Should You Gift a Car or Sell It for $1 in New Jersey?
Gifting a car in New Jersey allows you to avoid sales tax and simplify the process of transferring ownership.
Written by Jasmine Kanter
Reviewed by Pat Roache
To avoid sales taxes and questionable paperwork, it's better to gift a car in New Jersey instead of selling it for $1.
If you're thinking of
gifting your car to a family member
or a friend, good for you! Often, it’s the high price of a car that prevents a driver in need from getting on the road. If you're reading this article, we don't need to talk about the why, just the how. For example, how do you minimize the fees and paperwork associated with a good deed?Today, we'll examine two popular options for giving away a vehicle in New Jersey: gifting it versus selling it for $1. You can find a step-by-step guide to the best method below.
Is it better to gift a car or sell it for $1 in New Jersey?
Every car sold in New Jersey is subject to a
6.625% sales tax
, regardless of whether it's new or used. Sales tax is applied to the vehicle’s purchase price and collected by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJ MVC)
. You may as well just gift the car and save the recipient the hassle of adding $0.06 to their title and registration fees.Gifted cars are among the few vehicles exempt from sales tax in New Jersey, meaning you’ll be saving your recipient any additional fees by marking the vehicle as gifted. Besides, it looks better for them to carry a bill of sale marked “gift” than one for $1, which is suspiciously below
retail market value
for any car.Have we sold you on the idea of gifting your car? Great! Here’s a walkthrough.
RECOMMENDED
Compare auto insurance policies
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
How to gift a car in New Jersey
Gifting a car in New Jersey
is pretty simple. Fortunately, there's no need to negotiate with a car salesperson (although you'll still have to discuss the terms of the gift with the recipient). Instead, you can skip straight to writing the bill of sale, transferring the title, and registering the used car.If you’re gifting someone a new car, you'll need to go to a dealership, where all the paperwork will be filled out for you. Don't forget to take your lucky giftee along to pick out their new car and get involved in the financing process.
Resolve any outstanding liens
Do you own the car you want to give away? It never hurts to check if your
used car has a lien on it
since most people don’t enjoy a gift with a debt attached. If you’ve paid off your loan, get the lien removed by the debt holder. If someone has agreed to take over your loan, you should both visit the dealership or bank that loaned you the money. It’s the only way to officially release you from your contract and get them signed up as the new payee. You can only avoid this step if you're gifting the car to someone whose name is already on the loan (i.e. you co-financed it).
Decide what’s included
It might seem gauche to discuss the financial details of a gift, but the high maintenance costs of a car demand it. You and your recipient should agree on who pays what.
Here are a few of the expenses to discuss:
- Title transfer fee: $60
- Registration fee: $35.50 to $84
- Maintenance: $1,186 per year
- Fuel: $1,500 to $2,500 per year
Consider the time you spend sitting down with your loved one and making a plan as part of the gift. You'll both be happier as a result.
Write a bill of sale
You should still
write a bill of sale
even if you’re gifting a vehicle. It records the transaction and the date, giving you and your recipient proof of what happened. - The car’s year, make, model, odometer reading, and VIN
- Your name, address, and signature
- The recipient’s name, address, and signature
- The date of the transaction
- A field labeled “sale price”
Make sure you write "GIFT" in the field labeled "sale price". Don’t fuss with it, because the NJ MVC won’t accept the document if it looks as if it’s been tampered with.
Purchase insurance
By law, every car owner in New Jersey needs
liability insurance
. Your recipient will need to show proof of insurance
to transfer the car into their name. Since NJ is a no-fault state
, they’ll need more than the usual amount of coverage. Here’s what should be on their policy:
- $30,000 of bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 of bodily injury uninsured motorist coverage per accident
- A limited or unlimited right to sue
Your recipient may also want to consider
collision
and comprehensive insurance
depending on the value of the car, where they live, and their particular driving habits.Compare insurance quotes from 50+ insurance companies with Jerry in under 45 seconds
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ insurance companies with Jerry in under 45 seconds
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversTransfer the car title
The bill of sale records when your former car changed hands, but the
certificate of title
is your recipient’s official proof of ownership.To begin the
title transfer in New Jersey
, remove your license plates and bring them to an NJ MVC
or full-service agency location
. You can put them on another car you own if you like, but you can’t give them to a new owner. Complete the seller’s section on the reverse side of the car’s title, then give it to the recipient.They’ll need to fill in the buyer’s section on the reverse side of the car title using their driver’s license or entity identification number. Then, they should bring the title, the bill of sale, and a complete
Application for Vehicle Registration (form BA-49)
to an NJ MVC office. They’ll also need their driver’s license, proof of insurance, and a payment method.- If you titled the car in another state, they’ll need all of the above plus a completedUniversal Title Application (form OS/SS-UTA)and purchase order (if the title lacks a New Jersey Dealer Tax Stamp).
- If you registered the car without receiving a title (as in the case of some vintage automobiles), you’ll need to gather all of the above plus your registration card, a notarized bill of sale, a completed Universal Title Application, and a tracing or photo of the car’s VIN.
Titling a car in New Jersey costs $60. If there’s a lien on the car, the fee is $85 for one or $110 for two. Your recipient will also need to complete the financing section of a Universal Title Application and bring the lien holder’s information with them to the office.
Register the car
Your recipient should be able to register the car when they title it, making it legal for them to drive it on New Jersey roads. The fee will depend on the type of car, but always includes the cost of license plates. To avoid a $25 penalty, the car should be titled and registered by its new owner within 10 days.
Reply to the Division of Taxation
You and the giftee may receive a notice in the mail from the New Jersey Division of Taxation to verify the vehicle's sales tax. Complete the seller's affidavit certifying that the vehicle was a gift. The giftee should fill out the car questionnaire and tick the appropriate boxes to indicate the same. Mail both documents to
the Division’s office in Trenton
.That's all there is to it! Tell the giftee to enjoy their new car and ask them for a lift sometime to see how they're doing.
Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
No spam · No long forms · No fees
FAQs
Do I have to pay sales tax on a gifted car in NJ?
No. In New Jersey, you don't have to pay sales tax on a car you receive as a gift as long as you fill out the right paperwork.
How much does it cost to transfer a car title in New Jersey?
The cost of transferring a car title in New Jersey is $60. The price rises to $85 for one lien and $110 for two if the car is still being financed.
Reduce your monthly car payments in minutes?
Find out if Jerry can reduce your payments by an average of $150/month
4.7
