How to Sell a Car in California


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Selling a car can be an intimidating process. It is confusing to find all of the information you need, especially if it is your first time doing so. It’s different in every location across the country. Those occupying the golden state might wonder how to sell a car in California.

Keep on reading to learn how to sell a car in California. Some key steps will keep you on track and ensure that the process goes smoothly. By the time you finish reading, you should feel confident in your ability to sell your vehicle.

Ensure the Status of Your Title

Before you can sell your car, you need to ensure that you have control over the title. This step is vital when learning how to sell a car in California. If your status is damaged or owned by a lienholder, you will not be able to earn a profit on your vehicle.

According to jdpower.com, you may need to act if:

  • You have debts that have not been paid off
  • You lost your title
  • You damaged your title
  • There are errors with the current title
  • The lienholder’s name is on the title

All of these can be taken care of through the lienholder or the DMV. Once you have a complete title in your name, you can start the process of transferring the car over to another individual.

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Put Together the Various Needed Documents

According to smartmotorist.com, there are a few documents that are necessary to sell your car in California. These are a bit different from other states. Failing to fill these out will make the selling process much harder to complete.

We’ll go over the four vital documents you should have to sell your vehicle in California. They are all crucial for different reasons. We’ll also discuss a few of the more minor items that you should have on hand.

California Smog Certificate

A smog certificate is required to be able to sell your car in California. These are easy to obtain and are valid for about ninety days.

Getting this certificate:

  • Ensures that your car is compliant with emission laws
  • Protects public and environmental health
  • Keeps your vehicle in line with California laws

You can get a smog exception at a DMV-authorized location. You do not need to get this certificate if you have an electric vehicle, as smog is not an issue with these.

Release of Ownership Form

The release of ownership form will need to be filled out after you have completed your sale. You can prepare yourself for this by printing out the document or locating it online before you finalize anything.

The release of ownership form should be the very last thing that you do. This item will officially relinquish you of your right to the car. This form should be given to the DMV so that they are notified of the transfer of ownership.

Certificate of Title

The certificate of title states which the car belongs to legally. You need this so you can move the ownership over to the person who now owns the vehicle.

As we discussed above, you will need to ensure the status of your title beforehand. Once you do, this form should be kept on hand so that you can bring it to the DMV when the time comes to transfer the title. There will be a fee to pay to do this.

Release of Liability Form

This final form relinquishes any liability that you might be responsible for with the car. Filling out this form will make sure that:

  • You are not responsible for any legal issues that might occur
  • Any crashes or accidents are not your fault

If you do not release your liability, you will still be required to pay any fees or penalties that the new owner acquires. Make sure that this is something that you do not forget to do.

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Other Forms

There are also smaller documents that you should know of when understanding how to sell a car in California. These include:

  • Form REG 262, the Vehicle Transfer Form
  • An odometer reading
  • The Bill of Sale
  • Warranties that you may have
  • Maintenance records

These, along with the four vital documents stated above, will make the process easier to complete. You can keep all of these in a folder or other secure location so you do not lose them.

Clean the Car

Now that you have all of your items in place, you can beautify the car. This process will attract buyers to your vehicle. Make sure that you have polished it on the inside and the outside for the best possible results.

According to Carfax.ca, the wheels are also a vital part of the washing process. Make sure that these are just as beautiful as the rest of the vehicle. The cleaner the wheels are, the newer it will look to the casual buyer.

When the car is clean, you can advertise it. Ensure that you know what is legal and what is not in California. Many places will allow you to show off your vehicle to as many people as possible.

Some of the best places to advertise your car include:

  • Websites targeted to sell used cars
  • Your driveway
  • Private property that has been approved by the owner

You cannot park and sell your car on public property. Make sure that the method of advertising that you choose is legal and safe. The illegal measure might result in fines or damage to your car.

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Complete the Sale at the DMV

Once the car has been purchased, you can complete the rest of the process at the DMV. Discuss who will pay the fee to transfer the title ahead of time. You can ask them for payment in:

  • Cash
  • Card 
  • Check

When selling the car, make sure that you talk everything through with the buyer beforehand. At this stage, you want to be clear about everything. A disagreement could break a sale. 

Once you’re brought all of the necessary paperwork to the DMV, the car officially belongs to another person. You can collect your payment and move on with your life. Ensure that you remove the license plate before the buyer takes off with your car.

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