To transfer a vehicle title in Wyoming, the seller signs the back of the existing certificate of title in front of a notary, the buyer fills out an Application for Certificate of Title, and the buyer takes both documents, along with any required VIN inspection and payment for sales tax and fees, to the County Clerk and County Treasurer in the county where the buyer lives.1Wyoming Department of Transportation. Titles, Plates and Registration Everything else is detail, but the details are where transfers get held up.
What the Seller Has to Give You
The seller signs the assignment section on the back of the Wyoming certificate of title, and under W.S. 31-2-104 that signature has to be dated and acknowledged before a notary public.2Justia Law. Wyoming Code 31-2-104 – Transfer of Ownership If more than one name appears on the title, every listed owner has to sign, whether the names are joined by “and” or “or.”3Carbon County, WY. Vehicle Titles
The title also has to be free of any recorded liens. If a lender still holds a lien, the seller needs to produce a lien release before the transfer can go through.
A bill of sale is not required for every private sale, but Wyoming law requires one when the seller cannot deliver the title at the time of sale because a bank or other financial institution is holding it, or when the sale goes through an auctioneer.2Justia Law. Wyoming Code 31-2-104 – Transfer of Ownership Even when not legally required, a bill of sale showing buyer, seller, date, and purchase price speeds up the tax calculation at the Treasurer’s window and heads off disputes later.
Odometer Reading
Federal law requires an odometer reading on the title for any vehicle with a model year of 2011 or newer, and that requirement runs for 20 years from the model year.4National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Consumer Alert: Changes to Odometer Disclosure Requirements In 2026 that means any model year 2011 through 2026 vehicle needs the odometer disclosure filled out on the back of the title. Model year 2010 and older vehicles are fully exempt.5eCFR. 49 CFR Part 580 – Odometer Disclosure Requirements The seller writes the current mileage and certifies whether it’s accurate; the buyer acknowledges it. A false odometer reading is a federal offense, so don’t round or guess.
What the Buyer Fills Out
The buyer completes the state’s Application for Certificate of Title, available at any County Clerk’s office or through the Wyoming Department of Transportation.1Wyoming Department of Transportation. Titles, Plates and Registration The form captures the buyer’s legal name, address, vehicle identification number, and any new lien information. Check the VIN against the vehicle itself; a transposed digit will send everything back to be redone.
VIN Inspection for Out-of-State Vehicles
Any vehicle coming into Wyoming from another state needs a VIN inspection before the County Clerk will process the title application. The requirement also covers homemade, rebuilt, reconstructed, and kit-assembled vehicles.6Natrona County, WY. VIN Inspection The inspection confirms the number stamped on the vehicle matches the paperwork and screens for stolen vehicles.
Only a Wyoming law enforcement officer can perform the inspection for most transfers. A licensed dealer can verify the VIN on a vehicle from that dealership’s own inventory, but not on a vehicle you bought privately out of state.7Campbell County, Wyoming. Frequently Asked Questions If the vehicle is physically located outside Wyoming, any sworn officer in the state where it sits can complete the inspection on a WYDOT-approved form.6Natrona County, WY. VIN Inspection Call your local police department or county sheriff’s office to schedule it; walk-in availability varies.
Sales Tax, Fees, and the 65-Day Clock
Wyoming’s state sales tax rate is 4%, made up of a 3% base rate plus an additional 1% imposed since 1993.8Justia Law. Wyoming Code 39-15-104 – Taxation Rate Counties can add up to three 1% option taxes (general purpose, capital facilities, and economic development), and Teton Village and Grand Targhee charge a 2% resort district tax on top. Depending on where you live, your combined rate can land anywhere from 4% to 7% or higher. The County Treasurer collects at the rate in effect in the county of the owner’s principal residence.9Justia Law. Wyoming Code 39-15-107 – Compliance
If a trade-in was part of the deal, the taxable amount is the purchase price minus the trade-in allowance. Cash down payments do not reduce the taxable price.10Uinta County, WY. Sales Tax Calculation For a gifted vehicle that doesn’t qualify for the family exemption below, tax is based on fair market value at the time of the gift.9Justia Law. Wyoming Code 39-15-107 – Compliance
You have 65 days from the purchase date to pay the sales tax before penalties kick in. After that, interest accrues at 1% per month and a $25 civil fee is assessed immediately. If you still haven’t paid by the 75th day, the civil fee becomes $25 or 10% of the tax owed, whichever is greater.11Justia Law. Wyoming Code 39-15-108 – Enforcement Pay early.
Beyond the tax, the flat fees at the County Clerk’s office are $15 for the certificate of title and $20 for a lien filing when a lienholder is recorded.
Family Gift and Sale Exemption
Starting July 1, 2026, Wyoming exempts vehicle sales and gifts between immediate family members from both state sales tax and use tax under Senate File 61. The exemption covers transfers between parents, children, spouses, siblings, stepparents, stepchildren, stepsiblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. Two conditions apply: the person giving or selling the vehicle must have already paid sales or use tax when they originally bought it, and the transfer must go directly from one qualifying family member to another.12Wyoming Legislature. 2026 – SF0061 You can’t route a transfer through a family member to dodge tax on a sale to someone outside the family.
The paperwork is the same with or without the exemption. The seller still notarizes the title, the buyer still files the application, and the $15 title fee and any lien fee still apply. Only the sales and use tax goes away.
Filing at the County Clerk and Treasurer
Bring the signed and notarized title, your completed application, any required VIN inspection form, and your bill of sale to the County Clerk in the county where you live. In the same building, visit the County Treasurer to pay the sales tax and get a receipt. The Clerk won’t issue a title until the Treasurer confirms the tax is paid.1Wyoming Department of Transportation. Titles, Plates and Registration Going in person is the fastest route because the clerk can flag problems on the spot. Most offices also accept mailed applications if you include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment.
Once the clerk accepts everything, the title is printed and mailed to you or your lienholder. Processing times vary by county, but most owners get the physical title within a few weeks.
Driving Legally While You Wait
Wyoming gives new owners limited authority to drive before the title is in hand. A notarized bill of sale lets you operate the vehicle for 60 days. A notarized but not-yet-processed title covers 45 days. A $5 temporary placard can be displayed in the rear plate area during that window.13Carbon County, WY. Temporary Registration
If your documents aren’t notarized or a dealer temporary tag has expired, you can buy a temporary registration in 30-day, 60-day, or 90-day options at 10%, 20%, or 30% of the annual registration fee. Sales tax has to be paid before a temporary registration is issued, and only one can be issued per vehicle. A one-time trip permit to move a vehicle through or out of Wyoming costs $20 and is good for 48 hours.13Carbon County, WY. Temporary Registration
When the Seller Can’t Produce a Title
If the seller lost the title, the transfer can’t move forward until a replacement is in hand. The titled owner applies for a duplicate using the Duplicate Certificate of Title Application and Affidavit, marks whether the original was lost, destroyed, or mutilated, has the application notarized, and pays $15. If there’s a lien, the lienholder has to acknowledge the application so the lien carries forward to the duplicate.14Laramie County Government. Duplicate Certificate of Title Application and Affidavit
When no title, notarized bill of sale, or other ownership documentation exists at all, Wyoming offers a bonded title. You complete an affidavit of ownership, get a VIN inspection from law enforcement, and request a title search from WYDOT Motor Vehicle Services. If the search turns up a prior owner or lienholder, you have to contact them by certified mail to request a title or lien release.15Wyoming Department of Transportation. Bonded Titles
You also have to buy a surety bond for twice the vehicle’s retail value, established through a recognized appraisal guide like Kelley Blue Book or NADA, a current registration, or a dealer appraisal. Vehicles valued under $2,500 are exempt from the bond requirement.15Wyoming Department of Transportation. Bonded Titles The bond protects anyone who later proves a legitimate ownership claim. Bonded titles take longer and cost more than a standard transfer.
Naming a Beneficiary to Avoid Probate Later
Wyoming lets vehicle owners name a beneficiary who automatically receives the title when the owner dies, bypassing probate. Form MV-308 is available at any County Clerk’s office.16Justia Law. Wyoming Code 31-2-104.1 – Transfer of Title Upon Death The form requires the vehicle information, the names of all current owners, the beneficiary’s name, and notarized signatures from every owner. Once recorded, the designation stays in effect until the owner revokes it, transfers the vehicle, or adds a new owner.
When the last surviving owner dies, the beneficiary takes the form and a certified copy of the death certificate to the County Clerk, pays the $15 title fee, and receives a new title. The vehicle transfers subject to any existing liens, so a beneficiary doesn’t take it free and clear if there’s still a loan.16Justia Law. Wyoming Code 31-2-104.1 – Transfer of Title Upon Death The beneficiary’s consent isn’t needed for anything the owner does during life, so filing the form doesn’t restrict how you use or sell the vehicle while you’re alive.