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 Massachusetts, the title of a car is a legal document that establishes a person or business as the legal owner of the vehicle. When a car is sold, the title must be transferred to the new owner. This process is overseen by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). To transfer a title, the seller must endorse the back of the title with their signature, the buyer's name and address, the odometer reading, and the sale date. The buyer then needs to complete an Application for Registration and Title (Form RMV-1) and submit it along with the signed title, a bill of sale, and the appropriate fee to the RMV. If a vehicle is being transferred due to a divorce, the process may vary slightly, and additional documentation such as a divorce decree may be required. The RMV provides forms and detailed instructions for title transfers on its website, which can guide individuals through the process.