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 Washington State, the title of a car is a legal document that establishes the owner of the vehicle. When a car is sold, the title must be transferred from the seller to the buyer to show change of ownership. This process is overseen by the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL). To transfer a title, the seller must release ownership by signing the appropriate section on the title and provide the buyer with all the necessary documentation, including a bill of sale and odometer disclosure statement. The buyer must then submit the title, along with a completed Vehicle Title Application, to the DOL and pay the required fee. If the title transfer is due to a divorce, the process may vary slightly, and additional legal documentation, such as a divorce decree, may be required to complete the transfer. The Washington State DOL provides forms and detailed instructions for title transfers on its website.