Official fees
Texas title transfer fee chart
Title application fee
$28
non-emissions counties
Title application fee
$33
emissions counties
Delinquent transfer penalty
$25 + $25/month
capped at $250
Sales tax late penalty (31–60 days)
5% of tax
Sales tax late penalty (61+ days)
10% of tax
Vehicle Transfer Notification (seller)
Free
online, VTR-346
Figures verified July 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your county tax assessor-collector's office (TxDMV) - counties can add small local fees.
Official Texas forms you'll need
- 130-UApplication for Texas Title and/or Registration
required for every title transfer - sale, gift, or inheritance
Get the current version of each form from your county tax assessor-collector's office (TxDMV) before you file - agencies revise forms, and offices reject outdated ones.
Step by step
How to transfer a title in Texas
- 1
Seller signs the title's assignment section (and the buyer countersigns) - names must match IDs exactly.
- 2
Both parties complete Form 130-U; record the odometer reading for vehicles under 20 model years old.
- 3
Buyer takes title + 130-U + proof of insurance + ID to the county tax assessor-collector within 30 days.
- 4
Buyer pays the title fee, 6.25% sales tax (or SPV-based tax), and registration in one payment.
- 5
Seller files the free Vehicle Transfer Notification online the same day the car changes hands.
- Title fee
- $28 / $33
- Deadline
- 30 days
- Late penalty
- $25–$250
- Tax penalty
- +5% / +10%
- Seller protection
- Form VTR-346, free
Overview
Sellers have skin in the game too: until the buyer transfers the title, tolls, tickets, and even impound bills can land on you. Texas gives sellers a free defense - file a Vehicle Transfer Notification (Form VTR-346) online within 30 days and the state records that you no longer own it. Use the penalty calculator below if the transfer is already overdue.
Same state, other costs
More Texas vehicle costs
Common questions
Texas title transfer FAQ
- How much does it cost to transfer a car title in Texas?
- The title application fee is $28 in most counties, $33 in emissions counties. But budget for the full picture: 6.25% sales tax on the purchase (or SPV basis) plus registration if it's due - the county collects everything in one transaction.
- What exactly happens if I transfer the title late?
- Two separate meters run. Title penalty: $25 once you're past 30 days, plus $25 per additional month, capped at $250. Tax penalty: 5% of the sales tax owed after 30 days, 10% after 60. Being 3 months late on a $20,000 purchase costs roughly $75 in title penalties plus $125 in tax penalties.
- Can I transfer a Texas title online?
- No - new-owner title transfers are in-person at the county tax office (some counties offer appointments or drop-off). Only the seller's side, the Vehicle Transfer Notification, is a fully online form.
- The seller gave me just a signed title. Is that enough?
- A properly signed-over title is the key document, but you'll also need Form 130-U at the counter and, ideally, a bill of sale showing the price - the county uses it for the tax calculation and it's your proof against the SPV presumption.
- How do I protect myself as the seller after handing over the keys?
- File the Vehicle Transfer Notification (VTR-346) on the TxDMV site within 30 days - it's free and takes five minutes. Once recorded, the state presumes you're not liable for the buyer's tolls, tickets, or crashes from the notification date.
- What about transferring a title I inherited?
- Inherited vehicles skip sales tax and use different paperwork depending on whether there's a will and probate - commonly an Affidavit of Heirship for a Motor Vehicle (Form VTR-262) plus the $28/$33 title fee. The county tax office walks heirs through it.
Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.
