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referencesource
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vehicle-title-transfer-deadlines-by-state

citation string	deadline string	derived_fields list	id string	source string	source_quote string	state string	url string	verified_fields list	late_penalty string	also_reported list	disagreements list
§ 28-2058	within fifteen days after the relinquishing owner transfers or assigns the relinquishing owner's certificate of title or interest in the vehicle	[ "state" ]	arizona	https://codes.findlaw.com/az/title-28-transportation/az-rev-st-sect-28-2058/	the acquiring owner shall apply for registration or a certificate of title, or both, within fifteen days after the relinquishing owner transfers or assigns the relinquishing owner's certificate of title or interest in the vehicle.	Arizona	https://referencesource.org/vehicle-title-transfer-deadlines-by-state/arizona/	[ "citation", "deadline" ]	null	null	null
VEH § 5902	that person shall, within 10 days thereafter, forward the certificate with the proper transfer fee to the department and thereby make application for a transfer of registration	[ "state" ]	california	https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/vehicle-code/veh-sect-5902/	Whenever any person has received as transferee a properly endorsed certificate of ownership, that person shall, within 10 days thereafter, forward the certificate with the proper transfer fee to the department and thereby make application for a transfer of registration.	California	https://referencesource.org/vehicle-title-transfer-deadlines-by-state/california/	[ "citation", "deadline" ]	null	null	null
319.23	must be filed within 30 days after the delivery of the motor vehicle or after consummation of the sale of the mobile home to the purchaser	[ "state" ]	florida	https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0319/Sections/0319.23.html	In each case of transfer of a motor vehicle or mobile home, the application for a certificate of title, a corrected certificate, or an assignment or reassignment must be filed within 30 days after the delivery of the motor vehicle or after consummation of the sale of the mobile home to the purchaser. An applicant must ...	Florida	https://referencesource.org/vehicle-title-transfer-deadlines-by-state/florida/	[ "citation", "deadline", "late_penalty" ]	a fee of $20, in addition to all other fees and penalties required by law, for failing to file such application within the specified time	null	null
625 ILCS 5/3-112	within 20 days after delivery to him of the vehicle and the assigned title	[ "state" ]	illinois	https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=062500050K3-112	the transferee shall, promptly and within 20 days after delivery to him of the vehicle and the assigned title, execute the application for a new certificate of title in the space provided therefor on the certificate or as the Secretary of State prescribes, and cause the certificate and application to be mailed or deliv...	Illinois	https://referencesource.org/vehicle-title-transfer-deadlines-by-state/illinois/	[ "citation", "deadline" ]	null	null	null
168A.10	within 20 calendar days after assignment to the transferee of the vehicle title certificate	[ "state" ]	minnesota	https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/168A.10	the transferee must, within 20 calendar days after assignment to the transferee of the vehicle title certificate, execute the application for a new certificate of title in the space provided on the certificate, and cause the certificate of title to be mailed or delivered to the department. Failure of the transferee to ...	Minnesota	https://referencesource.org/vehicle-title-transfer-deadlines-by-state/minnesota/	[ "citation", "deadline" ]	null	null	null
G.S. 20-73	within 28 days after the vehicle is transferred	[ "state" ]	north-carolina	https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-73.html	A person to whom a vehicle is transferred, whether by purchase or otherwise, must apply to the Division for a new certificate of title. An application for a certificate of title must be submitted within 28 days after the vehicle is transferred.	North Carolina	https://referencesource.org/vehicle-title-transfer-deadlines-by-state/north-carolina/	[ "citation", "deadline" ]	null	[ { "as_of": "2026-08-18T00:00:00", "field": "late_penalty", "source": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-73.html", "source_quote": "A person to whom a vehicle is transferred who fails to apply for a certificate of title within the required time is subje...	[]
Section 4505.06	within thirty days after the assignment or delivery of the motor vehicle	[ "state" ]	ohio	https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4505.06	(b) In all cases of transfer of a motor vehicle except the transfer of a manufactured home or mobile home, the application for certificate of title shall be filed within thirty days after the assignment or delivery of the motor vehicle.	Ohio	https://referencesource.org/vehicle-title-transfer-deadlines-by-state/ohio/	[ "citation", "deadline" ]	null	[ { "as_of": "2026-08-18T00:00:00", "field": "late_penalty", "source": "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4505.06", "source_quote": "(6) If an application for a certificate of title is not filed within the period specified in division (A)(5)(b), (c), or (d) of this section, the clerk sh...	[]
803.092	within 30 days of the date of transfer of interest	[ "state" ]	oregon	https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors803.html	upon the transfer of any interest in a vehicle covered by an Oregon title the transferee shall submit an application for title to the Department of Transportation. Such application shall be submitted to the department within 30 days of the date of transfer of interest.	Oregon	https://referencesource.org/vehicle-title-transfer-deadlines-by-state/oregon/	[ "citation", "deadline" ]	null	[ { "as_of": "2026-08-18T00:00:00", "field": "late_penalty", "source": "https://codes.findlaw.com/or/title-59-oregon-vehicle-code/or-rev-st-sect-803-090/", "source_quote": "ORS 803.105 , $25 from the 31st day after the transfer through the 60th day after the transfer and $50 thereafter.", "value":...	[]
§ 1103.1	within 20 days of the sale or transfer of a vehicle or its entry into this Commonwealth from another jurisdiction, whichever is later	[ "state" ]	pennsylvania	https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-75-pacsa-vehicles/pa-csa-sect-75-1103-1/	Application for a certificate of title shall be made within 20 days of the sale or transfer of a vehicle or its entry into this Commonwealth from another jurisdiction, whichever is later.	Pennsylvania	https://referencesource.org/vehicle-title-transfer-deadlines-by-state/pennsylvania/	[ "citation", "deadline" ]	null	null	null
§ 501.145	Not later than the later of the 30th day after the date of assignment on the documents	[ "state" ]	texas	https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/transportation-code/transp-sect-501-145/	(a) Not later than the later of the 30th day after the date of assignment on the documents or the date provided by	Texas	https://referencesource.org/vehicle-title-transfer-deadlines-by-state/texas/	[ "citation", "deadline" ]	null	[ { "as_of": "2026-08-18T00:00:00", "field": "late_penalty", "source": "https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/transportation-code/transp-sect-501-146/", "source_quote": "If the seller holds a general distinguishing number issued under Chapter 503 of this code or Chapter 2301, Occupations Code, the seller is li...	[]
§ 46.2-600	within 30 days of the purchase or transfer	[ "state" ]	virginia	https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/section46.2-600/	every person residing in the Commonwealth who owns a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, or his duly authorized attorney-in-fact, shall, within 30 days of the purchase or transfer, apply to the Department for a certificate of ownership.	Virginia	https://referencesource.org/vehicle-title-transfer-deadlines-by-state/virginia/	[ "citation", "deadline" ]	null	null	null
RCW 46.12.650	within 15 days of delivery of the vehicle	[ "state" ]	washington	https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.12.650	A person who has recently acquired a vehicle by purchase, exchange, gift, lease, inheritance, or legal action shall apply to the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director for a new certificate of title within 15 days of delivery of the vehicle.	Washington	https://referencesource.org/vehicle-title-transfer-deadlines-by-state/washington/	[ "citation", "deadline" ]	null	[ { "as_of": "2026-08-18T00:00:00", "field": "late_penalty", "source": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.17.140", "source_quote": "is fifty dollars assessed on the sixteenth day after the date of delivery and two dollars for each additional day thereafter, but the total penalty must not...	[]
342.15	promptly after delivery to him or her of the vehicle	[ "state" ]	wisconsin	https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/342/ii/15	the transferee shall, promptly after delivery to him or her of the vehicle, execute the application for a new certificate of title in the space provided on the certificate or as the department prescribes, and deliver or mail the certificate and application to the department.	Wisconsin	https://referencesource.org/vehicle-title-transfer-deadlines-by-state/wisconsin/	[ "citation", "deadline" ]	null	null	null

Vehicle title transfer deadlines and late penalties by state

Canonical, always-current version: https://referencesource.org/vehicle-title-transfer-deadlines-by-state/ Machine-readable: https://referencesource.org/vehicle-title-transfer-deadlines-by-state/data.json — this mirror is a point-in-time copy.

Last verified: 2026-08-18
Stale after: 2027-08-18 (past this date, prefer the canonical copy — it re-verifies on a cadence this snapshot does not)
Records: 13

For each US state: how many days a private-party buyer has to apply for a new certificate of title after buying a vehicle, and what the statute charges for missing the deadline — each from the state's own titling statute with a verbatim quote. There is no federal rule and the answers spread from 10 days (California, Minnesota's notice-of-sale) through 15 (Washington) to 30 (Texas, Ohio, Florida), and the penalties are just as scattered: Florida a flat $20, Washington $50 on the sixteenth day plus $2 for each additional day capped at $125, Texas escalating to $250. Answers 'how long do I have to transfer a car title after buying in [state]', 'what is the penalty for late title transfer in [state]', and 'is there a late fee if I miss the title deadline'. The Washington and Texas penalty formulas are stated as day-rate schedules, so a late-penalty calculator (inputs: state, days late) falls straight out of the data. One record per state statute.

Provenance — what every record carries

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Licence position

unknown

Facts are not copyrightable; what this dataset takes from each source is a fact plus a short attributed quote linking back to the page that states it.

Sources

Fields

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