Hamilton County Texas

When selling a vehicle, the owner listed on the front of the title is required to sign the back of the title. If there are (2) owners, BOTH of their signatures are required. The signature(s) need to be on the designated area as shown below. You may also fill in the odometer reading and the date of sale. 

The vehicle will remain in your name until the new buyer brings the title to the Tax Office to be transferred. If the new buyer does not transfer the title, it is NOT possible to remove your name from being the legal owner. For your protection, you can go with the buyer to the Tax Office to ensure it is transferred, or you can submit a Vehicle Transfer Notification. 

YOU MUST SUBMIT THE VEHICLE TRANSFER NOTIFICATION WITHIN 30 DAYS TO REMOVE LIABILITY

When a Texas-titled vehicle is sold, the seller should submit a Vehicle Transfer Notification form within 30 days. The form must be completed in its entirety with no fields left blank. Once this form is accepted a remark will be added to the vehicle record showing the date you sold the vehicle. This can protect you if the buyer does not promptly transfer the title. If submitted within 30 days of sale, the buyer shown becomes the vehicle's presumed owner and may be subject to criminal or civil liability for parking tickets, toll violations, fines, or other penalties that occur after the date of sale.

Printable Vehicle Transfer Notification Form

Submit Transfer Notification Online

 

Seller Financing


For vehicles that are being financed by the Seller please add your full name and full mailing address on the back of the title at the bottom as shown below. This will allow the vehicle to be transferred to the new Buyer and show the original Seller as the lien holder. By doing this the Buyer will be liable for any tickets, tolls, or criminal activity and the original Seller will remain in possession of the title until the vehicle is paid off. Instructions for releasing the lien once the vehicle is paid off can be found under the Release of Lien section.

***If you are selling a vehicle of someone who is deceased, additional forms and information will be required. Please give our office a call for more information or if you have any other questions.***

When purchasing a vehicle, you have 30 days from the date of sale to transfer the title into your name to avoid delinquent transfer penalties. The owner(s) listed on the front of the title must match the seller signature on the back. The buyer is required to sign the back of the title as shown below. If there are (2) buyers, they are BOTH required to sign. You may also fill in the odometer reading and date of sale if not already done by the seller. 

To title a vehicle in your name you will need to bring in an acceptable photo ID for each buyer.  If you are wanting registration on a passenger vehicle you will need to bring a current insurance card. The insurance card must have the buyer(s) listed as being covered. It does NOT have to have the new vehicle on it. Insurance is NOT required for trailers. If you are wanting Farm Registration, we will need your CURRENT Ag Timber card. We will have you fill out the Application for Texas Title in our office or you can print it out and bring it with you. The seller(s) are no longer required to sign the application. If there (2) buyers, they are BOTH required to sign the title application.

The State of Texas collects a motor vehicle sales tax on all vehicle purchases. The sales tax is 6.25 percent of the purchase price OR the Standard Presumptive Value (SPV), whichever is the highest. The SPV applies to all vehicles not purchased from a licensed dealer. The delinquent transfer penalties are automatically calculated in the Texas DMV system at the time of title processing. An approximate calculation of the fees are as follows:

• 31-59 DAYS - $25 delinquent transfer penalty, and 5 percent sales tax penalty.
• OVER 60 DAYS - An additional $25 delinquent transfer penalty for every subsequent 30 day period, or portion of 30 day period, and 10 percent sales tax penalty.

The total cost to transfer a title includes the motor vehicle sales tax, $28 title fee, registration if needed, and any penalties that are applicable. Please note that any estimate provided over the phone or in person is preliminary and may not reflect the final amount. An accurate amount can only be confirmed after the transaction is fully processed and all required documents have been reviewed. 

Please do your research before buying vehicles online or out of state. You can always call our office with the VIN or license plate number, and we will help as much as we can. We CANNOT give out the owner or lien holder names/addresses, and we only have access to Texas Titled vehicles. You can find a full list of approved providers to run a vehicle history check on The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System website.

A Statement of Fact will be required to correct any errors made on the "Assignment of Title" box on the back of a vehicle title. A title will not be accepted with erasures, alterations, or illegible writing. The Seller(s) on the front of the title are required to sign the Statement of Fact. This includes, but is not limited to, the following errors:

THE HAMILTON COUNTY TAX OFFICE CANNOT PRINT VEHICLE TITLES

If a Texas vehicle title is lost or destroyed only the recorded legal owner(s) can file for a Certified Copy. The Application for Certified Copy of Title form must be filed with a regional office and the fee paid by check or money order. The fee for filing by mail is $2 and $5.45 in person. A copy of an acceptable government issued photo ID is required for each owner. If a lien is still recorded on the title, an original release of lien will be needed. Titles filed for by mail will take approximately 15 days while titles filed for in person are issued the same day.

Gifting a vehicle is the transfer of ownership without anything given as payment such as cash, the assumption of lien or debt, providing services or labor, or any exchange of real or tangible personal property. A motor vehicle received as a gift from an eligible donor is subject to a $10 gift tax. Vehicles gifted from a donor not eligible will still be required to pay the motor vehicle sales tax. The Donor(s) and Recipient(s) signatures are required to be notarized on the Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Gift Transfer form. To qualify for the gift tax, the vehicle must be received from one of the eligible parties:

You may be required to get a bonded title if any of the following apply to your situation:

The vehicle must be in your possession and eligible for a title. It is not required to be operational, but it must be a complete vehicle including frame, body, and motor and not considered junk or nonrepairable. To begin the bonded process, you will need to complete and mail in the Bonded Title Application, any supporting evidence of ownership (bill of sale, invoice, etc.), a release of lien if applicable, an acceptable photo ID, and a $15 check/money order to a Regional DMV Office. If you would like the application processed the same day you may click here to make a Regional Service Center Appointment online.

After the Regional Office has completed a vehicle check and approved your application, you will be sent a “Notice of Determination for a Bonded Title”. This notice is valid for (1) year. A value will be put on the vehicle and a surety bond amount will be set. It will also tell you if any other documentation will be needed. In some instances, such as the vehicle being from out of state, a Law Enforcement Identification Number Inspection will need to be completed. The Heart of Texas Auto Theft Task Force will provide you with a VTR 68-A after inspection. This form is valid for (30) days from the inspection date. A weight slip may also be required for trucks and trailers. If the vehicle has a lien less than (10) years old an original release of lien will be required to continue the bonded process. If an original release of lien cannot be acquired, you may consult with a lawyer to obtain a court order awarding you ownership of the vehicle free and clear of any liens.

You will need to purchase a surety bond for the amount that has been set on the Notice of Determination. This is amount is typically 1.5 times the value of the vehicle. The cost to purchase the bond will depend on the bonding agency you choose. The surety bond protects the State of Texas and the buyer if an individual claims to be the rightful owner within a (3) year period. Once the surety bond is purchased you have (30) days to have to bonded title put in your name.

After your application is approved, you have purchased the bond, and have all completed documents you will bring everything to the Tax Office to be processed. Motor vehicle sales tax will be collected, as well as the $28 title fee and the cost of registration if needed. The “Bonded” remark will remain on the vehicle title for (3) years. This remark does not affect the value.

Adding a Lien

To add a lien to a vehicle we must have the name and mailing address of the lienholder(s) and the date the lien began. If the title is already in your name, there will be $28 title fee. If you are transferring the vehicle into your name, you will pay the motor vehicle sales tax, title fee, and registration if needed.

 

Removing a Lien

Once a vehicle is paid for in full, the lienholder will release the title to the registered owner. If the lien is recorded on the front of the title, the lienholder may sign the front verifying the lien has been satisfied as shown below.

           

Once the lien is signed off you may bring the title into the Tax Office to have it removed for $28. If the lien is left on the title, it will remain on the vehicle record in the Texas DMV system even though it is signed off on the physical title. If the title is then lost or destroyed, you will then have to get a release of lien to get another copy. For a lien that is not signed off on the front of the title a Release of Lien form will be required from the lienholder. You may also bring in a release of lien letter from the lienholder. The letter must be printed on company letterhead, include a business card, and reference the VIN number.

e-Titles

When the Texas DMV receives an electronic release of lien notification from a lienholder, the electronic record is then converted from an e-Title to a paper title and mailed to the address that is on the DMV record for that vehicle.

PLEASE HAVE YOUR LICENSE PLATE NUMBER AND PROOF OF INSURANCE READY WHEN YOU COME TO RENEW YOUR REGISTRATION.

As of January 1, 2025 inspections are no longer required for vehicles that gross under 26,000lbs
(48,000lbs for Farm registration.)

When renewing farm registration, we are required to see a current Ag Timber card for the owner every year on every vehicle.

A valid disabled parking placard or license plate with the International Symbol of Access (ISA) allows you to park in designated handicap accessible spaces. A prescription from a licensed medical professional is required to obtain a temporary or permanent placard and/or plate. Your doctor may write you a prescription OR fill out and have notarized the disability statement on the Application for Persons with Disabilities Parking Placard and/or License Plate. Disabled placards/plates are only valid when the date is current, and the individual named on the prescription is in the vehicle.

Permanent
An individual with a permanent disability is allowed either (1) placard and (1) plate OR (2) placards. There is no fee for permanent placards and a $.50 plate exchange fee for the ISA license plates. Permanent placards must be renewed every (4) years. You are not required to bring in a new prescription each time you renew. 

Temporary
Individuals with a temporary disability are allowed a maximum of (2) placards. There is a $5.00 fee for each placard. Temporary placards expire after (6) months. Once a placard is expired, a new prescription is required to renew.

 

DISABLED VETERANS PLEASE SEE SECTION BELOW FOR PARKING PLACARDS/PLATES

If you would like to order or view options and pricing for custom license plates,
please visit

Custom plates are automatically shipped to the Tax Assessor in the county you are registered in. You should receive an email from MyPlates letting you know they are ready for pick up. When you come in to get your new plates, we will need the current plate/VIN for the vehicle they are going to be assigned to. There may or may not be an additional fee to assign the new plate. The fee will depend on the yearly price of the new plate and the status of your current registration.