Arizona runs a predominantly electronic title system. Title information is stored digitally rather than printed on paper by default, so many sellers don’t have a physical title at all — and that changes how the handover works.
Bought from a dealer? The dealership handles the paperwork. Just moved to Arizona? Registering an out-of-state vehicle needs a VIN inspection and a different document set. Start with transferring your license to Arizona.
The short version
- Notarization is no longer required. Arizona dropped it in October 2022, though plenty of guides still tell you otherwise.
- Buyer: 15 days. Seller: 10 days. Two deadlines, two different people.
- Private-party sales pay no sales tax in Arizona — only dealer purchases are taxed.
Arizona Title Transfer Deadlines: 15 Days and 10 Days
| Deadline | Who | What |
|---|---|---|
| 15 days | Buyer | Apply for a new title under A.R.S. § 28-2058 |
| 10 calendar days | Seller | Submit a Sold Notice to MVD |
The buyer’s 15 days runs from the date the seller assigns ownership under A.R.S. § 28-2058, and it applies whether or not the vehicle is being driven. Penalties attach if you miss it.
The seller’s Sold Notice is the protective one. Until it’s filed, MVD still has the vehicle in your name, which means citations and liability follow you rather than the new owner. It’s free and takes minutes through AZ MVD Now.
How to Transfer an Arizona Car Title Step by Step
Step 1: What the Seller Does
- Sign the title assignment. Complete the seller’s section with the buyer’s details, odometer reading and sale date.
- Disclose any liens or brands. Use the Title Viewer Service on AZ MVD Now to check what’s recorded against the vehicle before you list it.
- Remove your license plates. Plates stay with the seller in Arizona — do not hand them to the buyer. You may be eligible for a plate credit or refund.
- File the Sold Notice within 10 days, online through AZ MVD Now.
Step 2: What the Buyer Brings
- The signed title, or Form 38-1306 (Title Transfer Bill of Sale) if the original title isn’t available for a vehicle already titled in Arizona
- Form 96-0236, Title and Registration Application
- A lien release, if one is recorded against the vehicle
- Valid photo ID
- Payment for the title fee, registration and Vehicle License Tax
If you need to drive the vehicle before the transfer completes, a Restricted Use Three-Day Permit costs $1 through AZ MVD Now. For longer cover, see Arizona temporary permits.
Step 3: File With MVD, or Use eTitle Transfer
Online. Arizona’s eTitle Transfer handles lien-free transfers between a single owner and a single buyer for passenger vehicles entirely through AZ MVD Now. You don’t need Form 96-0236 — the workflow captures everything. Both parties need AZ MVD Now accounts.
In person at a state MVD office or Authorized Third Party. Third parties charge a convenience fee but often open evenings and weekends; state offices don’t charge extra. Booking ahead is worth it at Phoenix metro locations.
Incomplete applications get returned, and that puts your 15-day deadline at risk. Check Form 96-0236 line by line before you submit it.
Do You Need to Notarize an Arizona Title?
No. Arizona eliminated the notarization requirement for standard title transfers in October 2022. The seller signs the assignment section on the back of the title and that’s sufficient.
This matters because several well-known guides still instruct Arizona sellers to have the title notarized. Mobile notary visits start around $60 and rise on weekends. For a standard Arizona transfer, that’s money spent on nothing.
Two exceptions remain. A non-probate affidavit for an inherited vehicle does need notarizing. And if you’re selling to an out-of-state buyer, notarizing is worth considering — their state may require it even though Arizona doesn’t.
Do You Need a Bill of Sale in Arizona?
Not for a standard transfer where the seller has the title. Form 96-0236 captures the sale details.
It becomes genuinely useful in two situations. If the original title isn’t available — common in Arizona’s electronic system — Form 38-1306, the state’s official Title Transfer Bill of Sale, can substitute for a vehicle already titled here. And if a lien has been paid but the release hasn’t arrived, a bill of sale documents the transaction while you wait.
Even when it isn’t required, write one. It fixes the sale date that starts both deadlines above, records the odometer reading, and gives each party proof of what was agreed. Include the year, make, model and VIN, the sale price and date, the odometer reading, and both parties’ names and signatures.
Arizona Title Transfer Fees and Taxes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Title transfer fee | $4 |
| Registration fee | $8 |
| Air quality research fee | $1.50 |
| Vehicle License Tax | Based on original MSRP — varies |
| Restricted Use Three-Day Permit | $1 |
| Plate refund processing | $12 |
The title fee itself is trivially cheap — $4, one of the lowest in the country. Some guides quote $15 to $50; that’s wrong.
The real cost is the Vehicle License Tax, assessed at 60% of the vehicle’s original manufacturer base retail price, reduced 16.25% for each year since first registration. Because it’s tied to the sticker price when new rather than what you paid, a cheap used car can still carry a substantial VLT. Our guide to Arizona registration renewal explains how that calculation works.
On sales tax, Arizona is unusual. There’s no Transaction Privilege Tax on casual private-party sales — one of very few states where that’s true. Buy from a licensed dealer and you pay 5.6% state plus local rates, commonly 8–9% around Phoenix or Tucson. On a $20,000 car that’s over $1,000 riding on who you buy from.
Arizona Car Title Transfer FAQs
Common in Arizona, since titles are held electronically by default. For a vehicle already titled here, Form 38-1306 can substitute. The seller can also request a paper title through AZ MVD Now before the sale.
No. Arizona plates belong to the seller, who removes them at the sale and may claim a credit or refund. The buyer gets new plates at registration.
The lienholder must release it. Bring the lien release with your other documents — MVD won’t complete the transfer without it. Use the Title Viewer Service to confirm what’s recorded before money changes hands.
Yes. Out-of-state vehicles need a VIN inspection at an MVD office or authorized third party before they can be titled in Arizona, and you’ll need the out-of-state title or registration.
Arizona issues most titles electronically, so there’s often nothing to wait for in the mail. You can view and manage your title record through your AZ MVD Now account.
Two things cause most Arizona title problems: sellers who skip the 10-day Sold Notice and stay liable for a car they no longer own, and buyers who pay a notary for something Arizona stopped requiring in 2022. Both are free to avoid.
Add Comment