Buying a Vehicle from a Private Party Sale
If you have purchased a vehicle registered in California, you will need to transfer the ownership within 10 days from the date of purchase. You will need to do and/or have the following:
- Obtain a properly endorsed title with the previous owner's signature on line 1. If the vehicle was not purchased from the owner whose name appears on the title, you will need a bill of sale from each in-between buyer. To learn more, watch this video: Title Transfer – Where Do We Sign?
- Odometer mileage is required if the vehicle is less than 10 years old.
If the title does not have a designated space for this information, the odometer mileage disclosure must be reported on a Vehicle/ Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form (REG 262) signed by both the seller and the buyer. The REG 262 form cannot be copied; an original must be submitted. - Obtain a smog certification.
- Smog certifications are good for 90 days from the date of the inspection. The smog certification is not required if a biennial certification was submitted to DMV in conjunction with renewal fees within 90 days prior to the vehicle transfer date. A statement to that effect must be signed by the seller or the buyer. A vehicle inspection report may be required for proof of certification. When you transfer a vehicle that is four or less model years old a smog certification will not be required (This rule does not apply to diesel vehicles). A smog transfer fee will be collected from the new owner. When a vehicle is more than four model years old, evidence of a current smog certification must be provided by a seller except when the following occurs:
- The transfer occurs between a spouse, domestic partner, sibling, child, parent, grandparent, or grandchild.
- A biennial smog certification was submitted to DMV within 90 days prior to the vehicle transfer date (a vehicle inspection report may be required for proof of certification).
- Smog certifications are good for 90 days from the date of the inspection. The smog certification is not required if a biennial certification was submitted to DMV in conjunction with renewal fees within 90 days prior to the vehicle transfer date. A statement to that effect must be signed by the seller or the buyer. A vehicle inspection report may be required for proof of certification. When you transfer a vehicle that is four or less model years old a smog certification will not be required (This rule does not apply to diesel vehicles). A smog transfer fee will be collected from the new owner. When a vehicle is more than four model years old, evidence of a current smog certification must be provided by a seller except when the following occurs:
- Pay the transfer fee.
- Pay the use tax, if applicable.
- Use tax is calculated based on the sales tax rate in your residence county
