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 Louisiana, the title to 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 Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV). To transfer a title, the seller must endorse the title with their signature, provide an odometer disclosure statement, and give it to the buyer. The buyer then needs to submit the endorsed title, a completed vehicle application form, and payment for the title transfer fee to the OMV. In the case of a divorce, the process is similar, but it may also involve a court order or a settlement agreement that stipulates the transfer of the vehicle title from joint ownership to a single spouse. The Louisiana OMV provides forms and detailed instructions for title transfers on its website, which can guide individuals through the necessary steps to complete the process.