Where do I transfer a car title in Oregon?

File with an Oregon DMV office (ODOT), or by mail.

How much is the title transfer fee in Oregon?

The title fee is tiered by fuel economy: $101 for 0–19 MPG, $106 for 20–39 MPG, $116 for 40+ MPG, and $192 for all-electric passenger vehicles.

What is the deadline to transfer a title in Oregon?

The title application is due within 30 days of the date of sale. The late fee is $25 if you file 31–60 days late and $50 beyond 60 days (for Oregon-titled vehicles).

What tax do I pay on a private-party car purchase in Oregon?

No sales tax — Oregon has none, and a private-party purchase is not touched by the state's 0.5% vehicle privilege tax (dealer sales) or use tax (out-of-state dealer purchases).

How to Transfer a Car Title in Oregon

The Oregon transfer in one table

Step	Oregon rule
Where to file	an Oregon DMV office (ODOT), or by mail
Application form	Form 735-226, Application for Title and Registration
Title transfer fee	The title fee is tiered by fuel economy: $101 for 0–19 MPG, $106 for 20–39 MPG, $116 for 40+ MPG, and $192 for all-electric passenger vehicles
Deadline & late penalty	The title application is due within 30 days of the date of sale. The late fee is $25 if you file 31–60 days late and $50 beyond 60 days (for Oregon-titled vehicles)
Sales/use tax	No sales tax — Oregon has none, and a private-party purchase is not touched by the state's 0.
Inspection	A VIN inspection ($9) is required only if the vehicle carries an out-of-state or foreign title.

What makes Oregon different

Oregon prices the title by the car's MPG — two otherwise identical transfers can cost $101 or $192 depending on what you bought, which is why single-figure 'Oregon title fee' answers online are always wrong for somebody. And the DEQ question is about where the car will live, not where you buy it: an Oregon-titled car moving into Portland needs the emissions test; the same car staying in Bend does not.

The transfer, step by step

Get the signed title from the seller. The seller assigns the title to you at the sale — names spelled exactly as on your ID, odometer reading recorded, no blank fields. A title with errors or a missing signature is the number one reason transfers bounce.
Complete the state application: Form 735-226. Bring the assigned title, your ID, and payment.
File at an Oregon DMV office (ODOT), or by mail. Filing office matters in Oregon — filing at the wrong level of government (state vs. county) is the most common wasted trip.
Pay the fee and the tax. Fee: The title fee is tiered by fuel economy: $101 for 0–19 MPG, $106 for 20–39 MPG, $116 for 40+ MPG, and $192 for all-electric passenger vehicles. Tax: No sales tax — Oregon has none, and a private-party purchase is not touched by the state's 0.5% vehicle privilege tax (dealer sales) or use tax (out-of-state dealer purchases).
Mind the deadline: The title application is due within 30 days of the date of sale. The late fee is $25 if you file 31–60 days late and $50 beyond 60 days (for Oregon-titled vehicles).
Handle inspection if your situation triggers it. A VIN inspection ($9) is required only if the vehicle carries an out-of-state or foreign title. An emissions test is required only if you will register in a DEQ area — the Portland metro or Rogue Valley (Medford) areas.

What it will actually cost

Run your numbers through the Car Title Transfer Cost Estimator — pick your state, enter the purchase price, and it adds the official fee and the state tax rule to give you the walk-in total before you queue. Then compare how the other seven states do it in the Car Title Transfer by State directory.

Moving the car across a state line? The receiving state's rules govern the transfer — the directory links all eight state guides in this set.

Renewing is not transferring

If the owner is staying the same and only the registration needs renewing, see Vehicle Registration Renewal in Oregon for two-year terms, early-renewal windows, and fees.

If the title itself is lost

If the title itself is lost, stolen, or destroyed, replace it before you transfer or renew. A transfer needs a title to sign over, and a renewal on a lost title stalls at the title number. See How to Replace a Lost Car Title in Oregon for the form, the fee, and the lienholder rule.

Transferring a title in another state

Transferring a title in another state? See How to Transfer a Car Title in Colorado and How to Transfer a Car Title in California.

Source

Fees, deadlines, and tax rules on this page are drawn from the official source: Oregon DMV — Title and Registration. Facts verified 2026-10-23. County-level registration fees and local tax rates vary — your filing office confirms the final figure.

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 a lawyer or your state labor or consumer agency.