How To Transfer a Car Title in Oregon 2026
Under ORS 803.092, any person who acquires an interest in a vehicle bearing an Oregon certificate of title must submit a completed title application within 30 days of the date of transfer. All title transactions are processed at Oregon DMV field offices statewide or by mail to DMV Headquarters in Salem.
Required Documents for Title Transfer in Oregon
The table below identifies the documents required for a standard private-party title transfer. Additional requirements for out-of-state titles, estate transfers, and dealer sales are addressed in the step-by-step section.
| Document | Requirement Details |
|---|---|
| Application for Title and Registration (Form 735-226) | Completed and signed; passenger vehicle applicants may use the guided DMV2U portal as an alternative to the paper form |
| Original Oregon certificate of title | Must include the seller's completed assignment on the reverse side; if lost for a 2011-or-newer vehicle, a replacement title must be obtained before transfer proceeds |
| Original lien release(s) | Required from every prior security interest holder named on the title |
| Original release or Bill of Sale (Form DMV 501) | Required from each previous owner in the chain of title |
| Odometer disclosure | Mandatory for model year 2011 or newer vehicles under 20 years old; completed in the assignment section on the back of the title or on a Secure Odometer Disclosure form |
| Valid government-issued photo identification | Required for all parties to the transaction |
| Title fee and applicable registration fees | See the Fee Schedule section below |
| VIN inspection ($9) | Required exclusively for vehicles bearing an out-of-state or foreign-country title; may be completed at a DMV office during the title appointment |
| Use Tax Certificate | Required when a brand-new vehicle, or a vehicle with 7,500 miles or fewer, is purchased from an out-of-state dealer; issued by the Oregon Department of Revenue |
Odometer Disclosure Exemptions: Disclosure is not required for vehicles of model year 2010 or older; vehicles with a manufacturer's GVWR exceeding 16,000 pounds; non-self-propelled vehicles such as trailers; Class I ATVs; snowmobiles; or transfers in which at least one owner remains on the title.
Step-by-Step Title Transfer Process in Oregon
Step 1: Seller Completes Title Assignment and Notifies DMV
The seller signs and dates the assignment section on the reverse of the certificate of title. For vehicles of model year 2011 or newer and under 20 years old, the seller records the current odometer reading in the designated disclosure space on the back of the title; both the seller and buyer must sign that disclosure. If an outstanding loan exists, the lienholder must sign the lien-release section on the front of the title — or provide a separate signed release statement — before the title may be transferred.
Following the sale, the seller must notify DMV within 10 days through the DMV2U Sale Notification portal, providing the buyer's name and address. This notification updates the department's records and limits the seller's civil and criminal liability associated with the vehicle from the date of transfer.
Step 2: Buyer Assembles the Complete Document Packet
The buyer collects all items listed in the Required Documents table above. If the title is lost and the vehicle is model year 2011 or newer, the seller must first secure a replacement title; an odometer disclosure cannot be finalized without a valid title document.
For vehicles carrying an out-of-state certificate of title, the buyer should plan to complete a VIN inspection at the DMV office when submitting the vehicle.
Step 3: Complete Form 735-226 or the DMV2U Application
The buyer completes the Application for Title and Registration (Form 735-226), or uses the guided electronic application through DMV2U for passenger vehicles. The application must include a full vehicle description, the VIN, the new owner's name and address, identification of any security interests or lessors, and an odometer disclosure, unless an exemption applies.
Under ORS 803.070, knowingly making a false statement on a title application or assignment constitutes a Class A misdemeanor.
Step 4: Submit the Application to Oregon DMV
The completed document packet may be submitted through any of the following methods:
- In person (drop-in): Visit any Oregon DMV field office that accepts walk-in title transactions; office hours and available services vary by location
- By appointment: Schedule a vehicle title appointment through DMV2U; each appointment covers up to two title or title-with-registration transactions
- By mail: Send the complete packet to DMV Headquarters at 1905 Lana Avenue NE, Salem, OR 97314; individual field offices do not accept mailed title applications
All applications must be postmarked or submitted in person within 30 days of the sale date to avoid late fees. When the buyer carries a loan on the purchased vehicle, the lienholder typically manages document submission to DMV on the buyer's behalf; the buyer should coordinate directly with the financing institution.
Step 5: Pay Title, MPG Surcharge, and Registration Fees
At submission, the buyer pays the applicable base title fee, the MPG-based title surcharge, and any registration, plate, and county fees.
Title Fee Schedule
| Fee Type | Amount | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Standard vehicle title (passenger vehicles, motorcycles, motorhomes) | $77 | ORS 803.090(1)(c) |
| Heavy vehicle title (GVWR > 26,000 lb; motorhomes excluded) | $90 | ORS 803.090(1)(b) |
| Salvage title | $27 | ORS 803.090(1)(a) |
| Duplicate or replacement certificate of title | $77 | ORS 803.090 |
| Expedited title (dealer request only) | $100 | ORS 803.053 |
| Late fee — days 31 through 60 | $25 | ORS 803.090(3) |
| Late fee — after day 60 | $50 | ORS 803.090(3) |
| VIN inspection (out-of-state or foreign title) | $9 | ORS 803.215 |
2026 Fee Note: House Bill 3991, passed in September 2025, included a $139 increase to the base title fee. That increase is currently suspended pending a statewide referendum expected in May 2026.
MPG-Based Title Surcharge
An additional surcharge applies to most motor vehicle title transactions, based on the vehicle's combined MPG rating as determined by DMV using manufacturer data.
| Vehicle MPG Rating | Additional Title Surcharge |
|---|---|
| 0 – 19 MPG (or nonmotorized) | $24 |
| 20 – 39 MPG | $29 |
| 40 MPG or higher | $39 |
| All-electric vehicle | $115 |
Two-Year Passenger Vehicle Registration Fees
| Vehicle Type / MPG | Two-Year Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| 0 – 19 MPG | $126 |
| 20 – 39 MPG | $136 |
| 40+ MPG (effective Dec. 31, 2025) | $216 |
| All-electric (effective Dec. 31, 2025) | $376 |
| Motorcycle / moped | $88 |
| New license plates (initial registration) | + $26 |
| Plate transfer to another vehicle | + $30 |
| Multnomah County surcharge | + $112 |
| Washington or Clackamas County surcharge | + $60 |
Vehicles titled with a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin receive four-year registration at double the standard two-year rate.
Step 6: Receive the New Certificate of Title
Once DMV processes the application, the new certificate of title is mailed directly to the owner of record. If a lien has been recorded on the title, the certificate is delivered to the security interest holder with the highest priority rather than to the registered owner. Title certificates are not available for in-person pickup at DMV offices. Registration plates and a registration card are issued at the time of submission for in-person transactions or mailed for applications submitted by post.
Contact Information
Oregon Department of Transportation – Driver and Motor Vehicle Services
1905 Lana Avenue NE, Salem, OR 97314
Phone: (503) 945-5000
Official Website: Oregon DMV
