How to Take a Name Off Your Car Title

Removing a name from a car title is similar to selling the car. Fill out the back side of the title as if you’re selling the vehicle. 

If you have a loan on your car, you’ll need to get permission from your lienholder, which is an institution, often a bank, lending you the money to finance your car. Your lienholder owns your vehicle until you pay off your loan, which is why you’ll need their permission to remove a name from your car title.

Key takeaways

• To remove a name from a car title and transfer ownership of a vehicle, have the person being removed sign on the “seller” line and the person keeping the title sign on the “buyer” line.
• If your lienholder possesses the title, you will need to get their permission to alter the title.
• The process may differ if you are removing a name due to a death or divorce.

How to remove a name from a car title

Follow the steps below to take a name off a vehicle title:

• Step one: The person being removed from the title must fill out the back section of the original title as the “seller.”
• Step two: The person who will remain on the car’s title (or the new owner) will sign on the title as the “buyer.”
• Step three: The “buyer” will take the signed title to the local DMV and have a new title issued.

Jerry tip:Your state may require you to fill out additional forms to complete the process. For instance, you must complete an application or title amendment form in Illinois, Massachusetts, and South Carolina to remove a name from a vehicle’s title. Some states also require you to fill out a bill of sale any time a title is transferred to a new person, even if there’s no formal exchange of money.

If you’re gifting a car — say to another family member — the process is the same. The gift giver would sign the back of the title as the “seller,” and the recipient would sign as the “buyer,” with the sale price listed as $0.

Removing a name from a car title with multiple names

To get your name off a joint title, you’ll have to see whether the names on the title are joined by “and,” “or,” or in some cases, “and/or.”

• If the names are joined by “and,” both people on the title will have to sign as “sellers” and the person remaining on the title will be listed as the “buyer.”
• If the names are joined by “or” or “and/or,” only one person needs to sign as the “seller,” and the person remaining on the title can be listed as “buyer”.

Some states may have exceptions to these rules. For instance, both people listed must sign as sellers in Arizona if both names are joined by “and/or.” Check with your local DMV for more details.

MORE: How to transfer a car title when buying or selling

If a lienholder is listed on the title

Removing a name from a car title is different if a lienholder is also listed. In this case, you have a few options.

• If you can pay off your loan in full to the lender, you can get a lien release and proceed without their input. 
• If paying off your car loan isn’t possible, you’ll need the lienholder’s permission to change the certificate of title.
• If the lienholder won’t agree to make a change, you won’t be allowed to remove the name from the title.

Things to keep in mind when removing a name from a car title

Here are three things to keep in mind if you’ve decided to remove a name from the car title.

1. During this process, any errors or legibility issues may cause the DMV to reject your application.
2. Some states require signatures to be notarized (with a notary present) when changing or removing names from a title. Check with your state DMV about this step.
3. Some states recommend that the transfer be completed in person at the DMV to avoid issues when finalizing the transfer. If that’s the case, you may need to make an appointment and bring your driver’s license and the vehicle registration to it.

Special cases for removing someone from a car title

The reason a name is being removed from a title may affect the process. Here are some common situations.

Divorce

Any title change must match the divorce agreement in cases such as a divorce.

If your ex-spouse gets full ownership of a formerly shared car, this must be reflected in the title. In this case, you would sign as the “seller,” and your ex-spouse would sign as the “buyer,” putting the car’s title in their possession.

Check with your DMV about title fees when transferring ownership.

Charitable donation

Removing your name from the title is the same if you donate the car to charity. 

In this case, you would sign the back of the title certificate as “seller.” The charitable organization, or a representative of it, would sign the title as “buyer,” with a sale price of $0.

Death

If a person with whom you co-own a car dies, you may own the vehicle automatically depending on your state laws. In some states, if you have a “joint tenancy with rights to survivorship,” then you will own the vehicle outright after the other person’s death. This means you are also responsible for any car loans or insurance associated with the vehicle. 

If you have a joint tenancy, you may still need to remove the co-owner’s name from the car title. Take the title to the DMV and a copy of the death certificate to remove their name.