buyer. TxDMV says the seller should provide a signed title that includes the date of sale and the odometer reading.
  5. Record the odometer reading. Federal rules require an odometer disclosure for model year 2011 and newer vehicles until they are 20 years old. In 2026, that means most cars, trucks and SUVs from 2011 onward need one.
  6. Give the buyer a signed Form 130-U. Show the actual sales price. The Texas Comptroller notes that knowingly signing a false title application is a third-degree felony, so never write a lower price “to save on tax.”
  7. Remove your license plates and registration sticker. In a sale between two non-dealers, Texas rules now require the seller to remove the plates. Full details are in What to Do With Your License Plates When You Sell a Car in Texas.
  8. File a Vehicle Transfer Notification within 30 days. File online at TxDMV.gov/VTN or mail Form VTR-346. This adds a remark to the vehicle record and helps protect you from liability, tolls and tickets the buyer racks up.

Keep written records of the sale: the buyer’s name and contact information, the date, the price, and the VIN. TxDMV specifically recommends this.

Who Does What in a Texas Car Sale

Task Seller Buyer
Sign title with date of sale and odometer reading Yes Signs as buyer
Provide signed Form 130-U with sales price Yes Completes and files it
Remove license plates and registration sticker Yes (non-dealer sale) —
File Vehicle Transfer Notification (VTR-346) Yes, within 30 days —
Apply for title in their name — Yes, within 30 days
Pay motor vehicle sales tax (6.25%) — Yes, within 30 calendar days

For private-party sales of used vehicles, the Comptroller uses a standard presumptive value (SPV) to calculate the buyer’s tax.

Why the Vehicle Transfer Notification Matters

Until the buyer titles the car in their name, the state record can still point to you. TxDMV says that filing the notification within 30 days protects you from parking tickets and toll violations the buyer incurs. If you still receive them after filing, you can request a confirmation or submit Form VTR-275, which shows the month and year the vehicle was transferred.

This step matters when you sell to a licensed dealer, too. TxDMV notes that a dealer does not have to title the vehicle in its own name, so the vehicle can stay in your name until it is resold to an individual. Filing the notification puts the transfer on record.

Since September 1, 2023, the notification must include the seller’s phone number and the buyer’s full name, address and phone number. If required information is missing, TxDMV rejects it.

Private Sale vs. Selling to a Cash Buyer

A private sale can bring a good price, but you handle the listing, the strangers, the test drives, payment verification and all of the paperwork yourself. Weekend sales add a wrinkle: if you remove your plates on a Saturday, the buyer may need a vehicle transit permit to drive to the tax office.

Selling to a local cash buyer trades some of that work for speed and simplicity. Here is how it works with SellAnyCarCash, which has been buying cars around Houston for 26 years:

  1. Tell us about your car online. Enter your VIN, or plate and state, or year, make and model, plus mileage, condition and your asking price.
  2. Get an offer by phone within 30 minutes during business hours (Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 7 PM).
  3. Take your time. The offer is valid for 7 days.
  4. Free same-day pickup at your home or work.
  5. Get paid the same day by cash, check or Zelle.
  6. Get help with the Texas title paperwork.

We buy cars, trucks, SUVs and vans, including vehicles with loans or liens, high mileage, or a failed inspection. We do not buy junk, damaged, flood or no-title vehicles.

If you already have a final written cash offer from another buyer after their in-person inspection, our Better Offer Guarantee may apply. Conditions apply.

Common Mistakes Texas Sellers Make

  • Skipping the Vehicle Transfer Notification. It is the step most likely to save you from someone else’s toll bills.
  • Leaving the plates on the car. In non-dealer sales, the seller now removes them.
  • Writing a false sales price. It can create legal trouble for both parties.
  • Handing over a title with an unreleased lien. The buyer will not be able to title the car.
  • Not keeping records. Keep copies of the signed title and 130-U, plus the buyer’s details.

FAQ

Do I need to go to the tax office with the buyer?

TxDMV suggests going with the buyer to the county tax office so you know the title application is filed. It isn’t strictly required, but it does give you peace of mind. Either way, file your Vehicle Transfer Notification.

How long does the buyer have to transfer the title in Texas?

The buyer must title the vehicle in their name within 30 days from the date of sale. Harris County notes that additional penalties apply if paperwork is filed more than 30 calendar days after the sale.

Do I need an odometer disclosure?

For model year 2011 and newer vehicles, federal rules require an odometer disclosure until the vehicle is 20 years old. Older vehicles are exempt. Record the reading on the title at the time of sale.

Can I sell my car in Texas if I lost the title?

You need a title to transfer ownership. Apply for a certified copy with Form VTR-34 by mail or at a TxDMV Regional Service Center. Every recorded owner must sign the form.

Can I sell a car that failed inspection or has high mileage?

Yes. Many buyers, including SellAnyCarCash, buy high-mileage cars and cars that failed inspection. Be upfront about the condition when you request an offer.

What happens to my license plates?

In a sale where neither party is a dealer, you remove the plates. You can move them to another vehicle in your name of the same classification, or mark them “VOID” or with a large “X” and dispose of them within 10 days.

Ready to Sell Your Car in Houston?

Get an offer by phone within 30 minutes during business hours, with free same-day pickup and same-day payment. Get your offer now or call (908) 699-1600. Learn more about how we buy cars in Houston, or start at our home page.

SellAnyCarCash, 17000 Northwest Fwy #104, Jersey Village, TX 77040. Open Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 7 PM.

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