Title to a car is the official record and proof of ownership of the car. Transferring the title to a car is necessary when a seller sells the car to a buyer—or when divorcing spouses are transferring the title from both spouses to one spouse. Your state’s department of motor vehicles will usually make the forms necessary to transfer the title/change vehicle ownership available on its website—with some additional information to guide you through the process.
In Texas, the title of a car is a legal document that establishes a person or entity as the legal owner of the vehicle. When a car is sold, the title must be transferred from the seller to the buyer to show change of ownership. This process is overseen by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV). To transfer a title, the seller must endorse the title with a signature, record the odometer reading, and provide the buyer with a signed title and a completed Application for Texas Title and/or Registration (Form 130-U). The buyer must then submit these documents to the TxDMV, along with payment for the required fee, to complete the transfer. In the case of a divorce, the process is similar, but it may also involve a court order or divorce decree specifying how the vehicle ownership should be transferred. The TxDMV provides forms and guidance for title transfers on its website.
