How much does it cost to transfer a car title in Massachusetts?

$75 Certificate of Title Fee (paper-title page: 'Correct payment of $75 (plus applicable sales tax)'). Registration fees vary by plate type (Schedule of Fees).

What is the deadline to transfer a car title in Massachusetts?

none stated for the title transfer itself on the pages opened. Related time limits stated: 7-day grace period to register a new vehicle after disposing of a previous vehicle when transferring a registration (7 Day Transfer Law, conditions apply; no grace period if the buyer has no currently registered vehicle); inspection sticker within 7 days of registration; sales tax must be paid by the 20th of the month following the date of purchase (paper-title page).

Does Massachusetts require an odometer disclosure when transferring a title?

Federal and Massachusetts laws require the seller(s) to state the mileage upon transfer of ownership; both buyer(s) and seller(s) must sign and hand-print their name and date the transfer document. Proof of ownership must contain signatures of sellers and buyers and mileage must be recorded in the appropriate area (paper-title page).

What happens to a lien when transferring a car title in Massachusetts?

If there is a lien against the vehicle, make sure the lienholder information is complete and accurate on the application (insurance-agent step). The Registration and Title Application includes a lienholder section if applicable.

How to Transfer a Car Title in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts transfer in one table

Step	Massachusetts rule
Title transfer fee	$75 Certificate of Title Fee (paper-title page: 'Correct payment of $75 (plus applicable sales tax)'). Registration fees vary by plate type (Schedule of Fees). Sales tax for a private sale: 6.25% of purchase price or NADA trade-in value, whichever is higher. E-Title conversion: $25 to convert paper to E-Title or E-Title to paper.
Deadline and late penalty	none stated for the title transfer itself on the pages opened. Related time limits stated: 7-day grace period to register a new vehicle after disposing of a previous vehicle when transferring a registration (7 Day Transfer Law, conditions apply; no grace period if the buyer has no currently registered vehicle); inspection sticker within 7 days of registration; sales tax must be paid by the 20th of the month following the date of purchase (paper-title page).
Application form	Application for Registration & Title (Registration and Title Application / RTA Form), completed, stamped and signed by a licensed Massachusetts insurance agent; Affidavit in support of exemption from sales/use tax, Form MVU-29 (out-of-state transfers; motor vehicle purchased outside Massachusetts)
Odometer	Federal and Massachusetts laws require the seller(s) to state the mileage upon transfer of ownership; both buyer(s) and seller(s) must sign and hand-print their name and date the transfer document. Proof of ownership must contain signatures of sellers and buyers and mileage must be recorded in the appropriate area (paper-title page).
Lien	If there is a lien against the vehicle, make sure the lienholder information is complete and accurate on the application (insurance-agent step). The Registration and Title Application includes a lienholder section if applicable. If the buyer has a loan, the title is mailed directly to the lienholder (both the individual-purchase and out-of-state pages). Out-of-state title held by a lienholder: surrender out-of-state registration plus a photocopy of the current out-of-state title showing the lien, a photocopy of the security agreement, or a print-out of owner information from the out-of-state agency dated within 30 calendar days; vehicles from NY, KY, MN, MD, MO and MT require the physical title regardless of a lien.

What makes Massachusetts different

The $75 title fee appears on both the paper-title page and (for leased vehicles needing a MA title) the out-of-state page.

The transfer, step by step

Buyer steps:

Go to a licensed Massachusetts insurance agent to obtain an active insurance policy and have the agent complete, stamp and sign an Application for Registration & Title; if there is a lien, make sure lienholder information is complete and accurate.
Submit the completed application accompanied by the previous owner's certificate of title (or the previous owner's registration and bill of sale for age-exempt vehicles); if the previous title has a space for sales price it must be filled in, otherwise submit a bill of sale showing the sales price; both buyer(s) and seller(s) must sign and hand-print name and date the transfer document.
Schedule an appointment and take the completed application and supporting documents to an RMV Service Center (walk-in visits welcome, appointments prioritized).
Obtain a vehicle inspection sticker within 7 days of the registration date. Title is processed and mailed in approximately 6 to 8 weeks; if there is a loan, the title is mailed directly to the lienholder.
E-Title alternative (paper-title page): two Massachusetts residents in a private-party casual sale may transfer electronically if both have MyRMV accounts and the seller has (or converts to) an E-Title; after the seller releases ownership online, the buyer completes the title application online, pays the title fee and sales tax, and is assigned an E-Title.

Seller steps:

State the mileage upon transfer of ownership; sign and hand-print name and date the transfer document (with the buyer).
Provide the previous owner's certificate of title assigned to the new owner (or previous registration and bill of sale if age-exempt); if the title has a sales-price space, fill it in, otherwise a bill of sale showing the sales price must be submitted.
E-Title alternative: seller releases ownership online (eligible private-party sales between two MA residents with MyRMV accounts; seller must have or convert to an E-Title).

Check the requirements before you go

Run your state through the Title Transfer Requirements Checker: pick your state and see the fee, the deadline, the forms, and the odometer rule as the official pages state them. Then compare how the other states do it in the Car Title Transfer by State directory.

Coming from another state

Register in Massachusetts as soon as the buyer becomes a Massachusetts resident; the law provides no grace period (for the out-of-state transfer itself). Steps: fill out MVU-29 sales/use tax exemption affidavit; go to a licensed MA insurance agent for an active policy and a completed/stamped/signed Application for Registration & Title; sign the application after verifying information; submit the out-of-state title (or current out-of-state registration if age-exempt) plus lienholder documents if the title is held by a lienholder (see lien field) and the completed MVU-29; attend an RMV Service Center appointment. Inspection sticker within 7 days of registration. Title mailed in approximately 6 to 8 weeks, or to the lienholder if there is a loan.

Renewing is not transferring

If the owner is staying the same and only the registration needs renewing, see Vehicle Registration Renewal in Massachusetts for deadlines, grace periods, and late fees.

Transferring a title somewhere else

See Transferring a title in Illinois.

See Transferring a title in Michigan.

For all states side by side, see the Car Title Transfer by State directory.

Source

Facts verified 2026-10-29.

This page explains how the process works and what the official rules say. It is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute about your specific situation, talk to your state motor vehicle agency.