How to Add a Name to a Car Title

Adding a name to a car’s certificate of title typically requires a trip to your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office, but the exact requirements and fees vary. Some states, such as Arizona and Florida, are implementing electronic titles, while California has a mail-in option.

Key takeaways:
– Adding a name to a car title is similar to completing a title transfer wherein the “seller” is the current owner and the “buyers” are the current owner and the person being added.
– Some states allow you to add a new owner to your vehicle registration, while other states require joint owners to file vehicle registration separately.
– You’ll need to alert your auto insurance provider of a new driver on your policy after adding a name to your car title.

Step 1: Find your current title

The name on a car title establishes proof of ownership for the vehicle. Adding another name to your car title grants joint ownership. 

State requirements for adding a name to a vehicle title may differ slightly. Typically, you need: 

• The existing title.
• Registration.
• Your driver’s license.
• Personal auto insurance documents.

Step 2: Notify the lienholder, if applicable

If you are still paying a car loan, your lender will be listed on your car title as a lienholder, meaning they own the car more than you do.

If this applies, let the lienholder know you want to add someone to the title. As the primary owner, the lienholder needs to apply for the change by providing a letter with the car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Step 3: Sign the title with the new owner

Adding a name to a car title that you already own is similar to a title transfer. The main difference is that instead of completing a full transfer of ownership to someone else, you are essentially agreeing to share ownership.

What to do:

• Sign your name to the back of the title on the seller line.
• Add your name and the name of whoever is being added to the title to the buyer’s section
• If the title says Person 1 AND Person 2: Both you and your transferee must sign the title transfer and on any future matters related to the title.
• If the title says Person 1 OR Person 2: Only the current vehicle owners need to sign the title and either the original owner or new owner can be responsible for future matters related to the title.

You’ll either need to mail, file online or bring your signed certificate of title to your local DMV with the following commonly required documents:

• Completed Application for Certificate of Title.
• Odometer reading listed on the title or a bill of sale or an odometer disclosure statement.
• Payment for local title fees.

Step 4: Inform your insurer of the change

You’ll need to update your insurance company with the person being added to the car’s title. This can include the following steps:

• Adding the new driver to your car’s insurance policy.
• Providing the insurer with a copy of the new title for their records.

You’ll see your car insurance rates change after adding a new driver to your policy, either right away or at your next renewal. They’ll likely increase by adding a driver, but depending on their driver profile relative to yours rates could go down.

Step 5: Update your registration

Some states allow a vehicle owner to add an additional driver to the vehicle registration, while others require separate registrations for each driver.

Check with the DMV in your state to figure out how you and your joint car owner will need to handle joint registration and registration fees.

MEET OUR EXPERTS

Jason Tushinski

Jason Tushinski is an insurance writer with a background in journalism and over seven years of experience in freelance writing. Jason specializes in insurance and combines a wealth of skills obtained throughout the publishing industry to create useful, easy-to-understand content for car owners. Jason has written over 1,000 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from insurance company offerings to DMV processes to car model specifications. Before joining Jerry, Jason worked as freelance video content creator, news writer and editor for the Sun News Network, and researcher for CBC. His writing is published in Maclean’s and This Magazine.

Megan Lee

Megan Lee is an editor, writer, and SEO expert who specializes in insurance, personal finance, travel, and healthcare. She has been published in U.S. News & World Report, USA Today and elsewhere, and has spoken at conferences like that of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Megan has built and directed remote content teams and editorial strategies for several websites, including NerdWallet. When she`s not crafting her next piece of content, Megan adventures around her Midwest home base where she likes to drink cortados, attend theme parties, ride her bike and cook Asian food.