How To Sell A Car In Texas (2026)

Tips for Preparing Your Car for Sale in Texas

Clean your vehicle before listing it. Not only is a clean car more attractive to buyers, but leaving personal papers inside could lead to identity theft. Since 2025, non-commercial vehicles don’t need safety inspections. However, the Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin and El Paso county groups require emissions tests.

If your title is lost, order a certified copy before listing the car. Otherwise, you can’t sign the vehicle over, and you may need to visit the county tax office with the buyer to complete the transfer.

Steps to Sell a Car Privately in Texas

Decide on a sale price. Online resources provide used car valuation ranges based on the vehicle’s condition, age and model.

You can list your car on classified ad sites and social media platforms. Pick one used by locals to avoid scams.

Consider meeting prospective buyers in public locations, and ask to hold the prospective buyer’s car keys until they return from any test drive. If someone is interested, negotiate a fair price based on your valuation research.

Selling to a Dealership vs. Selling Privately

Selling or trading in your vehicle at a dealership is usually easier because the business will usually have a narrower negotiating range.

Conversely, you’ll generally get a better price by selling your car instead of trading it in. However, you can reduce your monthly car payments and sales tax by trading in a vehicle for a new car.

How to Transfer a Car Title in Texas

Whether you sell to a private party or a dealer, you will sign the title and write the odometer reading. A written odometer disclosure is usually required by federal law. Vehicles from 2010 or older are exempt after 10 years, while 2011-and-newer vehicles are exempt after 20 years. Vehicles with a GVWR over 16,000 lbs are also exempt.

You must also sign an application for title and registration (Form 130-U) and write the sale price. The buyer needs both of these documents to obtain a car registration in Texas.

Ensure you provide an accurate sales price to the county tax assessor-collector. If the sales price is at least 80% of the standard presumptive value (SPV), the tax is 6.25% of the sales price. If the sales price is less than 80% of SPV, the tax is 6.25% of 80% of SPV.

The buyer can submit a certified appraisal within 20 days to dispute this tax. Understating the price on Form 130-U has little or no effect on the buyer's tax and exposes both parties to perjury charges.

Buyers have 30 days to file the title application, although active-duty service members have 60 days. Late filing leaves the vehicle in the seller’s name and makes it subject to delinquent transfer penalties.

You must also file a vehicle transfer notification before the 30th day. Filing is free and creates a rebuttable presumption of the buyer’s ownership and civil or criminal liability. This absolves the seller of vicarious criminal or civil liability for the buyer’s acts.

Without taking this step, you can open yourself up to citations or accident claims if the buyer violates Texas traffic laws or causes an accident. Not filing this document doesn’t create liability, but it removes the rebuttable presumption.

What to Do After the Sale in Texas

Texas law requires sellers to remove license plates. The seller may transfer those plates to another vehicle with the state’s approval and a new registration sticker. If the seller doesn’t transfer the plates, they have ten days to dispose of them.

Keep copies of the signed title and Form 130-U, and cancel the insurance only after filing the notification.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Selling a Car in Texas

Although the state does not require it, consider writing a vehicle bill of sale in Texas to document the transaction in case a dispute arises.

Make sure not to mislead the buyer about the vehicle. The buyer can rescind the sale if you commit fraud.

Learn More About Car Sales From ConsumerShield

Have more questions about how to sell a car in Texas? Explore ConsumerShield’s library of resources and tools today.