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Transferring ownership of a vehicle is more than just passing over a set of keys. It requires in-depth paperwork that proves the car is going to the correct person, whether that be a paper title or an electronic title. What this living document says goes. And without a properly assigned title, it’s unclear who has ownership or liability.

Imported vehicles, used , and fresh-off-the-lot vehicles all need an up-to-date and signed vehicle title. So, what happens when ownership needs to be transferred between parties? Vehicle registration gets that much more complex and may require legal help to complete.

You’ll need the assistance and jurisdiction of your state’s motor vehicle agency. Before you try and transfer titles on your own, get a notary. Any of Superior Notary Services’ notary publics can help initiate and or finalize your vehicle transfer. If you’re looking to transfer titles (and quickly), learn how to transfer a car title in this blog.

Car Titles: What Do They Do?

Car titles are all about responsibility. They directly prove that a vehicle is owned by a specific party, something that stands as irrefutable in court. This is why stolen vehicles are dangerous; they completely ignore the need and legal reason for a car title.

In addition to proving ownership, car titles assign liability. Say your family member or close friend is borrowing your car. When driving it, they get into a wreck. Who’s responsible if they were the one driving? It’s ultimately the name written and verified on the car’s title.

License plates are just one cornerstone of car ownership. Car titles, especially those assigned to brand-new cars, are vital to keeping those on the road safe. Although it varies by state, vehicle titles ultimately prove:

• Ownership
• Vehicle Identity
• Lien Status
• History of Ownership
• Legal Use

Active Parties

There are three active parties involved in a car title transfer. Each one has a legally defined, real responsibility in the process, and each must prove their identity throughout the process. Because pieces like liability insurance are at play, it’s best to come prepared with all vehicle-related documentation before initiating a title transfer.

The Seller

This is the current owner of the vehicle. They’re the ones signing away their right to the car. They will provide the notary on site with the essential seller documentation: the vehicle’s registration, lien release or documentation, and a complete bill of sale.

The Buyer

This person gets handed the signed title from the seller. Because they are pursuing the vehicle as a whole, they assume responsibility for all financial responsibilities, not limited to any loans in process. They become an active part of the vehicle’s history as soon as the title document is notarized.

A Notary Public

If you’re in the process of transferring your car title and know nothing about registration fees, sales tax, or notary fees, go straight to the people who know the process best: our remote notaries at Superior Notary Services.

As notaries for attorneys, residents, and businesses, our nationwide network includes experienced professionals who will meet you wherever you are and help ensure your notarization is smooth and legally valid.

The Transfer Process

The process may feel layered, confusing, and, for some, emotional, but all it takes to transfer a vehicle title is knowing what steps you must take. Start with the seller gathering all relevant information: name, address, and sales price.

Once the details like purchase price have been properly laid out, the title application can begin. For the best results in getting your car transfer ownership completed, follow these steps:

Seller Completes The Title:

The seller must fill out the title before any official moves can be made. Why? They’re the ones acquiring the vehicle and need to have their name, address, accepted sales price, and signature clearly stated on this document.

Buyer Reviews The Title:

Next, the buyer will review the title to make sure their sensitive information is correct and legible. They need to confirm that the VIN number stated matches the one legally tied to the car. Unless a loan is being paid off, the buyer will make sure there are no open liens.

Bill Of Sale Is Completed:

If your state requires a separate bill of sale, it’ll need to include:

• Tax calculation
• Proof of purchase
• Protection in case of disputes

Paperwork Is Submitted To The DMV:

Lastly, the final paperwork needs to be submitted to your state’s DMV office. Either by mail, in person, or online, this lets your state know that the vehicle has legally been transferred and the new owner has obtained full responsibility for it.

Need To Transfer Your Car Title? Superior Notary Services Can Help

In a perfect world, transferring a title should be as easy as a single conversation. Unfortunately, that’s just not the legal reality. There are many required steps you must take to even start that initial exchange between seller and buyer.

Luckily, our network of mobile and remote notaries is always available to assist. Whether you need help collecting the necessary information or are looking to close out your sale the legal way, a Superior Notary can arrive at your location in no time to make that sale final.

Book a Notary

When a person can no longer make decisions for themselves, how do they find someone who’s financially, emotionally, and physically fit to do so?

This is where important legal processes like power of attorney and guardianship come into play. Even though both carry the immense weight of deciding a person’s future, there are some key differences that differentiate the two.

Similarly to a signing agent, general notaries cannot sign documents that they are not qualified to work on. This may include real estate documents, as these specialized agreements require the same knowledge of real estate practices and verbiage that real estate agents have.

While regular notaries can acknowledge, verify, or sign real estate documents in some cases, it isn’t a guarantee. More complex documents, such as loan documents or real estate closings, may require a signature from a real estate notary signing agent.

Have you been asking yourself, ‘Can a regular notary notarize real estate documents?’

If so, you can learn more about the limitations with this comprehensive guide by Superior Notary Services:

The Role of a Notary in Real Estate

While the role of a notary public is vast, it has its limits. Many notaries who want to explore the full spectrum of notarization seek to become legal signing agents. This would allow them to sign and verify all kinds of real estate documents, from deeds to complex closing documents.

Notaries and legal signing agents are integral parts of the real estate process. No potential buyer can finalize the sale of their future home without detailed, legally binding documents that are signed and verified by a practicing notary.

This is where general notaries find themselves at a crossroads. With only so much information and so many complex legal details to sort out, how can they help? In many cases, they will have to seek the help of a licensed signing agent to get what they need.

If you’re a notary public looking for a way to become more involved in the notarization process or explore remote online notarization, speak to a notary signing agent today.

Signing Agent vs. Notary Public

Most notaries don’t realize that they’re not qualified to participate in real estate transactions. They go to assist in a loan acquisition process only to realize they don’t have the knowledge, processes, or certification necessary to keep the process moving.

Signing agents or real estate notaries undergo a multi-step process to obtain their real estate signing certification, so they can then begin assisting buyers with real estate transactions.

This process involves:

• Obtaining a notary bond
• Meeting state-specific requirements
• Passing a certification course
• Acquiring the necessary materials to carry out the role.

Read more about how Superior Notary services can help expedite the process here.

Regular notaries act as legal authority in these general assignments:

General Document Notarization: Regular notaries can sign or verify general documents such as contracts, agreements, affidavits, and powers of attorney. When these documents are not handled properly, small inconsistencies like incorrect dates or names can cause serious issues.

Jurats: A jurat is an act of verification commonly used in legal hearings. It confirms that the signer agrees with or ‘swears by’ by the information on a document. A notary then verifies that all included information is correct and passes it on to the necessary parties.

Note: While general documents only require that the signer sign and date the document when feasible for them, a jurat happens under oath.

Notary signing agents (who are first and foremost notary publics) obtain additional certification to sign, assist with, and verify the following documents:

Deeds: Deeds are legal documents that transfer ownership of property from one party to another. A notary will verify that the documents within the deed process are completed and that all necessary signatures have been added.

Loan Documents: Notaries help guide buyers through the loan documentation process by explaining complex verbiage to them and ensuring that all signatures are true, legible, and verified.

Real Estate Contracts: Signing agents review and handle confidential real estate contracts, most popularly closing documents, as they are pivotal in a home sale. Additional legal documents that signing agents have authority to handle are purchase, lease, and mortgage documents.

How to Become a Notary Public

Notary publics are underrated officials who continue to be essential in everyday events like sales, court proceedings, and general education. If you’re considering becoming a notary public and are questioning their influence, don’t. As a notary public, just being in the room is worth attention.

Before you can think about a specialized role like a real estate signing agent, you need to make sure you have the correct certifications to be a notary at all.

With Superior Notary Services, you can follow an efficient, step-by-step process to become a notary public within your state’s requirements.

Necessary, knowledgeable, and always available, here’s how to become a notary public today:

Meet State Requirements: You must be over the age of 18 and without any federal convictions to apply for the role. Consider your overall moral standing before looking into the certification.

Apply & Pay The Required Fees: Your state may require a formal application to start the process. Look into the notary public requirements by state for specific cost information, all required fees, and any information you might have missed.

Take a Training Course: Another requirement that sits on a state-by-state basis. Some states require that you take an official notary certification course (popularly administered by the National Notary Association (NNA) and pass with a certain percentage to be eligible for work.

Background Check: Check and see if your state requires a background check as part of the certification process. They do this to verify that you are in good moral standing to act as a person of legal authority.

Surety Bond: A surety bond is a sum of money that your state might require you to pay to protect yourself from financial and legal harm while on the job. This may look like protection from a mistake or a high-stakes assignment gone wrong.

Obtain Supplies & Start Working: Lastly, you need to make sure that you have all the supplies necessary to do your job. A notary seal, a journal, and a legal certification are required to start taking commissions.

Get Signing with Superior Notary Services

Looking to expand your signing repertoire? Look no further.

Signing agents adept at handling real estate documents are always necessary.

Get signing with the help of over 20 years of industry experience at Superior Notary Services.

Our database of experts is always available to get you started.

Let’s say you have an important contract that needs to be signed and notarized, but the only day available for you and your fellow signees is a Sunday. The banks are closed, and most notaries will be too, so what is there to do?

Fortunately, Superior Notary Services specializes in helping customers get their legal documents notarized on time every day of the week — including Sundays.