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 Arizona, 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 reflect the change in ownership. This process is overseen by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) through its Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). To transfer a title, the seller must sign and date the title, and the buyer must submit the title along with a Title and Registration Application to the MVD. If there is a lien on the vehicle, the lienholder must also release their interest in the car. In the case of a divorce, the process is similar, but additional documentation, such as a divorce decree, may be required to prove that the title should be transferred to one spouse. The ADOT MVD provides forms and detailed instructions for title transfers on its website, which can be used to guide individuals through the process.