What is the Vehicle Transfer Notification in Washington?

Form TD-420-065 — a form you submit to WA DOL within 5 business days of selling your vehicle. It removes your legal responsibility for anything the new owner does with the car: parking tickets, accidents, toll violations.

Washington State · Selling Guide

How to Sell a Car in Washington State: Every Document You Need [2026]

By TOWWO July 8, 2026 9 min read

What You Need — at a Glance

Required: Signed vehicle title (with odometer reading for vehicles under 20 model years old — federal law effective January 1, 2021).

Required after the sale: Vehicle Transfer Notification (form TD-420-065) submitted to WA DOL within 5 business days — this protects you from tickets and liability.

Recommended: Bill of sale, even though WA doesn't legally require one.

Selling a car in Washington State — whether it runs, doesn't run, or is headed to a junk buyer — requires the same core paperwork. The process is simpler than most people expect, but there's one critical step almost everyone skips: the Vehicle Transfer Notification. Skipping it can leave you legally responsible for parking tickets, accidents, and toll violations racked up by the new owner.

This guide covers every document, every step, and the specific differences between selling privately, to a dealership, and to a junk car buyer.

Business days to file
Vehicle Transfer Notification

Washington sales tax
paid by seller

Required document
(the signed title)

Every Document Explained

Here's every document involved in a Washington State vehicle sale — what's legally required, what's strongly recommended, and what only applies to certain situations.

1

Washington State Vehicle Title Required

The title proves you legally own the vehicle. Must be the original WA State title — a registration card or insurance card is not a title. You sign the back of the title to transfer ownership. If your title is lost, see our guide on getting a duplicate title before proceeding.
2

Odometer Disclosure Statement Required (most vehicles)

Required for all vehicles under 20 model years old and under 16,001 lbs GVWR (federal law, effective January 1, 2021 — previously 10 years). In Washington, this is typically done directly on the back of the title — there's a dedicated section. You write the current odometer reading and check whether it accurately reflects mileage, has exceeded mechanical limits, or is not actual mileage (for non-functioning odometers).
3

Bill of Sale Recommended

Washington State does not legally require a bill of sale for a private vehicle sale. However, it is strongly recommended — it documents the selling price (important if the buyer disputes the sale later), the "as-is" condition, the exact date of transfer, and both parties' contact information. WA DOL publishes a free bill of sale form at dol.wa.gov. Keep a copy for your records.
4

Vehicle Transfer Notification (form TD-420-065) Required (post-sale)

This is the step most sellers miss. After the sale, you must notify WA DOL that you no longer own the vehicle. Submit online at dol.wa.gov within 5 business days. It removes your legal liability for anything the buyer does with the car after the sale — toll violations, parking tickets, accidents, and registration lapses.
5

Release of Lien (if applicable) Required if lien exists

If you have an outstanding auto loan, the lender holds a lien on the title. Before you can sign the title over to a buyer, the lien must be released. Contact your lender to get a lien release letter — either pay off the loan first or coordinate payoff at the time of sale. Without a clean lien release, the title transfer cannot proceed.
6

Emissions Certificate Situational

Washington requires emissions testing in certain counties (King, Pierce, Snohomish, Clark, and Spokane). However, this responsibility falls on the buyer when they go to register the vehicle — not the seller. You do not need to provide an emissions certificate to complete the sale.
7

Junk Car / Dealer Receipt Junk sales only

When selling to a licensed Washington State vehicle dealer or junk buyer, they will issue you a receipt documenting the transaction. Keep this receipt — it serves as your record of sale and provides additional documentation that you transferred the vehicle.

How to Sign the Title Correctly

Incorrectly signed titles are one of the most common reasons a vehicle transfer fails at the DOL office. Here's exactly how to do it right on a Washington State title:

Sign your full legal name exactly as it appears on the front of the title. If the title shows "JOHN A SMITH" — sign "John A Smith," not "John Smith."
Print the buyer's full legal name in the "Transfer to" field. If the buyer is a couple, include both names as they want to appear on the new title (joined with "and" or "or" — this affects future selling rights).
Enter the sale price in the designated field. If you're gifting the vehicle, write "$0" or "Gift." Never leave it blank.
Write the date of sale — month, day, year.
Complete the odometer reading section if required (see above).
Do not use correction fluid (Wite-Out) on any part of the title — any correction makes it invalid. If you make a mistake, you'll need a duplicate title before proceeding.

If your name appears on the title with another person (co-owner), whether both signatures are required depends on how ownership was listed. If joined with "and" — both must sign. If joined with "or" — either owner can sign alone.

The Vehicle Transfer Notification — Don't Skip This

This is the most important post-sale step, and the one sellers most commonly forget about.

Real Risk

If you don't file the Vehicle Transfer Notification and the buyer racks up parking tickets, gets into an accident without insurance, or violates a toll road — you can be held responsible as the registered owner of record. Washington DOL's system won't know you sold the car until you notify them.

The Vehicle Transfer Notification (form TD-420-065) is your formal notification to WA DOL that you sold the vehicle. You must file it within 5 business days of the sale.

How to file it

Online (fastest): Go to dol.wa.gov → Vehicles → "Sold or transferred a vehicle." Takes about 2 minutes. Free. You'll need the buyer's name and the date of sale.
By mail: Print form TD-420-065 from dol.wa.gov, complete it, and mail to WA DOL. Free, but takes 2–4 weeks to process.

After you submit, save your confirmation number. It is your proof that you notified DOL — important if a dispute arises later about when the sale occurred.

Step-by-Step: The Complete Selling Process

1
Locate your title and verify it's clean. Check that your name is correctly listed as the owner and that there are no active liens noted. If you've paid off a loan, confirm the lien release is recorded on the title or you have a lien release letter from the lender.
2
Agree on price and method of payment. For private sales, cash or cashier's check is standard. Personal checks carry fraud risk — if you accept one, don't hand over the title until the check clears. For sales to licensed dealers and junk car buyers, payment is typically cash or business check at the time of pickup.
3
Complete the back of the title together with the buyer. Both parties should be present. Fill in: buyer's full legal name, sale price, date, odometer reading (if required). Seller signs. Do not pre-sign a blank title — this creates fraud risk if the title is lost or stolen before the sale is complete.
4
Complete and sign a bill of sale (recommended). Use WA DOL's free template or write your own. Include: vehicle year/make/model/VIN, sale price, date, both parties' names and addresses, and an "as-is" statement if applicable. Keep one copy; give the buyer one copy.
5
Hand over the title, keys, and any extras. Remove your personal plates if you want to keep them — in Washington, plates stay with the vehicle by default unless you specifically remove them. You can return plates to DOL for a partial registration refund.
6
File the Vehicle Transfer Notification online at dol.wa.gov. Do this the same day if possible — within 5 business days at the latest. Takes 2 minutes. Save your confirmation number.
7
Cancel or transfer your auto insurance. Call or go online immediately after the sale. You may be eligible for a pro-rated refund on unused premium. Do not cancel before the sale is complete — you need coverage up until the moment the title leaves your hands.

Private Sale vs. Dealer vs. Junk Car Buyer

The required documents are the same in all three cases. What differs is who handles the paperwork, how fast the process moves, and what happens to the vehicle.

Factor	Private Sale	Dealer	Junk / Cash-for-Cars Buyer
Best price potential	Highest	Medium	Lower (but near scrap value)
Time to sell	Days to months	Same day	Same day or next day
Car must run	Usually yes	Usually yes	No — towing included
Buyer haggles at pickup	Common	Yes	No (reputable buyers)
You handle DMV paperwork	Yes	Dealer handles most	Buyer handles most
Payment method	Cash / check / Venmo	Check / bank transfer	Cash at pickup
Works with salvage titles	Rarely	Sometimes	Yes

What to Do After the Sale

Return your license plates (optional — partial refund available)

In Washington, license plates transfer with the vehicle unless you remove them. If your registration still has several months remaining, you can return your plates to any DOL licensing office and receive a partial refund on the unused portion. This requires the plates themselves and your vehicle registration paperwork.

Cancel or update your auto insurance

Contact your insurer the same day you complete the sale. If you're replacing the vehicle, you may be able to transfer the policy to your new car rather than canceling. Ask about a pro-rated refund on unused premium — depending on your insurer and the timing, this can be meaningful.

Watch for liability notices

Even after filing the Vehicle Transfer Notification, you may occasionally receive a notice — typically from toll collection agencies or parking enforcement — if the buyer hasn't yet re-registered the vehicle in their name. Your Vehicle Transfer Notification confirmation number is your defense: it proves you notified the state of the sale on a specific date and that any liability after that date belongs to the buyer.

Keep your records for 3 years

Keep a copy of: the signed title (photograph both sides), your bill of sale, and your Vehicle Transfer Notification confirmation. In the unlikely event of a dispute — a lemon law claim, an accident involving the vehicle, a fraud allegation — these documents establish when and to whom you sold the car.

If your title is lost, see our guide on getting a duplicate car title in WA. Ready to sell? Get a cash offer in Seattle, Tacoma, or Spokane.

Skip the paperwork hassle — we handle most of it

When you sell to TOWWO, we walk you through the title signing, handle the tow, and pay you on the spot. You still file the Vehicle Transfer Notification yourself (it takes 2 minutes), but that's the only step left to you. We serve Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, and all of Western Washington.

Get My Cash Offer →

Or call: (425) 800-6828 · Running or not · All title types accepted

Common Questions

Do I need a bill of sale to sell a car in Washington State?

Washington law does not require a bill of sale for a private vehicle transaction. The signed title is the only legally required document. However, a bill of sale is strongly recommended — it creates a clear record of the sale price, date, and parties involved, which protects both buyer and seller in the event of any later dispute.

Does the buyer or seller pay sales tax in Washington?

The buyer pays use tax (which functions like sales tax) when they register the vehicle. Sellers have no sales tax obligation. The rate varies by county and is updated annually — check the Washington Department of Revenue website (dor.wa.gov) for the current rate in your county. This is handled by the buyer at the DOL office when they complete the transfer.

What if the buyer never registers the car in their name?

This is exactly why the Vehicle Transfer Notification exists. Once you file form TD-420-065, you are no longer legally the owner of record, regardless of whether the buyer ever registers the car. Without it, you remain liable until the buyer acts — which may never happen with a junk car sold for parts.

Can I sell a car with a salvage title in Washington?

Yes. Salvage titles are legally transferable in Washington. You must disclose in writing that the vehicle has a salvage title — failure to disclose is grounds for the buyer to void the sale. Most private buyers will not purchase a salvage title vehicle, but licensed dealers and junk car buyers routinely accept them.

My car doesn't run. Can I still sell it privately?

Technically yes, but the private market for non-running cars in WA is thin and slow. Most private buyers won't bid on a non-runner without seeing it, and arranging a test drive or inspection is logistically difficult. Junk car buyers and cash-for-cars services are designed specifically for non-running vehicles — they include free towing, make cash offers based on condition, and complete the transaction in one visit.

What if I sold my car but still have the title — can I cancel the sale?

If you handed over the signed title and received payment, the sale is legally complete. Holding onto an already-signed title does not void the transaction — the buyer can use the signed title to register the vehicle without your further involvement. If there's a dispute, seek legal advice rather than trying to reclaim the title.

I lost my keys. Can I still sell the car?

Yes — keys are not part of the legal transfer requirement in Washington. However, for a private sale, missing keys significantly reduce what you can ask. For a junk car buyer, missing keys typically have little to no impact on the offer, since the vehicle is going to be towed and parted out or crushed regardless.

Ready to sell? It starts with a 90-second form.

Tell us your car's year, make, model, and condition — we'll call or text you with a real offer. We buy running, non-running, junk, totaled, and flood-damaged vehicles across Washington State.

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About This Article

Written by the TOWWO team, based on real vehicle purchases across Washington State. We've bought thousands of junk, damaged, and unwanted cars in King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Spokane counties — all price data and process details in this article come from actual transactions, not estimates.