A handful of states require the seller's signature on a car title to be notarized, which means signed in front of a notary who checks ID. Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky are three clear examples, and their DMV pages say so directly. If your state requires it and the title is signed without a notary, the DMV can reject the transfer, so check the rule before you meet the seller.
Pennsylvania
The PennDOT page on buying or selling a vehicle says the seller's signature on the title must be notarized or verified by an authorized PennDOT agent. In practice, many private buyers and sellers in Pennsylvania meet at a tag and title agent, sign there, and let the agent process the transfer the same day.
Ohio
The Ohio BMV titles page says seller signatures on a title must be notarized. For an electronic title, it says both parties sign form BMV 3770 and both signatures must be notarized. The buyer has 30 days to transfer the title into their name. Many Ohio title offices have a notary on site.
Kentucky
The Kentucky Drive vehicle titling page says the seller signs the title in front of a notary. It also says the transfer must happen within 15 days. That short window is easy to miss if you buy a car out of town.
How to check your state
Search your state DMV site for the title transfer page and look for the words notary or notarized. If the page does not mention it, call the office before you meet. Out-of-state deals add a layer: the rules of the state that issued the title usually govern how it is signed, and your home state then sets its own steps. Our out-of-state title transfer guide walks through that.
Mistakes that cause rejections
- Signing the title before you are in front of the notary.
- Using white-out or crossing out a mistake on the title.
- Leaving the odometer reading blank; see our odometer disclosure guide.
- A seller name that does not match the name printed on the title.
- An open lien with no release; our lien release guide covers that.
Why a buyer should care
A notary checks the seller's ID, which gives you some protection against a person selling a car they do not own. It does not check the car. Before the notary appointment, compare the title VIN to the car, run an approved NMVTIS check for title brands, and get a dated bill of sale. If the seller refuses to meet at a notary in a state that requires one, treat that as a warning sign; our curbstoning guide explains why some sellers avoid putting their name on paper.
Where to find a notary
Banks and credit unions often notarize for their own customers, and many tag and title agencies, shipping stores and some auto insurance offices offer the service. Call ahead, since not every location will notarize a vehicle title, and some charge a small fee. Bring government photo ID for the person signing. If two owners are listed on the title, ask whether both need to sign and whether both need to be there; the answer depends on how the names are joined and on state rules.
What a notary does not do
A notary confirms who signed, not whether the deal is fair or the car is sound. The notary will not check the VIN, the lien status or the odometer. You still need to read the title for brands such as salvage or rebuilt, confirm any lien has been released, and write in the correct mileage. A pre-purchase inspection on the same day as the signing keeps the steps in one trip.
Plan the meeting
Agree on the price before the appointment so the notary visit is quick. Bring the title, both IDs, the payment and a printed bill of sale. Check the title for blank fields that need to be filled in, and fill them in only in front of the notary.
What the report costs
As of early November 2026 a CARFAX bought direct usually costs around $44.99, and AutoCheck sits a little lower. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Our guest price has been about $5.50 a report, about $4.50 for members, and about $6.75 for a CARFAX and AutoCheck bundle. Confirm the price at checkout, since it can change.
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