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Arizona private-party sale · Updated October 2026

How to sell a car by owner in Arizona

A private sale in Arizona comes down to four things: a clean title you can sign over, an odometer reading, your license plate off the car, and a Sold Notice filed with MVD. Here is the order to do it in, based on ADOT Motor Vehicle Division's current instructions.

1. Before you list the car

  • Have the title in hand. If it shows a lienholder, the car can't be transferred until the lien is released — your lender releases it electronically, or gives you a paper lien release (vehicle description, payoff date, paid stamp, and the lienholder's signature) to hand to the buyer.
  • Check emissions. In the Phoenix and Tucson metro testing areas a car must pass emissions before it can be registered. The newest five model years, 1966 and older cars, and electric vehicles are exempt. A current pass makes your car easier to sell and is required for an online eTitle transfer unless the buyer lives outside a testing area.
  • Collect the VIN, service records, and honest photos of this exact car. Buyers on OwnerLot check that the VIN in the ad matches the dash and the title.

2. Meet and get paid safely

  • Meet in daylight in a busy public place. Tucson police have told local news that people can meet outside a police station or in its lobby; TPD headquarters at 270 S Stone Ave has a lobby open Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
  • Take cash at the buyer's bank, or a cashier's check you verify by calling the issuing bank yourself. Don't hand over the title or keys until the money is real.

3. Sign the paperwork

  • Sign the back of the title and give it to the buyer. Write in the sale date, price, and odometer reading.
  • Odometer disclosure is required for model year 2011 and newer cars; model year 2010 and older are exempt.
  • A bill of sale isn't required for a normal title transfer, but it's a good record for both sides. ADOT publishes one: Bill of Sale, form 48-2004.
  • Notary: ADOT's current seller instructions only say to sign the back of the title. ADOT does require notarization on some documents, such as the Title Transfer Bill of Sale (form 38-1306), which can stand in for a signed Arizona title. If your title has a notary section or you're unsure, sign in front of a notary, or complete the transfer together with the buyer at an MVD or Authorized Third Party office.
  • Prefer no paper? eTitle Transfer on AZ MVD Now moves the title online. Both of you need an Arizona driver license or ID; it isn't available with a lien, more than two owners, or without current emissions.

4. After the sale

  • Take your license plate off before the buyer drives away. In Arizona the plate stays with you — move it to another car you own or destroy it. You may get a credit for unused registration.
  • File a Sold Notice right away on AZ MVD Now. It's free and protects you if the car later gets tickets, is in a crash, or is abandoned (ADOT warns of a $500 abandonment fee). An eTitle transfer files the Sold Notice for you.

If you're the buyer

  • You have 15 days to apply for title and registration (A.R.S. 28-2058). The seller's registration ends with the sale, so you can't drive on their plate — get a 3-day Restricted Use Permit if you need to move the car before it's registered.
  • Bring the signed title (or a Title Transfer Bill of Sale), a Title and Registration Application (form 96-0236), the lien release if there was a lien, and emissions compliance if you live in the Phoenix or Tucson testing area.
  • Fees: the title fee is $4 and base registration is $8, plus vehicle license tax and other fees.
  • A Level I inspection is only needed for title-only requests, bonded titles, and some out-of-state or out-of-country vehicles without proof of title or registration.
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FAQ

Do license plates stay with the car when you sell it in Arizona?

No. In Arizona the plate stays with the seller. Remove it before the buyer takes the car, then move it to another vehicle you own or destroy it.

Do I need to file a Sold Notice in Arizona?

ADOT tells sellers to file one as soon as they sell. It's free on AZ MVD Now and protects you from tickets, crashes, or abandonment tied to the car after the sale.

How long does a buyer have to transfer the title in Arizona?

15 days to apply for title and registration under A.R.S. 28-2058. The buyer can't drive on the seller's registration and may need a 3-day Restricted Use Permit.

Is a bill of sale required in Arizona?

Not for a normal title transfer — the signed title is what transfers ownership. A bill of sale (ADOT form 48-2004) is still a useful record for both sides.

Sources

This guide summarizes the ADOT and Arizona statute pages linked above. Rules and fees change; check with MVD before you sign. OwnerLot doesn't title, register, or hold payments.