The procedures and approach for selling a car online vary by state. Discover how to sell your used car or truck in Maryland confidentially.
If you live in Maryland's Western Region, Capital Region, Central Region, Southern Region, or Eastern Shore Region and want to sell your used automobile or truck privately, you've come to the perfect spot. With an estimated 1.95 million trucks and vehicles registered in Maryland, it's no surprise that thousands of individual vehicle sellers in the Old Line State have sold their vehicles through cashforcarsinc.com. We've explained the five procedures and documents necessary to sell a car in Maryland below, so you may sell your automobile fast and for the maximum amount of money.
Remember that most states regard the car title as a legal document, so use the legal names (no nicknames) of both individuals involved as well as legible handwriting in black or blue ink. Mistakes, typos, and the use of white-out may render the document null and worthless, so be cautious and take your time filling it out.
Step 1: Have the car examined
Sellers in Maryland are obliged to have a vehicle safety inspection performed by a licensed Maryland inspection station. Car dealerships, service stations, and specialist car service facilities can all be licensed as Maryland inspection stations, and there is almost certainly one in your neighborhood. If your vehicle passes this inspection, you will be issued a Maryland Safety Inspection Certificate good for 90 days. If your car does not sell within 90 days, you must have it inspected again before you can lawfully sell it.
Step 2: Organize and collect all vehicle papers
Find all maintenance records, the owner's manual, and other vehicle-related papers. If you can offer the buyer extensive and thorough maintenance documents, it will give the buyer confidence that the automobile has been properly and regularly maintained. Remember that if you didn't preserve the paper invoices, your technician or dealership may have electronic records. You may even consider sending a vehicle history report from a firm like CarFax or AutoCheck to reassure the buyer that your car has been well-maintained. The title certificate is the most critical document to have when selling an automobile. If a lien exists on the title, the lienholder must release interest in the vehicle before it may be sold. This can be accomplished by either the seller paying off the vehicle or the lienholder obtaining a letter of lien release. Lienholders must provide you with a completed Maryland Notice of Security Interest Filing (Form VR-217) or a letter of lien release on the lienholder's official letterhead if you have paid off your automobile loan. If you are unable to pay off the automobile, you must file a lien release declaration from your lienholder with Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA).
Step 3: Create a Bill of Sale
In Maryland bill of sale is not necessary for private party car sales; however, it is usually a good practice to have a bill of sale signed by both the seller and the buyer with a copy for both to transfer ownership and provide legal protection to both parties. If your title includes a place for a purchase price, you do not require a bill of sale, and the buyer will be taxed on the purchase price indicated on the title. If there is no room for the purchase price, a bill of sale is required so that the MVA knows how much to tax the buyer. Form VR-181 must be completed if a bill of sale is requested. On this form, you put basic car information such as the year, make, and model, as well as the odometer reading, the purchase price, and both the buyer's and seller's signatures. Both signatures must be notarized, which can be done simultaneously or separately by two different notaries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) odometer disclosure standards, which affect some private car purchases in Georgia, were revised in December 2020: Any vehicle of the model year 2011 or newer (2012, 2013, etc.) that is transferred between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2030, will require an odometer disclosure. Beginning January 1, 2031, every vehicle less than 20 model years old will be required to have an odometer disclosure. Previously, the NHTSA only mandated disclosure for the first ten years. Cars manufactured before 2010 are exempt from odometer disclosures. On their website, Maryland provides Odometer Disclosure form VR-197.
Step 4: Change the title
If the vehicle's title has been lost, stolen, or significantly damaged, you can get a replacement/duplicate Maryland title by completing Form VR-018 and the Duplicate Title Affidavit. You may receive a duplicate title by filling out that form and paying a $20 charge. When privately selling an automobile in Maryland, both the buyer and seller must fill out the applicable areas on the back of the title. This information contains the buyer's and seller's legal names, addresses, and signatures, as well as the date of the transaction, the odometer reading, and the purchase price (if one is provided). When this is filled out correctly and legibly, the buyer can easily transfer registration and obtain a new plate. If the title shows more than one owner, the following number of signatures will be required based on the link between the names: Furthermore, all individuals specified must sign. Alternatively, either vendor can sign; just one signature is necessary. Ideally, both vendors must sign. If no connection is specified, the default will be 'and,' and all owners (sellers) must sign. If you want to donate a car or transfer a title to a relative, follow the identical steps explained here. The new owner must pay a title transfer fee, but no state tax applies if the automobile is given away free of charge. The Maryland DMV has several processes specified for inheriting an automobile, which you can find here. If you're looking for information about transferring a title from a deceased owner, Maryland has you covered. These extra car registration forms are also accessible on the Maryland website.
Step 5: Take off your license plates and cancel your insurance
Before passing over the car to the buyer, the seller must remove the license plates. If you do not, you may be held accountable for any infractions that occur after the buyer takes ownership of the car. After the sale, you must either transfer your plates to another vehicle or return them to the MVA. Maryland requires you to return your license plates and keep the paperwork before canceling your insurance. This is the most effective technique to ensure that the car in issue is never driven without insurance. Make sure to cancel your insurance as soon as possible after returning or transferring your license plates so you don't have to pay to cover a car you no longer own. Visit the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration's website for further information.
The Easier Way to Sell Your Car
Now that you've learned everything there is to know about selling a car in Maryland, it's time to determine where to list it. Cashforcarsinc.com makes it simple to sell your car. With ready-to-sign state documentation, encrypted chat, and more, our platform provides all the tools and recommendations you need to make the transaction a breeze.
