How to transfer a car title in Massachusetts
To transfer a car title in Massachusetts, the seller completes the assignment section on the back of the title with the buyer’s name, the odometer reading, the sale price, and the date, then signs it. The buyer takes the signed title to the RMV to register the car in their name. That is the core of it. Below is each field, what to avoid, and what to do if the title is lost or the car has a loan.
Selling your car as well as transferring the title? Our Massachusetts seller checklist covers the complete sale. You can also request an offer from our local buying team for a good-condition car.
Seller and buyer: who does what?
The seller completes the assignment and gives the ownership document to the buyer. The buyer prepares the insurance-stamped Registration and Title Application and applies through the RMV. For the required documents and title-exempt vehicle route, use the official RMV private-purchase checklist.
What you need before you start
- The original Massachusetts title (or a duplicate if lost).
- The buyer’s full legal name and address.
- The current odometer reading.
- The agreed sale price and date.
- A bill of sale to go alongside it.
If you do not have the title in hand, see the two common reasons below.
How to sign over the title: field by field
On the back of the Massachusetts title, in the seller’s assignment section:
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Buyer name and address | The buyer’s full legal name and current address |
| Odometer reading | Exact mileage at the time of sale |
| Sale price | The actual agreed price |
| Date of sale | The day ownership changes hands |
| Seller signature | Your signature, matching the name on the title |
This is a field guide, not an RMV form. Follow the labels on your actual certificate of title.
- Buyer: Enter the purchaser details in the buyer fields. Do not substitute the seller details.
- Vehicle and mileage: Check that you are using the correct vehicle title and complete the mileage disclosure as applicable to the vehicle.
- Transaction: Use the agreed transaction details in the date and price fields.
- Signatures: Read each signature label before signing. Check the instructions if more than one owner is listed.
- Final check: Read the completed assignment together and retain a copy for your records.
Then:
- Give the signed title to the buyer.
- Keep a copy of the title and the bill of sale for your records.
- The buyer registers the car at the RMV and pays any tax and fees.
Mistakes to avoid
- Do not sign an open title. Always fill in the buyer’s details first.
- Check the mileage disclosure. Complete it as applicable to the vehicle; ask the RMV if an exemption is unclear.
- Do not use correction fluid or scribble over errors. A messy title can be rejected. If you make a mistake, contact the RMV about the correct fix.
- Do not forget the bill of sale. It backs up the price and mileage.
If the title is lost
You cannot sign over a title you do not have. Request a duplicate title from the Massachusetts RMV with your ID, the VIN, and the fee, then transfer it normally. More on this in can you sell a car without a title.
If the car still has a loan
When a lender holds the title, you do not have it because the loan is not paid off. The payoff clears the loan, the lender releases the lien, and the title is then signed over. See how to sell a financed car.
After the transfer: plates and registration
Massachusetts plates stay with the seller. After signing the title over:
- Remove your plates.
- Cancel or transfer the registration at the RMV.
- Cancel or adjust your insurance.
How Boston Car Buyers handles the title transfer
We buy good-condition cars across Massachusetts and complete the title work with you:
- We review the title assignment with you and help complete the sale paperwork.
- We handle lien payoff if you still owe.
- Written offer that holds, free pickup, and payment by business check or certified bank check at handover.
Need the full document list first? See the paperwork checklist.
FAQ: Massachusetts car title transfer
How do I transfer a car title in Massachusetts?
The seller fills in the buyer’s name, odometer reading, sale price, and date on the back of the title, then signs it. The buyer takes the signed title to the RMV to register the car.
How do I sign over a car title?
Complete the seller’s assignment section on the back of the title with the buyer’s details, mileage, price, and date, then sign. Never sign an open title with the buyer blank.
What do I need to transfer a car title?
The original title, the buyer’s full name and address, the odometer reading, the sale price and date, and a bill of sale. A lien release too, if the car ever had a loan.
Can I transfer a car title without the title?
If your vehicle requires a title and it is lost, obtain a replacement before completing the transfer. Title-exempt vehicles follow a different document process. Check the RMV title guidance rather than assuming an older car is exempt.
Who registers the car after the title transfer?
The buyer registers the car in their name at the RMV and pays the applicable sales tax and registration fees.
Transferring the title to a family member as a gift? The assignment works the same, but the tax paperwork changes: see gifting a car in Massachusetts for the MVU-26 and MVU-24 forms. For any transfer, a signed bill of sale is the record both sides will be glad to have.
Where We Buy Cars
We buy cars across Greater Boston, MetroWest, the North Shore, the South Shore, Cape Cod, Seacoast New Hampshire, Rhode Island.
Popular towns: Wellesley, Medford, Plymouth, Concord, Natick, Beverly, Waltham, Newton.
Selling a specific make? See the brands we buy: BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Toyota, Honda, Jeep, Tesla, Lexus and more.
More guides: what to do with your plates afterward and selling an inherited car.
Also worth reading: the odometer disclosure you sign and what it costs to register a car in Massachusetts.
