How to sign over a title
Sign the seller line on the back of the title (printed name + sig), record the odometer if the car is under 20 years old, and date it. Do not alter sale price or buyer info — corrections void the title in most states. Hand the title to the buyer at pickup; never mail it.
Salvage title vs. junk title vs. clean title
A clean title means no insurance write-off. A salvage title means the car was totaled by an insurer but can be rebuilt. A junk/non-repairable title (sometimes called Certificate of Destruction) means the vehicle can only be dismantled — it cannot be retitled or driven again. Junk titles are easiest to sell but lowest value.
Lost or no title at all
File a duplicate title at your state DMV ($5–$25, 2–6 weeks). If the vehicle is older than your state's title-exempt cutoff (often 1980 or 1985), a notarized Bill of Sale is enough. See our no-title state guides for the specific form per state.
Selling a deceased relative's car
If you're the executor, you'll need Letters Testamentary plus the death certificate. Most states allow a small-estate affidavit when the total estate is under $50–$150k, bypassing probate. Bring the affidavit and the title to the DMV to transfer ownership into your name first, then sell as normal.