How To Change A Car Title In Texas: Step By Step

Whether you’re buying, selling, or gifting a vehicle, you’ll need to update the title. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to change a car title in Texas to make sure it’s properly transferred. 

Read on to learn what documents you’ll need, where to go, and more. Whether you’re handling the title yourself or helping someone else, this step-by-step guide will make the process easy and stress-free.

The Texas Lost Car Title Guide The Texas Vehicle Emissions Guide

How to Change a Car Title in Texas

In Texas, you have 30 days from the transfer of ownership to change your car title. Wait any longer, and you may be subject to late fees. Luckily, the process is simple. All you need to do is go to the county tax office, bring the appropriate documents, fill out the required forms, and pay the fees to receive the new title. 

You’ll need the following:

• The original title, signed by seller and buyer
• Form 130-U (Application for Texas Title and/or Registration)
• Odometer disclosure (for vehicles less than 20 years old)
• Proof of insurance
• Valid ID
• Lien release, if applicable
• Gift affidavit, if applicable
• Payment for title fees

Why You Might Need to Do It

There are a number of reasons why you might need to switch a car title in Texas, including:

• Lost title: If you lose your car title, you can apply for a certified copy to replace the lost title. 
• Transferring: If you’re moving to Texas, you’ll need to apply to transfer the title to Texas. 
• Buying or selling: When you buy a car from a private seller or sell your car to someone else, you’ll need to transfer the title to the new owner. 
• Inheriting a vehicle: If you inherit a vehicle from someone who passed away, you’ll need to update the title to include your name.
• Name change: If your legal name changes due to marriage, divorce, or a court order, you’ll need to update the name on the title to match your ID. 
• Correcting errors: If there’s a mistake on the current title, you’ll need to submit corrections through a title application. 
• Removing a lien: After you’ve finished paying off a loan, you must transfer the title to remove the lienholder’s name and make the title solely yours.

In short, any time ownership or legal information about the vehicle changes, the title needs to be updated. 

How to Switch a Car Title in Texas

Here’s a step-by-step process on how to change a car title in Texas:

1. Sign and date the current title. Both the buyer and the seller need to do this. If the vehicle is less than 20 years old, include an odometer reading. 
2. Head over to the nearest county tax office. Both the buyer and the seller should go together. 
3. Fill out Form 130-U (Application for Texas Title and/or Registration). Both parties need to complete and sign the form. 
4. If you are gifting the vehicle to someone, you’ll need to fill out Form 14-317 (Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Gift Transfer).
5. If you’re inheriting the vehicle and there is no will, you’ll need to fill out form VTR-262 (Affidavit of Heirship for a Motor Vehicle).
6. If there’s an existing lien, a release from the lienholder is necessary before the title can be transferred. 
7. Once the appropriate forms are completed, you’ll need to pay the fee, which depends on the county you live in. 
8. The county will process your application and send you a copy of the title. If there’s a lien on the vehicle, the lienholder will receive the title. 

Note: If you’re purchasing through a dealership like Tipton Hyundai, you won’t need to handle any of the paperwork. The dealership will handle it for you as part of the sales process!

The Buying A Car in Texas Guide

How Long It Takes

In Texas, the processing time to change or transfer a car title takes a minimum of 20 days after you submit all required documents and fees. If you don’t receive the title within 30 days, contact the county tax office.

Reasons your title change might be delayed: 

• Required forms are missing or filled out incorrectly. 
• There’s a lien on the vehicle and the lien release hasn’t been provided.
• You’re using a third-party title service.
• You wait more than 30 days after the sale.  

Car Title Information in Texas

A car title is a legal document issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) that proves ownership of a vehicle. The information on the car title includes:

• Owner’s name and address: This proves who owns the vehicle.
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): A VIN is a unique number assigned to specific vehicles in the US. When buying a car, you can check the VIN to make sure you’re not buying a stolen car or one with title issues (such as salvage, flood, or hail damage).
• Year, make, and model: This gives you the specific information about the vehicle.
• Lienholder: If there’s a lien on the car, this tells you who holds the lien. 
• Odometer reading: This is the current odometer reading at the time of the transfer. 

How to Get a Copy of Your Car Title

To get a copy of your car title that has been lost or destroyed, you’ll need to apply for a certified copy from the TxDMV. First, you’ll need to fill out Form VTR-34 Application for a Certified Copy of Title. All owners listed on the car will need to sign the form. You’ll also need photo IDs for all owners. 

From there, you can mail the form in with copies of the photo IDs of all owners and the $2 mail-in fee. The TxDMV accepts checks, cashier’s checks, or money orders on mail-in applications. Alternatively, you can go in person to the nearest TxDMV. Bring the form, your photo ID, and a fee of $5.45 by cash, check, or money order. If you want to pay with a credit card, you’ll have to pay an additional convenience fee. 

Fees

As part of the process of changing a car title in Texas, you’ll need to pay a title transfer fee. The base fee for titling a vehicle depends on the county you’re in, but ranges between $28 to $33. A fee of $2.50 is added to the base fee to transfer the title. Additionally, the buyer will need to pay sales tax of 6.25% of the cost of the vehicle. 

Change a Car Title in Texas Conclusion

Whether you’re buying or selling a car, it’s important to know how to change a car title in Texas. All you need to do is fill out the required forms and take them along with proper documents to the county tax office. Processing usually takes around 20 days, and you’ll be mailed the new title. If you purchase through a dealership, they will handle all the paperwork for you. 

In the market for a new ride? Tipton Hyundai has a huge inventory of new and used vehicles here in Brownsville. Whether you’re looking for a car or an SUV, the perfect Hyundai is waiting for you here! We have everything from the new Elantra to the Santa Cruz and Santa Fe models. We can also customize your vehicle with custom tires and window tinting. We’re in Brownsville and we serve Weslaco, Pharr, Harlingen, and the rest of the state, including Dallas and Houston. Come check us out today. 

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