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You will need to have the title to your vehicle to add your spouse's name. You may not have possession of your title if there is a lien against your vehicle. A lien is a creditor's legal right to sell certain property of a debtor who defaults on his or her obligations. If you have not paid off your car completely, the lender has probably placed a lien on the car, and may hold the title. If you do have a lien on your vehicle, contact the lienholder and ask them about adding your spouse's name. Typically, the lienholder will have no problem with this. Adding a name to the title makes the added party liable for the amount due to the lienholder. Once the lienholder has given consent to add your spouse, most states require that the lienholder fill out a form stating that they granted permission. These forms will vary depending on your state. To find the form for your state call the local Department of Motor Vehicles or visit the website. If you have lost the original title to your car, you can apply for a replacement. To get a replacement, look at your state's requirements and visit your local DMV office. Your state's requirements should be available online. Some states require you to submit latest smog test (California) when you change ownership (this includes adding a spouse to a title), but you can submit a statement of facts which will exempt this requirement because your spouse is a family member. Some states, such as California, allow you to have paperless title. Therefore, you need either the California Certificate of Title or an Application for Duplicate or Paperless Title. Although you are not actually selling your vehicle, the process of changing the names on the title is the same as if you were selling your car to yourself and your spouse. Sign the title on the seller line.. Some states require that you sign the title in front of a notary. Look online to find out if this is required in your state. If you must sign in front of a notary, visit any local bank during regular business hours. Most banks do not charge a fee for notarization services if you have an account. If you do not have a bank account, a bank may charge a small fee (less than $10). You may also be required to list the vehicle's mileage on the title. Requirements about this vary from one state to the next. Likewise, some states require you provide this information on the title itself, while in others you must include an additional. Forms and state-specific information are available online. Some states make a distinction between using "and" or "or" between the names of new owners. For example, in Kansas, Tennessee, and Connecticut "and" means that both parties must sign to conduct any business with the title. "Or" allows either party to take responsibility. If your state makes this distinction, use "and" if you want both partners to approve anything done with the car title. Print your name and your spouse's name as buyers on the title. Write the names as you want them to appear on the new title. After printing your names as the "buyers," you and your spouse should both sign the title in the appropriate places. Again, your state may require you and your spouse to sign in front of a notary. Find your state's requirements online. You should sign both as the seller and the buyer, while your spouse only needs to sign as the buyer.
Make sure you have a copy of the title. Sign the back of the title as if selling the vehicle. Choose the right conjunction. Print your names as "buyers" of the vehicle.