You may not have possession of your title if there is a lien against your vehicle. A lien is a creditor’s legal right to sell certain property of a debtor who defaults on his or her obligations. If you have not paid off your car completely, the lender has probably placed a lien on the car, and may hold the title. [1] X Research source If you do have a lien on your vehicle, contact the lienholder and ask them about adding your spouse’s name. [2] X Research source Typically, the lienholder will have no problem with this. Adding a name to the title makes the added party liable for the amount due to the lienholder. Once the lienholder has given consent to add your spouse, most states require that the lienholder fill out a form stating that they granted permission. These forms will vary depending on your state. To find the form for your state call the local Department of Motor Vehicles or visit the website. If you have lost the original title to your car, you can apply for a replacement. To get a replacement, look at your state’s requirements and visit your local DMV office. Your state’s requirements should be available online. [3] X Research source Some states require you to submit latest smog test (California) when you change ownership (this includes adding a spouse to a title), but you can submit a statement of facts which will exempt this requirement because your spouse is a family member. [4] X Research source Some states, such as California, allow you to have paperless title. Therefore, you need either the California Certificate of Title or an Application for Duplicate or Paperless Title.
Some states require that you sign the title in front of a notary. Look online to find out if this is required in your state. [6] X Research source If you must sign in front of a notary, visit any local bank during regular business hours. Most banks do not charge a fee for notarization services if you have an account. If you do not have a bank account, a bank may charge a small fee (less than $10). You may also be required to list the vehicle’s mileage on the title. Requirements about this vary from one state to the next. Likewise, some states require you provide this information on the title itself, while in others you must include an additional. Forms and state-specific information are available online. [7] X Research source
For example, in Kansas, Tennessee, and Connecticut “and” means that both parties must sign to conduct any business with the title. “Or” allows either party to take responsibility. [8] X Trustworthy Source State of Connecticut Official website for the State of Connecticut Go to source If your state makes this distinction, use “and” if you want both partners to approve anything done with the car title.
After printing your names as the “buyers,” you and your spouse should both sign the title in the appropriate places. Again, your state may require you and your spouse to sign in front of a notary. Find your state’s requirements online. [10] X Research source You should sign both as the seller and the buyer, while your spouse only needs to sign as the buyer.
You will usually need to include your name and address. When filling out this form, you will put both your information as well as your spouse’s information in as the “transferee. ”
You do not need an appointment, although it may cut down your wait time to make one. Be prepared to pay the transfer fee. Most states charge a small transfer fee, which you can pay when you transfer your title. The amount of the fee will vary depending on your state, but in most cases it’s under $50. [12] X Research source [13] X Research source
In California, for example, you must do this within five days of adding your spouse. [15] X Research source Some states will allow you submit a notice of transfer and release of liability online. This makes it so that any parking violations, traffic violations, and civil litigation resulting for the vehicle before the title is recorded will be ascribed to new owner of the vehicle. In this case, it would add liability for the vehicle to the spouse.
However, if your spouse is already covered under your insurance policy, adding his or her name to the car title should not affect your rates or policy. If your spouse is not covered under your policy, you will need to add him or her, or make sure that your spouse is covered under their own policy.
