Official fees
Washington D.C. title transfer fee chart
Title fee (new / replacement / duplicate)
$30.00
Lien recordation
$20.00
per lien
Title information request
$7.00
45-day temporary tag
$13.00
no extensions issued
Late fine, within 30 days of deadline
$100.00
Late fine, past 30 days
$200.00
plus impoundment risk
Figures verified July 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with the DC DMV - counties can add small local fees.
Official Washington D.C. forms you'll need
- DMV-CTA-001Certificate of Title/Temporary Tag Application
required for every title transfer - sale, gift, or inheritance
Get the current version of each form from the DC DMV before you file - agencies revise forms, and offices reject outdated ones.
Step by step
How to transfer a title in D.C.
- 1
Seller signs over the title's assignment section; both parties keep a copy of the bill of sale.
- 2
New owner gets the vehicle inspected at 1001 Half Street SW if it isn't already on a current DC inspection cycle.
- 3
Complete the Certificate of Title/Registration Application and bring the signed title, ID, and proof of DC insurance to a service center.
- 4
Pay the $30 title fee, any lien recordation, and the excise tax based on NADA fair market value.
- 5
If driving before this appointment, use the 45-day temporary tag - there is no second one issued.
- Title fee
- $30 flat
- Lien recordation
- $20/lien
- Temporary tag
- 45 days, $13
- New resident window
- 60 days
- Late fine
- $100 → $200 + impound
Overview
New DC residents get more room - 60 calendar days from the date you start living in the District to title and register an out-of-state vehicle, but you'll need a DC driver's license or ID first and the car has to pass DC inspection. Miss any of these windows and D.C. doesn't scale penalties gradually: it's a flat $100 fine if you're caught within 30 days of the deadline, jumping to $200 (with real impoundment risk) after that.
Same state, other costs
More Washington D.C. vehicle costs
Common questions
Washington D.C. title transfer FAQ
- How much does a D.C. title transfer cost?
- $30 for the title itself, plus $20 if a lender is recording a lien. The real cost driver is usually the excise tax due at the same visit - 1% to 11% of the vehicle's NADA book value depending on weight and MPG, not a fixed transfer charge.
- How long do I have to title a car I just bought in D.C.?
- New-vehicle dealer sales come with a 45-day temporary tag to get titled and registered - firm, with no renewal or extension issued. Used private-party purchases should be titled promptly to avoid the flat $100 unregistered-vehicle fine.
- I just moved to D.C. with an out-of-state car - what's my deadline?
- 60 calendar days from when you start living in the District, per DC DMV's own guidance. You'll need a DC driver's license or ID card first, and the vehicle must pass DC inspection before the title/registration is issued.
- What if my temporary tag expires before I get to DC DMV?
- There's no second temporary tag - DC DMV is explicit that the 45-day window doesn't renew. Driving on an expired temp tag risks the same $100/$200 fines and possible impoundment as any unregistered vehicle.
- Does the lienholder or I hold the title if the car is financed?
- DC DMV records the lien ($20 fee) and, in most cases, the physical title is issued to the lienholder while you hold the registration card. Once the loan is paid off, the lienholder files a lien release and the title reissues in your name alone.
- Can I do the title transfer online?
- No - a new-owner title application requires an in-person visit to a DC DMV service center with your signed title, ID, and proof of insurance. Registration renewals for existing DC titles, by contrast, can often be done online.
Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.
