How to Title a Private Car Sale in Maryland
Last verified: October 2026 against Maryland MVA sources
When you buy a car from a private seller in Maryland, the seller does not file any paperwork for you. You handle the inspection, titling, and registration yourself.
Here is the order to do it in, what each step costs, and what to bring.
Step by step
- 1
Check the title before you pay
Ask to see the seller’s original Maryland Certificate of Title, in the seller’s name. Any lien shown on the title must be released before the sale.
If the title is missing, altered, or incomplete, the MVA may not be able to process your application.
- 2
Have the seller complete the back of the title
The seller fills in your name and address, the sale price, the date of sale, and the odometer reading (required by federal law), then signs and dates the title.
If more than one owner is listed, all owners must sign unless the names are joined by “OR.” Do not cross out or alter anything; errors can get the title rejected.
- 3
Get a bill of sale
A bill of sale is not always required, but the MVA strongly recommends one. List both names, the vehicle information, the sale price, the date, and both signatures.
Since October 1, 2026, a notarized bill of sale is no longer required for a private sale of a vehicle under 7 years old.
- 4
Let the seller keep the plates
In Maryland, license plates stay with the seller, not the car. Do not drive on the seller’s plates.
If the car still needs its inspection, you may qualify for a 30-day temporary registration ($50) so you can legally drive it to an inspection station.
- 5
Get a Maryland safety inspection
Most used vehicles must pass a Maryland safety inspection before they can be titled and registered. Inspections are done at stations licensed by the Maryland State Police, not at every repair shop.
The inspection certificate is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued.
- 6
Insure the car
You must have Maryland auto insurance before you can register the vehicle. Add it to your policy through your insurer.
- 7
Title and register at the MVA
Apply in person at an MVA branch (schedule an appointment) or by mail. By mail, every form, document, and fee must be included, and processing can take longer.
In many cases you can title and register at the same time. You pay the excise tax, the $200 title fee, and the registration fee, plus a $40 lien fee if the purchase is financed. Your new title is mailed to you.
How the 6.5% excise tax is calculated
Maryland charges a 6.5% excise tax when you title the car. What it is charged on depends on the car’s age:
- Vehicles 7 or more years old: 6.5% of the purchase price or a minimum value of $640, whichever is greater. The minimum tax is $41.60.
- Vehicles under 7 years old: 6.5% of the purchase price, as long as the price is within $500 of the NADA value the MVA uses. If the price is more than $500 below that value, the MVA may tax the NADA value instead.
- You can support a lower price with documents such as a bill of sale, records of the car’s condition, canceled checks or bank statements, or the ad or messages showing the agreed price.
What to bring
- Certificate of Title Application (Form VR-005)
- The original title, signed over to you by the seller
- Proof of the purchase price, such as a bill of sale
- Odometer disclosure, if applicable
- Maryland Safety Inspection Certificate (issued within the last 90 days)
- Valid identification
- Lien release, if a lien was listed on the title
- Proof of Maryland auto insurance
- Payment for the excise tax, title fee, and registration fee