To transfer a car title in Utah, you need the signed original title, a completed Bill of Sale (Form TC-843), an Application for Utah Title and Registration (Form TC-656), and a government-issued ID. File online through the state’s Person to Person (UPP) portal, in person at a DMV office, or by mail. The title fee is $6, and you’ll owe sales tax based on the purchase price.
Documents to Gather Before You Start
Utah law requires every vehicle owner to apply for a certificate of title as proof of ownership.1Utah Legislature. Utah Code Section 41-1a-501 Have these in hand before you file:
- The original Utah title certificate, with the seller’s signature in the assignment section on the back. If a lienholder is printed on the front, that lender must also sign a release before the title can transfer.2Utah Legislature. Utah Code Title 41 Chapter 1a Motor Vehicle Act – Section: Part 5 Titling Requirement
- Bill of Sale (Form TC-843) showing the sale price, date, and both parties’ names and signatures. The DMV uses it to calculate sales tax.3Utah State Tax Commission. TC-843 Bill of Sale
- Application for Utah Title (Form TC-656), completed by the buyer with vehicle description and new owner information.4Utah.gov. TC-656 Vehicle Application for Utah Title and Registration
- Government-issued ID for every person listed as an owner: driver license, passport, state ID, or military ID.
- Odometer Disclosure Statement for any vehicle less than 20 model years old. Vehicles 20 model years old or older are exempt.5Utah Legislature. Utah Code 41-1a-902 – Odometer Disclosure Statement – Contents – Receipt – Exceptions
Forms are available on the Utah State Tax Commission website or at any DMV office.6Utah State Tax Commission. Motor Vehicle Forms and Pubs A missing lien release or an unsigned title will stop the process at the counter.
Filling Out the Title and TC-656
Signing Over the Title
The transfer starts on the back of the existing title in the assignment section. The seller prints their name, signs, and enters the current odometer reading. The buyer prints their full legal name and address and signs to acknowledge the purchase. Signatures must match the names as they appear elsewhere on the title. Any erasures, white-out, or cross-outs void the document, and you’ll have to apply for a duplicate title before you can proceed.
Completing Form TC-656
Form TC-656 captures the new owner’s information and vehicle details. In the owner section, enter your full name and an identification number from one of the accepted ID types: driver license, passport, state ID, FEIN for businesses, or military ID.4Utah.gov. TC-656 Vehicle Application for Utah Title and Registration A co-owner’s information goes in the designated co-owner fields. Fill in the Vehicle Identification Number, make, model, and year exactly as they appear on the old title and the Bill of Sale. If you’re financing the vehicle, list the lienholder’s name and address in the security interest section so the lender’s claim gets recorded against the title.
Mismatched VINs and misspelled names are the most common reasons applications get returned.
Where to File
Online Through UPP
Utah’s Person to Person (UPP) online service handles most private-party transfers from home. You upload images of the signed title and supporting documents, pay the fees, and can print a temporary permit while you wait for the new title to arrive by mail.7Utah State Tax Commission. UPP – Utah Person to Person Online Title Transfers UPP works only when the existing title is a Utah title. It cannot process vehicles with a non-repairable brand, vehicles in a suspended record status, or out-of-state titles.
In Person at a DMV Office
Appointments are available in Ogden, Farmington, Taylorsville, South Valley (Draper), Provo, and Hurricane.8Utah State Tax Commission. Transfer a Utah Title This is the only option for out-of-state titles, since those vehicles need a VIN inspection that can’t be done remotely.
By Mail
You can also mail the completed paperwork and payment to:
Motor Vehicle Division
Contact Center
P.O. Box 30412
Salt Lake City, UT 841309Utah State Tax Commission. Replace Title
Make checks or money orders payable to the Utah State Tax Commission. Don’t send cash. Once the DMV processes your application through any channel, the new physical title typically arrives by mail within several weeks.
What You’ll Pay
The title fee is $6.10Utah State Tax Commission. Summary of Common Fees – Section: Titles On top of that, you owe sales and use tax based on the purchase price listed on the Bill of Sale or the vehicle’s fair market value. Utah’s combined sales tax rate depends on where you register the vehicle and ranges from 6.35% to 10.05% as of January 2026.11Utah.gov. Sales and Use Tax Rates Effective January 1, 2026
If you’re registering the vehicle at the same time, the standard registration fee for a passenger vehicle weighing 14,000 pounds or less is $44 for a 12-month period.12Utah Legislature. Utah Code 41-1a-1206 – Registration Fees – Effective 1/1/2026 Electric vehicles pay an additional road usage charge, hybrid electric vehicles add $21.75, and plug-in hybrids add $56.50. All fees are due at the time of application.
One point that catches people off guard: Utah does not exempt gift vehicles from sales tax. Even when no money changes hands between family members, the DMV assesses tax based on fair market value.7Utah State Tax Commission. UPP – Utah Person to Person Online Title Transfers
Bringing In an Out-of-State Title
A vehicle titled in another state can be transferred to Utah, but it takes a few more steps. You still need the signed original title, a completed TC-656, and your ID. You’ll also need a VIN inspection, which verifies the number stamped on the vehicle matches the paperwork. This inspection is required for every vehicle being titled in Utah for the first time.13Utah State Tax Commission. Transfer an Out-of-State Title
Out-of-state transfers cannot be processed through UPP. You have to visit a DMV office in person.7Utah State Tax Commission. UPP – Utah Person to Person Online Title Transfers If you live in Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Cache, or Utah County, you may also need to pass an emissions inspection before registering.13Utah State Tax Commission. Transfer an Out-of-State Title New residents have 60 days after moving to Utah to transfer their titles and registrations.14Utah State Tax Commission. Registering Your Vehicle in Utah
Emissions and Safety Inspections
Utah eliminated the mandatory safety inspection for most passenger vehicles in 2018. The remaining exceptions are narrow: rebuilt salvage vehicles applying for a rebuilt title, first-time street-legal ATV registrations, and certain large commercial vehicles and motor homes.15Utah State Tax Commission. Inspections A standard car or truck changing hands in a private sale does not need a safety inspection.
Emissions testing is a different matter. If you register the vehicle in Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Cache, or Utah County, an emissions inspection is required for most model years. Brand-new vehicles and certain recent model years are typically exempt, as are vehicles from 1967 and older, but specific exemptions vary by county.15Utah State Tax Commission. Inspections The DMV must receive your emissions certificate electronically from the county health department before it will complete your registration. Outside those five counties, emissions testing is generally not required.
Inherited Vehicles and Lost Titles
Transferring After a Death
When the previous owner has died, the transfer path depends on the size of the estate. For smaller estates, Utah allows a surviving heir to use a Survivorship Affidavit (Form TC-569C) instead of full probate. The affidavit can be used when the deceased left no more than four boats, motor vehicles, trailers, or semitrailers; the rest of the estate (minus liens) does not exceed $100,000; at least 30 days have passed since the death; and no personal representative has been appointed.16Utah.gov. TC-569C, Survivorship Affidavit The heir certifies they are entitled to the vehicle and that the transfer won’t shortchange the deceased’s creditors. For larger or contested estates, you’ll need court documents appointing a personal representative before the DMV will process the transfer.
Duplicate Title When the Original Is Lost
A lost or damaged title doesn’t have to derail a sale. The registered owner can request a duplicate title online through Utah’s Motor Vehicle Portal or by mailing Form TC-123 (Application for Duplicate Utah Title) with the $6 fee to the Motor Vehicle Division.9Utah State Tax Commission. Replace Title If you’re buying from someone whose Utah title is lost, UPP can handle it. The seller completes Form TC-123, which simultaneously requests the duplicate and assigns it to you as the new owner.7Utah State Tax Commission. UPP – Utah Person to Person Online Title Transfers
Check the Title for Brands Before You Buy
Before you agree on a price, check whether the title carries a brand. A title brand is a permanent notation flagging an event that affects value or safety. Salvage means the vehicle was declared a total loss by an insurer or sustained damage exceeding roughly 75% of its pre-damage value. Rebuilt means a previously salvaged vehicle has been repaired and passed inspection. A junk or non-repairable brand means the vehicle was too damaged to safely repair and is only good for parts or scrap.
Brands follow the vehicle permanently through the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System and cannot be washed away by transferring to a new state. In Utah, vehicles with a non-repairable brand cannot be processed through UPP at all.7Utah State Tax Commission. UPP – Utah Person to Person Online Title Transfers Rebuilt salvage vehicles must pass a safety inspection before they can be registered.15Utah State Tax Commission. Inspections A branded title can cut resale value by 20% to 40%, so knowing about the brand before you sign anything protects you from overpaying.