To title a vehicle in Nebraska, complete Form RV-707, the Application for Certificate of Title, and file it at any County Treasurer’s office within 30 days of your purchase date. The basic fee is $10, and you must bring proof of ownership, a completed odometer disclosure where required, and lien paperwork if a lender is financing the vehicle. Out-of-state vehicles need a Sheriff’s VIN inspection first.
Documents to Gather Before You Start
A single missing paper sends you home. Assemble the full package before you go to the counter:
- Proof of ownership. For a private purchase, that is the previous Certificate of Title with the seller’s section fully signed and the purchaser’s section completed with your name, address, and signature. For a new vehicle from a dealership, bring the Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO) instead.
- The completed Form RV-707, available as a PDF from the Nebraska DMV website or on paper at any County Treasurer’s office.
- Odometer disclosure. The seller certifies the reading on the title or MSO at the time of sale. Model year 2010 and older vehicles are exempt, along with 2011-or-newer vehicles once they pass 20 years of age, vehicles over 16,000 pounds gross weight, and motorcycles built without odometers.
- A Sheriff’s inspection certificate if the vehicle is coming from out of state.
- Lien documentation if a lender is financing the vehicle: a copy of the security agreement or similar instrument showing the debtor’s name, the VIN, and the lienholder’s name and address.
Every person whose name will appear on the new title must sign the application. Married couples are the one exception; either spouse may sign for the other. If an owner cannot appear in person, the Nebraska DMV publishes a Power of Attorney form specifically for vehicle titling that lets an appointed representative sign and file.
Filling Out Form RV-707
The form is a single page, and accuracy on it matters more than speed. Errors slow processing and can create ownership disputes later.
Vehicle Description
Enter the model year, make, and the full 17-character Vehicle Identification Number. Copy the VIN directly from the dashboard plate or door sticker rather than from memory. One transposed digit is enough to trigger a rejection.
Owner Information
Write your full legal name exactly as it appears on your identification, along with your Social Security Number or Federal Employer Identification Number. If two people will co-own the vehicle, list both names. Both co-owners will need to sign.
Brand Checkbox
The form includes a checkbox for salvage and previously salvaged vehicles. Mark it if the title you are surrendering carries a damage brand. Nebraska carries forward any brand from an out-of-state title, including flood, rebuilt, manufacturer buyback, and total loss designations, so read the existing title closely before completing this section.
Lienholder Section
If a lender has a security interest in the vehicle, fill in the lender’s full name and mailing address. Leaving this blank when a lien exists means the lender’s interest will not be recorded, and the lender will typically require you to refile.
Sheriff’s VIN Inspection for Out-of-State Vehicles
Any vehicle coming into Nebraska from another state or country must pass a physical identification inspection before it can be titled here. The County Sheriff performs it, and the fee is $10. There is no fee when the ownership document is a U.S. Government Certificate to Obtain Title (SF-97).
Bring the vehicle and the out-of-state title. The inspector matches the VIN on the vehicle against the ownership documents and records the current odometer reading. If something does not line up, the sheriff may examine secondary manufacturer markings and check the VIN through the National Crime Information Center and Nebraska Crime Information Service. Once cleared, the sheriff signs an inspection certificate that goes with your title application.
The certificate expires 90 days after the inspection, so file soon after. All major component parts must be attached and in their correct positions at the time of inspection; you cannot arrive with the engine pulled or a body panel off.
You can skip the inspection if the ownership document you are surrendering is already a Nebraska title, a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin, or an importer’s statement of origin. Cabin trailers and vehicles sold directly from a manufacturer to a franchised dealer are also exempt.
Filing, Deadline, and Fees
File the completed package at any County Treasurer’s office in Nebraska. You are not limited to the county where you live. Walking the paperwork in generally gets you same-day processing. If you mail it, use a trackable service because the envelope carries your Social Security Number and original title documents.
The 30-day clock runs from the purchase date, not from the day you move to Nebraska or take physical possession. Missing that window can complicate registration and leave you driving without proper documentation.
Fees tied directly to the title application:
- Title fee: $10.
- Lien notation: $7 if a lienholder is recorded on the title.
- Sheriff’s VIN inspection: $10 for out-of-state vehicles.
Sales tax, motor vehicle tax, and registration fees are collected at the same visit but attach to registration rather than to Form RV-707 itself. State sales tax runs 5.5%, with local jurisdictions sometimes adding their own. Most County Treasurer offices accept cash, personal checks, and major credit or debit cards. Card payments sometimes carry a processing surcharge, so call the specific office to confirm payment methods before you go.
After You File
You leave the counter with a receipt confirming your application and payment. The printed Certificate of Title is mailed to the owner, or to the lienholder if a lien is recorded. Nebraska also uses an Electronic Lien and Title (ELT) system, so if your lender participates, the title is held electronically instead of being mailed on paper. You can check a title’s status through the Nebraska DMV’s Online Vehicle Title and Lien Inquiry tool.
When the title arrives, read every field: name spelling, VIN, lien information. Report any error to the County Treasurer’s office that processed your application so they can issue a corrected title before it becomes a problem on a future sale or insurance claim.
Using the Form for a Name Change or Duplicate
Form RV-707 also covers name changes on an existing title. After a marriage, divorce, or court-ordered name change, submit proof of the name change with a completed application and a $10 fee at any county motor vehicle office. The same $10 fee applies whether you are changing, adding, or removing a name.
If a lien is involved, there are two extra steps depending on how the title is held. For a paper title with a lien, contact your lender and ask them to forward the title to a County Treasurer’s office; once it arrives, bring your proof of name change and the fee. For an electronic title with a lien, submit a Change Title Request form to your lender, and after the lender approves, file the approved form with your application and fee at the county office.
For a lost, stolen, or destroyed title, you do not use Form RV-707. You file the Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title at any County Treasurer’s office with a $14 fee. Every person named on the original title must sign the duplicate application, with the same spousal-agent exception that applies to originals. A lienholder holding the original may also apply.