State law requires private sale vehicle buyers to title in 30 days or face financial penalties - click here to read the Williamson County Tax Assessor/Collector's news release.

All transactions require original signed documents. Faxed, scanned or emailed copies are not acceptable and signatures must be in ink. Information is based on actual owner transactions. For questions contact Williamson County Tax Assessor/Collectors office at 512-943-1602.

Title transfers are handled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Payments made by check may be converted to an electronic funds transfer.

For information on protecting yourself as a buyer or seller, visit Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Protect your Title page.

If you are in the Military, please click here for military personnel title transfer requirements provided by Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

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The transfer should take place within 30 calendar days to avoid any penalties. All transactions require original signed documents. Faxed, scanned or emailed copies are not acceptable and signatures must be in ink. Information provided is based on actual owner transactions. All transactions require government issued photo identification.

The buyer will need to bring in the following information:

1) The original title properly assigned by seller(s) to buyer(s). Signatures of all listed owners required. 

• Texas Department of Motor Vehicles now offers a Title Check service. Title Check will search to see if the title of the vehicle you're considering has any issues impacting its value. Title Check only has information on vehicles titled in Texas. For more information visit the TxDMV website.

2) An original Application for Texas Certificate of Title (form 130-U) completed by both seller(s) and buyer(s). If vehicle is a gift, please see our Gift Transfer Section for additional requirements and eligibility.

3) Proof of Texas Liability Insurance. Insurance must be in the name of buyers listed on title and the title application. Insurance on another vehicle can be shown for up to 30 days from the date of sale.  Motorcycles require motorcycle insurance.

4) Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR) – Inspection Report showing emissions test overall passed and issued within last 90 days. Required only if the vehicle was last registered or titled in a county without an emissions inspection program.

Exemptions include

• Title only transfers
• Vehicles less than 2 years old or vehicles older than 24 years
• Diesel powered vehicles, vehicles registered as antique, motorcycle, and title only vehicles.

5) If the vehicle was purchased out of state have a Texas vehicle inspection done first; please ask the station for the VI-30 Form. Verify that the vehicle identification number on the form matches your vehicle information and bring the form to the tax office.  No alterations or errors will be accepted. Inspection station locater and information.

6) Any supporting documents such as Release of Lien, Power of Attorney, etc. If the vehicle was a gift, please see our Gift Tax procedures below.

7) If you are a Texas resident who purchased a vehicle from overseas, please click here for additional requirements.

Fees may vary depending on actual transaction but typically include:

• title fee $33
• registration fee $64.25 (light trucks and passenger cars)
• sales tax calculated at 6.25% on the purchase price or the standard presumptive value whichever is greater.

Click here to visit our fees page.

Title transfers are handled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Payments made by check may be converted to an electronic funds transfer.

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House Bill 2654 established new criteria for determining when a transaction qualifies as a gift for motor vehicle tax purposes. Effective Sept. 1, 2009, the only transactions that qualify to be taxed as gifts ($10) are those wherein the vehicles are received from a: spouse, parent or stepparent, in laws, grandparent or grandchild, child or stepchild, sibling, guardian, decedent's estate or if it is donated to, or given by, a nonprofit service organization qualifying under the Internal Revenue Code, Sec. 501(c)(3).

All other motor vehicle transfers made without payment of consideration are now defined as sales and will be subject to tax calculated on the normal standard presumptive value (SPV) of the vehicle as determined through the Registration and Title System (RTS).             

To document a gift:

The donor and person receiving the vehicle must complete a joint notarized Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Gift Transfer (Form 14-317) describing the transaction and the relationship between the parties and must be filed in person by either the donor or the recipient. Person filing must present government issued photo identification.

This document should be provided to the County Tax Assessor-Collector along with the addtional required documentation listed in the Title Transfer section.

If you do not have acceptable evidence of ownership for a vehicle you own or recently purchased, you may have the option of applying for a bonded title.

For additional information please see TXDMV Bonded Title Information.

Click here for a list of bonded title agents provided by Texas Department of Insurance. The companies listed are not affiliated with nor promoted by Williamson County Tax Office.

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Senate Bill 543 effective September 1, 2009, requires the mechanic filing the lien to submit the following to the county tax assessor collector's office in the county in which repairs were made:

• $25 administrative fee
• copy of the notification to owner/lienholder
• signed copy of the work order

Mechanic's Lien Foreclosure form (VTR-265-M)

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