When you sell someone a car, do they have to get it tagged in their name before they can sell it?

Yes, if you don’t tag it in your name and pay the appropriate taxes it is called ‘title-jumping’ and is illegal in most states. And the new owner often get busted at the license office and are stuck with a car they can’t register. Your daughter could get in real trouble if she does that. Why don’t you just sell it directly to those people and keep her safe?

*I was a title clerk at a dealership for several years.

Well, we already signed the title over to her.

@Dutchess_III Ah, too late then.

Right. That’s what I thought. Just haven’t given it to her yet because she doesn’t have the money to get it tagged.

@Dutchess_III Honestly it’s one of those situations where the best thing is for all parties to go to the license bureau together, if that’s possible.

Yeah. Just have to find someone to watch the twins.

You can title a car in your name without getting a tag. Depending on what state you live in that could save you some money. Also stating it is a gift to your daughter will stop her from paying sales tax. You don’t say, but I assume it is a gift. If you elect to get a tag for it you will most likely be required to show it is insured.

@HenryFussy Hit a home run – - – -
The title transfer and tag in my state requires insurance in place on vehicle by new owner and new owner must have a valid driver’s license.

The title MUST be notarized for transfer.

If you don’t get tags for vehicle you maybe required to go through inspection for emissions and safety before it can be registered again to get tags.

Legally, yes.

I’ve had cars that weren’t registered to me, but that I went through the state to get the title for. Registration isn’t important, but legal ownership and paying all appropriate fees/taxes on transferring ownership is.

@jerv Some states the title paperwork is the registration. They cannot be separated. But you are right about the taxes and fees must be paid for each transfer.

@Tropical_Willie I am used to NH and WA. However, in NH, vehicles over 15 years old need no title.

Wait…..it’s a 95…. :O

The line from movie <em>The Wizard of Oz</em>, “that’s a Horse of a Different Color” fits in here X_________X