Selling or junking a car in Vermont, step by step
- Find your title (or replace it). If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate from the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles using Application for Replacement Title (VT-004); it can be done online.
- Pay off any loan. If a lender is listed on the title, it must release the lien before the car can change hands. See our guide to junking a car with a lien.
- Sign the title over at pickup. Every owner listed on the title must assign it to the buyer, and the seller should also give the buyer the registration certificate and a signed bill of sale. An odometer disclosure is required for model year 2011 and newer vehicles.
- Deal with your plates. Vermont DMV tells sellers not to leave their plates on a car they are selling; plates can be moved to another vehicle or returned with a cancellation request (VD-170).
- Tell the state and your insurer. Vermont has no separate seller notice that we could confirm. Keep a copy of the signed title and receipt, then cancel your insurance and registration.
How to sign over a title in Vermont
Every owner listed on the title must assign it to the buyer, and the seller should also give the buyer the registration certificate and a signed bill of sale. An odometer disclosure is required for model year 2011 and newer vehicles.
Official page: dmv.vermont.gov. For general tips on avoiding mistakes, see how to sign over a car title.
Lost title? Getting a duplicate in Vermont
Replacement titles can be requested online through MyDMV if there is no lien, or in person or by mail with Form VT-004; open liens must be released or the lienholder must apply.
- Form: Application for Replacement Title (VT-004) — download
- Available online: yes
- Official page: dmv.vermont.gov
More background: how to get a duplicate title before junking.
License plates after you sell
Plates stay with you, the seller, not the car. Vermont DMV tells sellers not to leave their plates on a car they are selling; plates can be moved to another vehicle or returned with a cancellation request (VD-170).
Source: dmv.vermont.gov
Junk and salvage titles in Vermont
Vermont requires a salvage certificate of title when a vehicle is bought as salvage, scrapped, dismantled, destroyed or declared a total loss, generally within 15 days unless exempt or over 15 years old.
Official page: dmv.vermont.gov. Background: salvage vs. rebuilt vs. junk titles.
Selling a car without a title in Vermont
Vehicles from model year 2009 or older do not need a title in Vermont; the registration certificate serves as the ownership document, and the seller gives the buyer that certificate plus a signed bill of sale.
Official page: dmv.vermont.gov
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Vermont title questions
How do I replace a lost car title in Vermont?
Replacement titles can be requested online through MyDMV if there is no lien, or in person or by mail with Form VT-004; open liens must be released or the lienholder must apply. The form is Application for Replacement Title (VT-004).
Do I need to notify Vermont when I sell my car?
We couldn't confirm a separate notice-of-sale form for Vermont. Keep a copy of the signed title and bill of sale, cancel your registration if required, and check with the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles.
What happens to my license plates when I sell a car in Vermont?
Vermont DMV tells sellers not to leave their plates on a car they are selling; plates can be moved to another vehicle or returned with a cancellation request (VD-170).
Can I junk a car without a title in Vermont?
Vehicles from model year 2009 or older do not need a title in Vermont; the registration certificate serves as the ownership document, and the seller gives the buyer that certificate plus a signed bill of sale. Confirm the details with the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles.
Official sources
- Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles — homedmv.vermont.gov
- Selling or transferring a vehicle titledmv.vermont.gov
- Duplicate or replacement title (Application for Replacement Title (VT-004))dmv.vermont.gov
- Application for Replacement Title (VT-004) formdmv.vermont.gov
- License plates after a saledmv.vermont.gov
- Junk and salvage vehiclesdmv.vermont.gov
Summarized from official Vermont government websites in October 2026. Fees and procedures change; always confirm with the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles before you sell. This guide is general information, not legal advice.