What the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability does

California's Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (form REG 138) is a document you file with the DMV to tell the state that you no longer own a vehicle and are not responsible for what happens to it after the sale. When you sell a car in California, filing this form protects you from traffic tickets, parking violations, accidents, and registration fees that occur after the new owner takes possession.

The form works in two parts. The "transfer" section notifies the DMV that ownership has changed. The "release of liability" section removes your name from the vehicle record so future violations and citations go to the new owner, not you. Without this filing, you remain the registered owner in the DMV's system, and citations, toll violations, and unpaid registration fees can still reach you months or years later.

You must file this form even if the buyer is a family member, a dealer, or someone you know. The DMV does not automatically update ownership when money changes hands—you have to tell them.

Key Takeaways

  • File form REG 138 within 5 days of selling your vehicle to protect yourself from future tickets and violations tied to that car.
  • You can file online through the California DMV website, by mail, or in person at a DMV office; online filing is fastest and costs nothing.
  • The form requires the vehicle identification number (VIN), the buyer's name and address, the sale date, and your signature.
  • If you do not file and the new owner gets a ticket or causes an accident, you may be contacted by law enforcement or courts even though you no longer own the vehicle.
  • Filing does not transfer the registration or title—it only releases you from liability; the buyer must register the vehicle in their own name separately.

When you must file and the 5-day window

California law requires you to file the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability within 5 days of the sale. This important date is strict. If you miss it, you remain the registered owner on DMV records, and any violations, accidents, or unpaid fees tied to the vehicle can still be attributed to you.

The 5-day clock starts on the date you hand over the keys and the buyer takes possession—not the date you sign paperwork or the date the money clears. If you sell on a Friday, you have until the following Wednesday to file. If the important date falls on a weekend or holiday, you have until the next business day.

Even if the buyer promises to register the vehicle when ready or says they will handle the paperwork, you cannot rely on that. Filing the notice is your responsibility, and waiting for the buyer to act puts you at risk. File as soon as the sale is complete.

How to file online, by mail, or in person

The fastest and most reliable way to file is through the California DMV website. Go to dmv.ca.gov, select "Register a Vehicle," then look for the option to file a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability. You will enter the VIN, the buyer's information, and your signature electronically. The filing is processed when ready, and you receive a confirmation number on screen. There is no fee.

If you prefer to file by mail, print form REG 138 from the DMV website, fill it out by hand, sign it, and mail it to the address listed on the form. Include a copy of the bill of sale or sales receipt if you have one. Mail delivery takes 5 to 10 days, so send it right away to stay within the 5-day window. Postmark date counts, not arrival date, but do not cut it close.

You can also file in person at any California DMV office. Bring the completed form REG 138, your driver's license, and the vehicle's title or registration. The office will process it on the spot and give you a receipt. This is the slowest option if you have to travel, but it is the only way to get proof of filing when ready if you are worried about the important date.

What information you need to file

Before you sit down to file, gather these documents and details. You will need the vehicle's VIN (found on the registration, title, or dashboard), the license plate number, and the vehicle's make, model, and year. You will also need the buyer's full name, address, and phone number if you have it. The form asks for the date of sale and whether the buyer is a private party, a dealer, or a family member.

You will sign the form under penalty of perjury, confirming that you no longer own the vehicle and that the information is correct. If you are filing online, you will use your electronic signature. If you are filing by mail or in person, you must sign by hand in blue or black ink.

You do not need the buyer's signature, the title, or the registration to file this form. You only need to prove that you owned it and that you sold it. If you do not have the buyer's exact address, the DMV will accept a partial address or just the city and state, though a complete address is better.

What happens after you file

Once the DMV processes your Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability, your name is removed from the vehicle record. Future traffic citations, parking tickets, toll violations, and registration notices will go to the new owner, not you. The DMV will send you a confirmation letter in the mail within 2 to 3 weeks, though online filers receive a confirmation number when ready.

Keep the confirmation number or letter in a safe place. If you are contacted about the vehicle after you file, you can show this proof that you released liability on a specific date. This is especially important if a ticket or accident report arrives months later and the new owner has not yet registered the car in their name.

Filing the notice does not transfer the title or registration. The buyer must register the vehicle in their own name at the DMV within 10 days of purchase. If they do not, the vehicle remains registered to you even though you filed the release form. In that case, you may still receive some notices. If this happens, contact the DMV and provide a copy of your filed notice and the bill of sale to show you are no longer the owner.

What happens if you do not file on time

If you miss the 5-day important date, you remain the registered owner in the DMV system. Any traffic violation, parking ticket, toll violation, or accident involving the vehicle can be attributed to you. Law enforcement can contact you, send citations to your address, and even suspend your driver's license if tickets go unpaid. You may also receive registration renewal notices and be held responsible for registration fees.

If this happens, you can still file the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability late, but it will not erase violations that occurred before you filed. You will need to prove that you sold the vehicle and provide the buyer's information. The DMV may ask for a bill of sale, a written statement from the buyer, or other proof of the sale date. Contact your local DMV office to explain the situation and ask what documents they need.

In some cases, you may be able to dispute a ticket or violation by showing proof of sale and the filed notice. You would need to contact the court or the agency that issued the citation and provide evidence that you no longer owned the vehicle on the date of the violation. This is more difficult and time-consuming than filing on time, so do not delay.

Selling to a dealer versus a private buyer

The process is the same whether you sell to a private party or a car dealer, but dealers sometimes handle the paperwork differently. If you sell to a dealer, they may ask you to sign the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability as part of the sale transaction. In that case, the dealer may file it for you, but confirm this in writing before you leave the lot. Ask for a copy of the filed form or a receipt showing it was submitted.

If you sell to a private buyer, you are responsible for filing. Do not assume the buyer will do it. Give the buyer a copy of the bill of sale with the sale date clearly written, and tell them they have 10 days to register the vehicle. But file the notice yourself within 5 days to protect yourself.

If you sell to a family member, the same rules explore. File the notice within 5 days even if you trust them to register the car later. Family relationships do not exempt you from liability if something goes wrong before they complete their registration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I sold the car but do not know the buyer's full address?

You can file the form with a partial address—just the city and state is acceptable to the DMV. A complete address is better, but do not let a missing zip code or street number stop you from filing within the 5-day window. You can always update the information later if you find the buyer's full details.

Can I file the notice if I still owe money on the car?

Yes. The Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability only removes you from liability for future violations and accidents. It does not affect your loan or the lender's lien on the title. If you still owe money, the lender's name will remain on the title until the loan is paid off. The buyer cannot register the vehicle until the lien is cleared, so make sure the loan is paid off or transferred before the sale is final.

What if the buyer never registers the car and I keep getting notices?

Contact the DMV and provide a copy of your filed Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability and the bill of sale. The DMV can update their records to show that you released liability on a specific date. If you continue to receive citations or notices after that, contact the issuing agency (the police department, parking authority, or court) and provide the same proof. You may also need to file a declaration under penalty of perjury stating that you sold the vehicle and are no longer the owner.

Do I need to file this form if I trade in my car at a dealership?

No. When you trade in a vehicle at a dealership, the dealer handles the title transfer and files all necessary paperwork with the DMV. You do not need to file a separate Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability. The dealer's paperwork will release you from liability automatically.

What if I lose the confirmation that I filed the notice?

You can request a copy from the DMV. Call your local DMV office or go online to dmv.ca.gov and use the "Check process Status" tool if you have your confirmation number. If you filed by mail and lost the letter, contact the DMV with your name, driver's license number, and the vehicle's VIN, and they can confirm the filing date and send you a replacement confirmation.