How to Get a Title for a Car: Step by Step

Your car title is a critical piece of paperwork – without it, you can't sell your vehicle and transfer ownership to a buyer. You may find that your title is missing or perhaps ruined by coffee stains. Either way, you're likely wondering how to get a title for a car!

The car title is the proof of ownership that you receive once you've paid off your car loan. Until the loan is paid off, the loan lender keeps your title on file at their offices. (There are also salvage titles, but that's a different discussion altogether.) Whether you need a replacement car title for your own records or to complete a vehicle sale, this article covers every step in getting a title for a car.

  1. Where to Apply For Legal Ownership
  2. How to Get Your Replacement Car Title Online
  3. How to Get Your Car's Title By Mail
  4. Complete Your Duplicate Title Application in Person

Where to Apply For Legal Ownership

Every state handles the title duplication process a bit differently, but there are typically three ways to obtain a copy: You can complete the application by mail, online, or in person.

In most cases, you'll contact your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), but in other states, such as Mississippi and Georgia, you'll go through the Department of Revenue instead. For the examples in this article we'll reference the DMV, though the process is similar in all cases.

How to Get Your Replacement Car Title Online

Here's how to apply online:

  1. Go to your state's Department of Motor Vehicles' website.
  2. Find the "Replacement Certificate of Title" link (or similarly named link) and follow the instructions. In general, if the address on your title is the same as your current mailing address, you own the title you're requesting, and there are no other changes to the information listed on the title, you should be able to complete the form online, as is the case with the Wisconsin DMV.
  3. However, in many states you'll need to have the application notarized, so the process can't be done entirely online.
  4. Assuming you don't need notarization, pay the application fee. The fee is often less than $20. (Given all the fees you likely paid in order to purchase the vehicle, this one should be an afterthought.)
  5. In states where notarization is required, you'll have to mail the application or present it in person at your local DMV office.