Vehicle title transfers, giving or receiving a vehicle as a gift

A gift is any transfer of a motor vehicle in which an eligible party does not receive a payment in exchange. If the vehicle is being transferred as a gift due to death or divorce, contact us for more information.

Qualifications

To qualify the vehicle must be received from the following eligible parties:

• Spouse (separate property)
• Parent/Stepparent or Father/Mother-in-law
• Child/Stepchild or Son/Daughter-in-law
• Sibling or Brother/Sister-in-law
• Grandparent/Grandparent-in-law
• Grandchild/Grandchild-in-law
• Guardian (Must show proof of guardianship)
• Decedent's Estate
• Certain Revocable Living Trusts
• Donated to or given by a 501(c)(3) non-profit service organization

Documents

Title

Properly assigned original or certified copy provided by the TxDMV or titling authority from another state.

Identification

• Identification must be provided for the primary recipient
• A copy of the identification can be used
• All identifications must meet Texas requirements

Liability Insurance

• Proof of liability insurance
• Must meet Texas requirements at the time of title transfer
• The vehicle must be listed on the buyer's policy
• Insurance on another vehicle owned by the buyer can be used for the first 30 calendar days from the date of sale

Application for Texas Title (130-U)

• Original signature of the donor as the seller and recipient as the buyer is required
• Legal name on the buyer's photo ID must match the name on the Application for Texas Title (130-U)

Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Gift Transfer

• Applicants must submit an Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Gift Transfer, Comptroller Form 14-317
• Affidavit requires both the donor and recipient's signature to be notarized
• The donor or recipient filing the affidavit must file in person and must provide a valid form of identification

Fees

We accept cash, check, money order, or credit card payments.

• $33 Title Application Fee
• $10 Gift Tax
• Applicable Registration Fees

$78.25 registration fee for passenger vehicles and light trucks weighing up to 6,000 pounds. Visit Vehicle Registration for information on fees for other vehicles.

Additional Fees:

• No additional fees if paying by cash, check, or money order
• $3 credit card convenience fee (collected by Government Payments for credit card processing services) for transactions $100 or less
• 3% credit card convenience fee (collected by Government Payments for credit card processing services) for transactions more than $100