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When you buy a used car from a private seller in New Jersey, the seller signs the title over to you, and you finish the transfer in person at a Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) agency. The title fee is $60, you pay 6.625% sales tax on the purchase price, and you have 10 working days from the date of sale to avoid a $25 penalty.
Quick answer
| What | What the MVC says |
|---|---|
| Title fee | $60 ($85 with one lien, $110 with two liens) |
| Sales tax | 6.625% of the purchase price |
| Deadline | 10 working days from the date of sale |
| Late penalty | $25 |
| Where | A motor vehicle agency, in person. It cannot be handled by mail. |
| Accepted payment | American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, check, money order or cash |
What the seller must do
- Sign the seller’s section on the back of the title and hand the title to the buyer.
- Give the buyer a bill of sale that shows the buyer’s name and address, the date of sale, the odometer reading and the sale price.
- Remove the license plates and surrender them to a motor vehicle agency.
What the buyer needs to bring
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Step by step for the buyer
- Check the back of the title before you pay. The seller and buyer names and addresses, signatures, date of sale and purchase price must be filled in, and you add your driver license number.
- Arrange New Jersey insurance for the car.
- Fill in the Vehicle Registration Application (BA-49).
- Schedule an appointment at an MVC agency. The MVC’s transfer page says appointments are available, and its registration page says “no walk-ins”, so booking ahead is the safer choice.
- Go to the agency, hand in your documents, and pay the title fee and the registration fee, plus the sales tax the MVC requires. License plates are included with the registration payment.
What it costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Title, standard vehicle | $60 |
| Title, financed with one lien | $85 |
| Title, financed with two liens | $110 |
| Sales tax | 6.625% of the purchase price |
| Registration | Varies by vehicle type. Plates are included. |
| Zero-emission vehicle fee | Started at $250 a year on July 1, 2024 and rises $10 a year for four years after |
Sales tax example: on a $10,000 purchase, 6.625% is $662.50. Your total depends on the actual price you paid.
How the sales tax is figured
The tax applies to the actual purchase price. If the paperwork does not document the price well enough, the Division of Taxation may use values from the National Automobile Dealers Association instead. A vehicle received as a true gift is exempt from sales tax when it is free and clear of any lien. If a gift comes with a loan you take over, tax applies to the principal loan amount you assume. Swaps and trades between private parties are taxed on the vehicle’s fair market value.
Deadline and penalty
The MVC’s transfer page says a New Jersey or dealer-reassigned title must be transferred within 10 working days of the date of sale to avoid a $25 penalty. The clock runs from the date of sale.
Special cases
- Financed or leased car: bring the lienholder’s information and form OS/SS-UTA. The title fee is $85 for one lien and $110 for two.
- Someone else signs for you: bring a power of attorney. A copy of your ID is acceptable in that case.
- Vehicles from states that do not issue titles: the MVC asks for extra documents, including a notarized seller statement with the VIN, year, make, sale date and price, and form OS/SS-UTA.
Which situation are you in?
- Buying from a private seller, no loan: check the back of the title, get New Jersey insurance, fill in the BA-49 and book an agency appointment. Pay the $60 title fee and 6.625% sales tax.
- The car is financed or leased: add the lienholder information and form OS/SS-UTA. The title fee is $85 for one lien and $110 for two.
- A family member gave you the car: a true gift free of any lien is exempt from sales tax. If you take over a loan, tax applies to the loan principal you assume.
- Someone else signs for you: bring a power of attorney.
- The car comes from a state that does not issue titles: the MVC asks for a notarized seller statement and form OS/SS-UTA.
- You are the seller: sign the back of the title, give the buyer a bill of sale and surrender the plates.
Common mistakes
- Missing details on the title, such as the sale price, the sale date or your driver license number.
- Arriving without proof of New Jersey insurance.
- Trying to complete the transfer by mail. The MVC says it must be done at an agency.
- Waiting past 10 working days from the date of sale.
- Forgetting that the seller must surrender the plates.
Frequently asked questions
Can I transfer a New Jersey car title by mail?
No. The MVC states that ownership transfers are handled at a motor vehicle agency, not by mail.
Do I pay sales tax on a car given to me?
A true gift that is free of any lien is exempt. If you assume a loan, tax applies to the principal you assume.
How much is the title fee if the car has a loan?
$85 with one lien and $110 with two.
Where do I find the exact form?
The registration application (BA-49) and the Universal Title Application (OS/SS-UTA) are on the MVC website. Links to the MVC pages we used are listed under Sources below.
This guide is general information compiled from the pages listed under Sources. Fees and rules change, and this site is not part of any government agency. Confirm the current requirements with the MVC before you pay or sign.
Sources
- NJ MVC: Transferring Vehicle Ownership, checked Sep 26, 2026
- NJ MVC: Pre-owned Vehicle Title, checked Sep 26, 2026
- NJ MVC: Vehicle Registration, checked Sep 26, 2026
- NJ MVC: Registration and Title Fees, checked Sep 26, 2026
- NJ Division of Taxation: Motor Vehicle Casual Sales Questions and Answers, checked Sep 26, 2026