Do You Need a Notary to Sell a Car? (State-by-State 2026)
9 US states require some form of notarization on a vehicle title. The other 41 do not. A separate handful (5 states) require notarization on the bill of sale rather than the title itself. Below: the full state-by-state breakdown with official sources.
States that require a notarized vehicle title
These are the states where the seller's signature on the title itself must be acknowledged by a notary public before the buyer can transfer ownership.
Full 50-state quick-glance table
Notary status for the title-transfer workflow in each state. Click any state for the complete checklist.
| State | Title notarized? | Notes | Official |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | AL DMV ↗ |
| Alaska | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | AK DMV ↗ |
| Arizona | ✓Yes | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | AZ DMV ↗ |
| Arkansas | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | AR DMV ↗ |
| California | ✗No | California does not require notarization for standard title transfers. | CA DMV ↗ |
| Colorado | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | CO DMV ↗ |
| Connecticut | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | CT DMV ↗ |
| Delaware | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | DE DMV ↗ |
| Florida | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | FL DMV ↗ |
| Georgia | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | GA DMV ↗ |
| Hawaii | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | HI DMV ↗ |
| Idaho | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | ID DMV ↗ |
| Illinois | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | IL DMV ↗ |
| Indiana | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | IN DMV ↗ |
| Iowa | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | IA DMV ↗ |
| Kansas | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | KS DMV ↗ |
| Kentucky | ✓Yes | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | KY DMV ↗ |
| Louisiana | ✓Yes | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | LA DMV ↗ |
| Maine | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | ME DMV ↗ |
| Maryland | ?Verify | Title not notarized, but the bill of sale must be. | MD DMV ↗ |
| Massachusetts | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | MA DMV ↗ |
| Michigan | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | MI DMV ↗ |
| Minnesota | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | MN DMV ↗ |
| Mississippi | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | MS DMV ↗ |
| Missouri | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | MO DMV ↗ |
| Montana | ✓Yes | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | MT DMV ↗ |
| Nebraska | ?Verify | Title not notarized, but the bill of sale must be. | NE DMV ↗ |
| Nevada | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | NV DMV ↗ |
| New Hampshire | ?Verify | Title not notarized, but the bill of sale must be. | NH DMV ↗ |
| New Jersey | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | NJ DMV ↗ |
| New Mexico | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | NM DMV ↗ |
| New York | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | NY DMV ↗ |
| North Carolina | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | NC DMV ↗ |
| North Dakota | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | ND DMV ↗ |
| Ohio | ✓Yes | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | OH DMV ↗ |
| Oklahoma | ✓Yes | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | OK DMV ↗ |
| Oregon | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | OR DMV ↗ |
| Pennsylvania | ✓Yes | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | PA DMV ↗ |
| Rhode Island | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | RI DMV ↗ |
| South Carolina | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | SC DMV ↗ |
| South Dakota | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | SD DMV ↗ |
| Tennessee | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | TN DMV ↗ |
| Texas | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | TX DMV ↗ |
| Utah | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | UT DMV ↗ |
| Vermont | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | VT DMV ↗ |
| Virginia | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | VA DMV ↗ |
| Washington | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | WA DMV ↗ |
| West Virginia | ✓Yes | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | WV DMV ↗ |
| Wisconsin | ?Verify | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | WI DMV ↗ |
| Wyoming | ✓Yes | Some states require notarization; others do not. Check with your state agency. | WY DMV ↗ |
Why notarization rules vary
Vehicle titling is a state matter, not federal. Each state's legislature decides what counts as proof that the seller actually signed the document. Notary-on-title states use the notary as a fraud-prevention layer: a commissioned officer verifies the seller's identity, witnesses the signature, and stamps the instrument. The 41 states that skip this step rely on the title's anti-tamper printing, the buyer's later in-person DMV visit, and the federal odometer- disclosure law to deter forgery.
The pattern is regional. Most notary-on-title states sit in a band running from Pennsylvania through Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, and into Oklahoma — historically tighter title-fraud jurisdictions. Coastal and mountain states largely skip notarization. None of this is in flux: title notarization rules change rarely (often less than once a decade), so a state that requires it today almost certainly will at your next sale.
Where to get a vehicle title notarized
Four standard options, in order of typical cost:
Bank or credit union (often free)
Most major banks and credit unions notarize for account holders at no charge. Bring photo ID and the unsigned title — the seller must sign in front of the notary, not before. Walk-in availability varies; call first.
UPS Store or shipping centre
Notaries are on-staff at most UPS Store locations during business hours. Fees match the state cap (typically $5–$15 per signature). Useful when you need notarization on a Saturday or after the bank closes.
Mobile notary
A commissioned notary travels to your home or workplace. Common rates: $25 base fee plus the per-signature state cap. Worth it for sellers who are housebound or have multiple vehicles to sign over in one visit.
Online notarization (Remote Online Notarization)
Roughly 40 states permit Remote Online Notarization (RON) for general documents, performed via video call with a commissioned online notary. Acceptance for vehicle titles depends on the receiving DMV — not the state where the notarization occurs. Confirm with your state DMV before paying. Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky still typically require an in-person notary for vehicle titles.
When the bill of sale needs notarization (separate from the title)
Five states require a notarized bill of sale even though the title itself does not need notarization:
Louisiana and West Virginia appear on both lists — title and bill of sale must each be notarized. Maryland, Nebraska, and New Hampshire only require it on the bill of sale.
Frequently asked questions
How much does notarizing a title cost?
State-capped notary fees range from $2 to $25 per signature. Most states cap the fee at $5–$15. Banks and credit unions usually notarize for free for account holders. UPS Stores and shipping centres charge the state-capped maximum. Online notarization (RON) typically runs $25 per signature plus a small platform fee.
Can I notarize my own title?
No. A notary cannot notarize a document in which they are a party — that includes their own car sale. Even if you are a commissioned notary, you must use a different notary to acknowledge your signature. Spouses also generally cannot notarize for each other in most states.
What if my state's title doesn't have a notary block?
Then no notarization is required for the title itself in that state. You may still need a notarized bill of sale (Maryland, Louisiana, West Virginia, Nebraska, and New Hampshire) or a notarized power of attorney if someone else signs on your behalf. Check your state's title transfer page before scheduling a notary appointment.
Is online notarization legal for car titles?
Roughly 40 states authorize Remote Online Notarization (RON) for general documents, but acceptance for vehicle titles is determined by the state DMV that will receive the title — not by the state where the notarization occurs. As a practical rule: confirm with your DMV before paying for an online notary. Several notary-on-title states (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky) currently require an in-person notary for vehicle titles even though they allow RON for other documents.