Buying a Used Car in Pennsylvania: Private Seller Title Checklist

What should I check on the title before I pay?

Ask to see the original title first, not a photo and not a promise that it is 'in the mail'. Then check:

• The owner's name. It should be the person selling you the car. The Pennsylvania Attorney General's advice is to check that the title belongs to the person selling.
• A lien. If a bank is listed, the loan must be paid off and the lien released. PennDOT notes that a lender may keep the title until the loan is satisfied. If the title is held electronically, a paper title must be obtained before the sale can go forward.
• Clean paper. The title should match the car's VIN and have no cross-outs, white-out or missing signatures. If something looks changed, walk away or ask a professional.

Never accept a bill of sale as a replacement for a title. PennDOT lists the title, not a bill of sale, as the proof of ownership it accepts.

How do the signatures and the transfer work?

PennDOT recommends that buyer and seller meet at a notary, a tag service or a dealer so the title is completed correctly. On the back of the title the seller records the buyer's name and address and the mileage, then signs and prints their name in front of the agent or notary. The buyer completes the buyer section on the front the same way and lists any lien. A title with both sections signed and notarized is considered transferred. United Business Center is an authorized PennDOT agent with a notary public, so buyer and seller can sign at our store and we handle the title transfer and the tag.

Do not sign anything with blank spaces, and do not let the seller sign 'for later'. Mistakes on a title can be hard to fix. For the full process after the signing, see our guide on how to title and register a car in Philadelphia.

Do I need an odometer statement and a bill of sale?

Yes, get both. The seller must record the true mileage on the title, and PennDOT says that once the mileage is written it cannot be erased or altered. The state's own registration page lists the odometer disclosure statement and a bill of sale among the documents for a private sale.

Older cars can be marked 'exempt' from mileage reporting (model year 2010 or older after 10 years, and 2011 or newer after 20 years), but that choice cannot be reversed, so ask why a seller picks it. A good bill of sale has the date, price, both names and addresses, the VIN, the mileage and both signatures.

If the price is far below the car's market value, PennDOT may ask for a value verification (Form MV-3) and the Department of Revenue can review the sale and collect the extra tax.

How do I check the VIN and the car's history?

Match the VIN on the title to the VIN plate on the car. PennDOT says a mismatch must be fixed before the title application is sent. Then run a history report: PennDOT's NMVTIS page shows the national system tracks title history, odometer data and brands like junk, salvage or flood, and vehiclehistory.gov lists approved providers. The FTC also reminds buyers that a history report is not a substitute for an independent mechanic's inspection.

Do I need insurance before I drive it home, and what is the deadline?

Yes. PennDOT's fact sheet says to arrange coverage before the purchase and to contact your insurer within 14 days of buying so the new car is added. Proof must be an insurance ID card, a declarations page, a valid binder or an Assigned Risk Plan application. Driving uninsured can mean a fine of at least $300 and a suspension. United Business Center is P&C licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and works with several insurers: send us the car's details on WhatsApp and we will quote your coverage before you pick it up. See our Pennsylvania minimum insurance guide.

The buyer must apply for the title within 20 days of the title being assigned to them. The seller keeps their license plate, so you cannot drive on it. If the seller has no plate to transfer, an authorized agent can issue a temporary registration plate, valid for 90 days according to PennDOT fact sheets (see our temporary tags guide). A used car without a valid sticker also needs a safety inspection within 10 days.

How much sales tax and fees will I pay on a private purchase?

PennDOT collects the sales tax when it issues the title, so you pay it with the application, not to the seller. The rate is 6% of the purchase price, 7% in Allegheny County and 8% for City of Philadelphia residents. Fees on PennDOT's April 2026 schedule include $72 for the title, $36 per lien and $48 for a one-year passenger registration, plus a $5 county fee in Philadelphia and the agent's own service fee. Pay PennDOT by check or money order.

Gifts between people use an Affidavit of Gift (Form MV-13ST) to claim the tax exemption, and everyone involved must complete it.

What if the seller lost the title?

Only the owner can ask PennDOT for a duplicate title (Form MV-38O), and the lien must be satisfied first. So the seller, not you, has to request it. Do not pay in full until the seller has the duplicate in hand and signs it in front of a notary. Do not take 'I'll find it later' as an answer: without the signed title, you may be left with a car you cannot register. More in our guide to a lost car title in Pennsylvania.

What if I buy from out of state, and how do I avoid scams?

A car with an out-of-state title is titled in Pennsylvania with Form MV-1 through an authorized agent. The agent needs the original out-of-state title, a VIN tracing (required for any vehicle previously titled in another state), and the seller's signature, which may need notarizing. Ask the lienholder whether it will release the title before you pay. If you owned the car under six months you may owe Pennsylvania sales tax.

• A seller who will not let you test drive or have a mechanic inspect the car: do not buy.
• Sellers who push you to pay online or by transfer before you see the car and the title.
• 'Private' sellers who are really dealers: the Attorney General's office found dealers posing as private sellers on Craigslist in Philadelphia. Ask whose name is on the title.
• A price that is far too good. Report fraud to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the Attorney General.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to transfer a title after buying a car in Pennsylvania?

The buyer must apply for the new title within 20 days of the title being assigned to them. PennDOT's fact sheets say the application is due within 20 days from the date of sale.

Do I need a notary to buy a car from a private seller in PA?

The seller's signature on the Pennsylvania title must be notarized or verified by an authorized agent. PennDOT suggests meeting at a notary, a tag service or a dealer. See what a notary can and cannot do.

Who pays the sales tax in a private car sale in Pennsylvania?

The buyer, when applying for the title. PennDOT collects it at that time. It is 6% of the price, or 8% for City of Philadelphia residents.

Can I buy a car with only a bill of sale?

A bill of sale is not proof of ownership for PennDOT. You need the title (or another accepted proof such as an out-of-state title). Without it, you may not be able to register the car.

Can I drive the car home right after buying it?

Only with insurance, and the seller's plate must stay with the seller. An authorized agent can issue a temporary registration plate when you have no plate to transfer. Do not drive on an expired or borrowed plate.

What if the seller says the title is lost?

The owner must apply for a duplicate with PennDOT Form MV-38O, and any lien must be paid off first. Do not pay in full until you have the signed title.