In order to transfer a vehicle title in New Jersey, you need to take different steps to correctly transfer a vehicle’s title in New Jersey. You need to follow these steps to initiate the NJ vehicle title transfer:
- Complete the seller, buyer, and vehicle information located on the back of the vehicle’s title
- Pay the vehicle transfer fees and all other applicable fees
- Visit your local New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJ MVC) office
Be advised you may be required to submit additional documents and payments at the time of the vehicle title transfer.
Smog Certification/Vehicle Inspection in New Jersey
In the state of New Jersey, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) requires almost all vehicles to ensure an emissions inspection during the time of registration, then every 2 years.
The safety portion of testing has been eliminated in general for the state of New Jersey. However, some vehicles are still required to have safety inspections performed.
Any vehicle that fails the inspection must be repaired and retested within the deadline specified on their Vehicle Inspection Report. Be advised, new residents of New Jersey have different emissions inspection requirements.
New Jersey Emissions and Smog Check Requirements
In the state of New Jersey, there are emissions and smog check requirements that must be met. The following vehicles are required to undergo a New Jersey emissions inspection before an initial vehicle registration occurs and again every 2 years:
- Vehicles that are 5 model years old and older that are:
- Bi-fueled, diesel-powered, or gasoline-powered and plated as a:
- Passenger
- Not-for-profit
- Governmental
- Commuter vans
- Bi-fueled, diesel-powered, or gasoline-powered and plated as a:
- Diesel-powered vehicles that are:
- Model year 1996 and newer and does not exceed 8,500 pounds
Keep in mind, some vehicles, including buses, taxis, and commercial motor vehicles require safety inspections and emissions inspections annually.
Smog Check Exemptions in New Jersey
Different vehicles are exempt from emissions inspections in New Jersey, including, but not limited to:
- Vehicles that don’t exceed 5 years old
- New vehicles that will receive a new car dealer inspection decal, which is valid for 5 years
- Newly-purchased used vehicles that don’t currently have a valid vehicle inspection sticker will obtain a Green Card (Form SS-19) once the vehicle is registered (this forms must be brought to an inspection station to receive the sticker) This form may be available at your local NJ MVC branch.
- Solely electric-powered vehicles
- Motorized bicycles and motorcycles
- Historic and collector vehicles
- Model year 1996 and older diesel-powered vehicles
- Diesel-powered vehicles that weigh between 8,501 and 17,999 pounds
Diesel-powered vehicles are required to be plated passenger, not-for-profit, governmental, commuter vans, or farmer or farm trucks.
How to Transfer Your Vehicle Title in New Jersey?
The vehicle title transfer process in the state of New Jersey varies depending on if you are buying or selling a vehicle in this state.
Transferring A Vehicle’s Title When You Are Buying or Selling a Vehicle in New Jersey
The New Jersey (MVC) regulates vehicle title transfers and registrations.
Transferring a Vehicle’s Title When You’re Selling a Vehicle
When you are selling a vehicle in New Jersey, you need to complete certain paperwork. To successfully transfer a vehicle’s title as the seller of a vehicle, you are required to:
- Complete the back of the vehicle’s title by providing:
- Your signature
- The buyer’s information (address and name)
- Vehicle sale date
- Odometer reading (an accurate odometer reading is required for all registered vehicles in the state of New Jersey. You can estimate the vehicle’s mileage if you don’t know the exact mileage)
- The vehicle’s purchase price
- Remove the license plates and surrender or transfer them
- Provide the vehicle’s buyer with the complete certificate of title
Transferring a Vehicle’s Title When You’re Buying a Vehicle
When you need to transfer the title of a vehicle you’re buying in New Jersey, there are specific steps you are required to take for the title transfer to be successful.
If you have purchased your vehicle from the dealership, the dealership will handle the vehicle title transfer and vehicle registration paperwork on your behalf.
If you purchased a vehicle from a private seller, you are required to complete the vehicle title transfer and vehicle registration within 10 business days, or you will be required to pay a $25 late fee.
To successfully transfer the vehicle title of a vehicle purchased from a private seller, you must visit your local New Jersey MVC office with:
- The vehicle title with the following information on the back:
- Your signature
- Your driver’s license number
- Proof of a valid NJ vehicle insurance policy
- Payment for the vehicle title transfer fee of $60 for a vehicle title with no lien or $85 for a vehicle title that has a lien
- Sales tax unless the vehicle is exempt
In New Jersey, you will register your vehicle at the same time you transfer the vehicle’s title. If you purchase a vehicle from a state where a vehicle title is not required, you are required to provide additional documents to successfully transfer an NJ vehicle title.
Transferring a Vehicle’s Title As a New Resident of New Jersey
As a new resident of New Jersey, you must transfer your out-of-state vehicle title to a New Jersey vehicle title and register your vehicle with the NJ MVC within 60 days of establishing residency in this state.
If you’ve moved from a state that doesn’t require vehicle titles for your vehicle type, you are required to provide additional requirements to complete a New Jersey vehicle title transfer.
Transferring a Vehicle’s Title Without a Lien
If you don’t have a lien on your vehicle, you need to apply for an NJ vehicle title transfer in person at your local NJ MVC agent office with:
- Your current vehicle title
- The Application for Certificate of Ownership (Form OS/SS-UTA)
- Payment for the $60 vehicle title transfer fee
Be advised, you need to complete a sales tax stamp at your local NJ MVC office. You may not have to pay New Jersey vehicle sales tax if you originally purchased your vehicle outside of NJ and were a resident of a different state when you purchased the vehicle.
Transferring a Vehicle’s Title That Has a Lien
If you have an out-of-state vehicle that has a lien, and the vehicle’s title is currently being held by the lien holder, you need to complete an NJ vehicle title transfer. Follow these steps to complete a vehicle title transfer that has a lien in New Jersey:
- Make sure your lien holder has an NJ corporation code (this code is required to obtain a New Jersey vehicle title transfer
- Visit your local NJ MVC office in-person to obtain a vehicle title release application
- The completed vehicle title release application to the lien holder needs to be mailed.
- Once the lien holder verifies the documents, visit your local NJ MVC branch in person to apply for a vehicle title transfer and register your vehicle.
In order to successfully complete the vehicle title transfer process in New Jersey, you need:
- A Completed Application for Certificate of Ownership (Form OS/SS-UTA)
- Payment for the NJ vehicle title transfer fee of $85
Keep in mind, you are also required to complete a sales tax form at the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) office when you are applying for a vehicle title. You are not required to pay tax if you purchased your vehicle outside the state of New Jersey while you lived out of state. The lien holder will receive the New Jersey vehicle title.
Transferring the Title of a Leased Vehicle
If you need to transfer the title of a leased vehicle, you need to first obtain power of attorney from the leasing company, which will allow you to apply for an NJ vehicle title transfer.
The next step is to appear in person at your local NJ MVC office to initiate the vehicle title transfer process and register your vehicle. To complete this process, you will need the following items:
- Power of attorney paperwork from your leasing company
- The Application for Certificate of Ownership (Form OS/SS-UTA)
- Payment for the vehicle title transfer fee of $85
The leasing company will receive the NJ car title.
How to Transfer a Vehicle Title When the Owner is Deceased?
When the owner of a vehicle is deceased, and you are the beneficiary of the estate, you can keep the vehicle, gift it to a family member, or sell it to someone else. Before you can do any of these actions, you must first transfer the vehicle’s title.
As a beneficiary, joint-owner, or surviving spouse, you maintain the legal authority to transfer the vehicle’s title to another person when the vehicle’s owner passes away.
Transferring the Title of a Vehicle in a Probated Estate
When the owner of a vehicle passes away, the steps you need to take to transfer the vehicle’s title depends on whether the vehicle’s title was solely in the individual’s name as a descendant or joint ownership.
The probate process takes place when there is no living spouse or beneficiary listed on the will. The probate is a legal process that involves the administering of the estate of the deceased person, and it proves the last will and testament are legitimate. The Probate Court will determine how everyone involved in this situation will proceed with the person’s belongings, based on the individual’s will.
If the vehicle is part of a probated estate, you are required to complete the following steps to transfer the vehicle title of a vehicle whose owner is deceased:
Contact an Attorney or Probate Court
The administrator or executor of the deceased is responsible for contacting an attorney or Probate Court to receive instructions on how to proceed in the probate process. The title of a vehicle can’t be transferred until the probate process is completed. Once the probate process is complete, the heir receives the vehicle, unless the executor was given the vehicle. If the executor obtained the vehicle, they have the authority to sell the vehicle.
Obtain the Necessary Documentation
The documents that are required vary by state, but in New Jersey, residents of this state must have the following documents to successfully transfer a vehicle’s title:
- Odometer disclosure statement
- The death certificate
- Order from Probate Court to transfer the vehicle’s title
- Certificate of the vehicle title
- NJ vehicle title transfer fee
Visit the Title Office
If you are the administrator of the deceased’s estate or the beneficiary of the vehicle, you can visit your local NJ title office with the above-stated documentation to start the NJ vehicle title process.
Transferring the Title of a Vehicle Without Probate
If the vehicle in question is not in probate, in the state of New Jersey, the deceased individual’s property is not allowed to exceed a certain amount, and a certain amount of time needs to have passed since the individual passed away before a New Jersey vehicle title transfer process can be initiated.
As the administrator, beneficiary, or joint-owner of the estate, you may only be required to provide the death certificate and the vehicle’s title to your local NJ title office in order to retitle the vehicle’s title. In this scenario, court orders and attorneys are not required.
Transferring the Title of an Inherited Vehicle
When you inherit a vehicle in New Jersey, you are required to transfer the vehicle’s title when the owner of the vehicle passes away. The vehicle can be used up to 30 days after the vehicle owner’s death without having to apply for a vehicle title transfer.
Be advised, if the vehicle currently has a lien, you need to contact the lien holder and determine if the lien is required to be paid before transferring the vehicle’s title or if the lien can be transferred. You need to complete the vehicle title transfer in person at your local NJ MNC office.
In order to transfer the vehicle’s title and registration to a surviving spouse if the vehicle is titled in both names, you need to submit:
- The vehicle’s current title
- A copy of the death certificate
- An affidavit (Form BA-62) from the surviving spouse (this form must be notarized)
- Payment for all applicable fees
- Vehicle title transfer fee: $60
- Vehicle registration transfer fee: $4.50
If you need to transfer a vehicle’s title and registration to an heir that is named in the descendant’s will, you need to submit:
- The vehicle’s current title assigned to the new owner by the executor
- A Surrogate’s Short Certificate
- Payment for all applicable fees
- Payment for the $60 vehicle title transfer fee
- Payment for the $4.50 vehicle registration transfer fee if the new vehicle owner is an immediate family member (in any other scenario, the new vehicle owner will need to apply for the vehicle registration)
In most situations, you are not required to pay sales tax on an inherited vehicle. If the vehicle in question is being transferred to the estate or there is no will, there are different vehicle title transfer guidelines and additional document requirements.
Transferring a Vehicle’s Title After a Lease Buyout
Congratulations on paying off your vehicle loan! When you pay off your vehicle’s loan, the lien holder will submit the required documentation to the New Jersey MVC.
When the MVC processes the lien release, you will receive the vehicle’s title that shows a “paid” stamp or a signature of release. If you don’t receive the signature of release, you may receive a letter of release and the vehicle title from the lien holder.
Be advised, if the vehicle is at least 5 years old, the lien holder is not required to provide the original vehicle title, and may provide a letter or release.
To order a “clean vehicle title”, which means the lien does not appear on the vehicle’s title, you must follow these steps:
- Provide the vehicle title that shows the lien is satisfied or the vehicle’s title and lien release letter (if you didn’t get the vehicle’s title from the lien holder, contact the NH MVC for more information)
- Payment for the NJ vehicle title fee of $85
You are able to submit the clean vehicle title request in person at your local NJ MVC office or by mail by mailing the required documents to:
Motor Vehicle Commission
Special Titles Section/Duplicate Titles
P.O. Box 146
Trenton, NJ 08666
How to Transfer Ownership of a Vehicle Without a Title in New Jersey?
There are some states that don’t require titles for different types or classes of motor vehicles. When you transfer ownership or move to NJ from a state that doesn’t require a vehicle title, the New Jersey MVC will require additional documentation.
Keep in mind, this title transfer process only applies to vehicles that are from states that don’t require vehicle titles. If you don’t have a vehicle’s title, you are required to apply for a duplicate New Jersey vehicle title.
If you have a vehicle that didn’t require a vehicle title in the previous state you came from, you must take the following to your local New Jersey MVC office:
- The original vehicle registration document (no copies will be accepted):
- If you purchased the vehicle prior to obtaining the owner’s registration
- If you’re moving to New Jersey, the vehicle’s registration from the previous state
- An original bill of sale (no copies will be accepted) If you are an NJ resident who purchased the vehicle in a different state, make sure the bill of sale must be notarized and include the name and address, and signatures of both the vehicle’s buyer and seller. Make sure you also include the vehicle’s model make, year, vehicle identification number (VIN), and a detailed description of the vehicle. You also need to provide the date of sale and the purchase price.
- VIN verification, such as one of the following, a picture or tracing of the VIN, or a VIN Verification Statement (Form ISM/SS-321). Contact your local NJ MVC branch to obtain this form. This form is available at your local MVC office.
- A copy of your driver’s license
- The Application for Certificate of Ownership (Form OS/SS-UTA)
- Payment for all applicable vehicle title transfer fees
When you apply for a vehicle title, you’ll also register the vehicle in your name.
Can I Gift a Car to a Family Member?
Good news! You can gift a vehicle to a relative with the correct documentation. If you obtained a vehicle as a gift, or the vehicle is being transferred from a relative, you must complete a vehicle title transfer at your local New Jersey MVC office. The steps you need to take to transfer the title of a vehicle that’s been gifted are similar to the steps you’re required to take when you are buying or selling a vehicle in New Jersey.
Make sure you write “0” in the “price” section of the vehicle’s title. The person receiving the vehicle may not be required to pay taxes on the vehicle. Just like with a private vehicle sale, you are required to complete the transfer of ownership sections on the back of the original vehicle title.
Transferring a Vehicle Title When You Have an Out-of-State Title
When the time comes to transfer a vehicle’s out-of-state title in New Jersey, you must meet a variety of requirements. The following out-of-state NJ vehicle title transfer paperwork is necessary to successfully transfer the vehicle title from one state to New Jersey:
- A completed application for a certificate of ownership
- The original out-of-state vehicle title
- A complete New Hampshire vehicle registration application
- Proof of a valid NJ vehicle insurance policy
- Proof of identification (ex. A valid driver’s license)
If a lien holder obtains your vehicle’s title, you must fill out an application for the release of the title, which is sent to the NJ MVC. Be advised, you may be required to submit additional documentation.
Requesting a Duplicate Vehicle Title in New Jersey
If you have lost or damaged your vehicle’s title, you need to request a duplicate vehicle title from your local New Jersey MVC by submitting:
- The Application for Duplicate Certificate of Ownership (Form OS/SS-UTA)
- A valid registration or insurance document, such as:
- A current or past vehicle registration certificate
- Proof of a valid NJ vehicle insurance policy or a certified record of registration
- A statement from the lien holder if the vehicle has a lien that includes:
- The name of the vehicle owner
- The vehicle’s VIN, make, and year
- A statement that discloses you don’t have the original vehicle title and that the vehicle’s loan is paid in full.
- The NJ duplicate vehicle title fee of $60
Keep in mind, you are allowed to submit your application and other documents in person at your local NJ MVC office or by mail to the address on the form.
Transferring a Vehicle Title With a Lien
If your vehicle currently has a lien, make sure you obtain the above-listed documents and payments in addition to a Release of Lien (click here to obtain this form).
How Much Does a Title Transfer Cost in New Jersey?
In the state of New Jersey, there is a $60 transfer fee. You may be responsible for paying penalties and other fees may apply, depending on the situation. If you have an existing vehicle registration, this registration can be transferred for an additional $4.50. Be advised, the total cost of the vehicle title transfer depends on factors that include if the vehicle was purchased in a different state or at an auction.
Where Can I Go to Transfer a Vehicle Title in New Jersey?
There are different MVC locations in New Hampshire where you can transfer a vehicle’s title.
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (Eatontown Agency)
109 Rte 36
Eatontown, NJ 07724
(609) 292-6500
Monday-Friday (8 AM to 4:30 PM)
Saturday (8 AM to 3 PM)
Sunday (Closed)
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
1374 Highway 36
Hazlet, NJ 07730
(609) 292-6500
Monday-Friday (8 AM to 4:30 PM)
Saturday (8 AM to 3 PM)
Sunday (Closed)
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (Bakers Basin Agency)
3200 Brunswick Pike
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
(609) 292-6500
Monday-Friday (8 AM to 4:30 PM)
Saturday (8 AM to 3 PM)
Sunday (Closed)
How to Fill Out the New Jersey Title and Title Transfer Forms
In order to make you complete the New Jersey vehicle title and title transfer forms, you must make sure you have the required signatures of the vehicle’s buyer and seller in the designated areas on the vehicle title. Keep in mind, you need to create a bill of sale that includes information pertaining to the vehicle, such as its model, color, make, and year. Make sure to include the vehicle’s VIN.
If you sold your vehicle instead of gifting it to someone, you need to make sure you add sales tax to the vehicle’s total price. In the “transfer of title by seller” section of the vehicle’s title, you need to provide an accurate odometer reading and make sure the person receiving the vehicle signs the vehicle title in the provided spaces.
Keep in mind, you may be required to provide additional documentation or payments, including a New Jersey vehicle insurance policy that meets or exceeds the minimum coverage limits set by the state. You may also need to present a valid government-issued photo ID or a foreign passport for proof of identification.
My Car Title Was Signed But Never Transferred. What Do I Do?
A vehicle’s title can be signed, but not transferred, which means the vehicle has an open title. With an open vehicle title, the vehicle’s seller neglected to transfer ownership of or register the vehicle in their name.
If the vehicle seller’s name isn’t listed on the vehicle’s title, this individual does not assume legal responsibility for anything that pertains to the vehicle, including taxes and other fees.
If the seller of the vehicle has lost or damaged the vehicle’s title, they can apply for a duplicate NJ vehicle title (Form OS/SS-UTA). Once the seller fills out the required information on the vehicle title, they can sign it over to you for you to put in your name. Remember, the individual that is listed on the vehicle’s title is responsible for requesting the duplicate vehicle title.