I'm transferring a car over to a family member as a gift, all I have to do is sign the title, right?

VEHICLE'S TITLE NOTARIZED

Hanh Le

8/27/2025

No, in Texas, when you're gifting a car to a family member, simply signing the title is not enough. You must also complete a specific, notarized form.

To complete a gift transfer, you need the following:

  • The Title: The seller (donor) must sign and complete the "Assignment of Title" section on the back of the title. This includes the date of the gift and the odometer reading.

  • Application for Texas Title and/or Registration (Form 130-U): This form must be completed and signed by both the donor and the recipient.

  • Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Gift Transfer (Form 14-317): This is the crucial document for a gift transfer. Both the donor and the recipient must sign this form, and their signatures must be notarized.

The Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Gift Transfer is what allows the recipient to pay the lower $10 "gift tax" instead of the standard sales tax, which is 6.25% of the vehicle's value. Without this notarized affidavit, the transfer may not be processed as a gift, and the recipient could be responsible for paying a higher tax.

The recipient must then take all of these documents to the county tax office to complete the title transfer.

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Please remember that I am not a lawyer and cannot provide legal advice.