The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has several rules and regulations you must follow when selling your car.

Selling a Vehicle in California-

When you’re ready to sell your car in California, there are many things to think about before you even find a buyer.

You need to know what your car is worth so you can sell your car at a good price for both you and potential buyers.

Required Documents-

Once you’ve found a buyer, it’s time to get all the required documentation together.

The CA DMV requires that you provide:

A valid smog certificate, if applicable

Release of your ownership of the car by signing the designating line on the title certificate

Lien holders must also sign the title, if applicable.

You do not need a certificate if you renewed your registration in the last 90 days and you submitted a smog certificate at that time.

You will need to sign a document stating this.

If your vehicle is 4 years old or less, you are not required to provide a smog certificate to the buyer.

The odometer reading, if the car is less than 10 years old.

This can be recorded either on the certificate of title or on a completed Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment

Once you’ve sold your vehicle and provided all required documents to the buyer, you’ll need to notify the CA Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that you no longer own the car.

Complete the online Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability within 5 days of the sale.

A Release of Liability form CA is usually attached to your title.

From there, it’s up to the buyer to complete the ownership transfer with the CA DMV.

Vehicles that are a 1975 model year or older are not required to have smog inspections.