If you sell, trade, donate or otherwise transfer ownership of a vehicle, submitting an Arizona Sold Notice is an important step in protecting yourself after the vehicle leaves your possession. An Arizona MVD Sold Notice tells MVD that you are no longer the vehicle’s owner and can help protect you from responsibility for tickets, accidents, abandoned vehicle fees or other problems involving the vehicle after the sale. Arizona requires the Sold Notice to be submitted within 10 days of the vehicle sale or transfer.
What Is an Arizona Sold Notice?
A Sold Notice informs Arizona MVD that you have sold, traded, donated or otherwise transferred ownership of your vehicle.
It creates a record showing that the vehicle is no longer yours, even if the new owner has not yet completed the title and registration process.
Submitting the notice does not transfer the vehicle’s title to the buyer. The appropriate title transfer must still be completed separately.
For more information about transferring ownership, see our How to Title and Register a Vehicle in Arizona guide.
When Do I Need to Submit a Sold Notice?
You should submit a Sold Notice when you:
- Sell your vehicle to another person
- Trade your vehicle
- Donate your vehicle
- Transfer ownership to someone else
- End a vehicle lease
The Sold Notice must be completed within 10 days of the sale or transfer.
However, there’s little reason to wait. Completing it as soon as the vehicle leaves your possession gives you a record that you are no longer the owner.
Why Is a Sold Notice Important?
A Sold Notice helps protect you from problems involving the vehicle after you’ve transferred ownership.
Without one, MVD records may continue to associate you with the vehicle. That can create complications if the vehicle is later:
- Ticketed
- Involved in an accident
- Used in criminal activity
- Abandoned
This is especially important with private-party sales because the seller cannot control how quickly the buyer completes the title transfer.
If the vehicle later becomes abandoned, see our Abandoned Vehicles in Arizona: What You Need to Know guide for more information about the Arizona abandoned vehicle process.
How Do I Submit an Arizona Sold Notice?
The quickest option for many vehicle owners is to submit the Sold Notice through AZ MVD Now.
You can also complete Arizona’s Sold Notice form and submit it through an available MVD service option.
At participating 1 Stop Motor Vehicle locations, customers can also receive assistance with eligible MVD transactions, including Sold Notice services.
What Information Do I Need for a Sold Notice?
Before submitting your Sold Notice, gather the information related to the vehicle and transaction.
The Arizona Sold Notice form requests information including:
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Vehicle year and make
- License plate number
- Buyer’s name
- Buyer’s address
- Date the vehicle was sold
- Seller information
Having this information available when you complete the transaction can make submitting the notice much easier.
Does a Sold Notice Transfer the Vehicle Title?
No. A Sold Notice and a title transfer serve two different purposes.
The Sold Notice protects the seller by notifying MVD that ownership has changed.
The title transfer establishes the new owner of the vehicle.
When using a paper title, the appropriate transfer information must still be completed and provided to the buyer. Eligible transactions may also qualify for Arizona’s electronic title transfer process.
If an eligible transaction is completed using Arizona’s eTitle Transfer system, the Sold Notice is submitted automatically.
Should I Remove My License Plate When I Sell My Vehicle?
Yes. When selling or otherwise transferring your vehicle, remove the license plate before the new owner takes possession.
Arizona license plates generally remain with the seller rather than staying with the vehicle.
Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to transfer the plate or receive a credit for a portion of previously paid registration fees.
For more information about Arizona plates, see our Arizona Specialty Plates and Placards: What You Need to Know guide.
Can I Get a Registration Credit After Selling My Vehicle?
You may be eligible for a credit for a portion of previously paid vehicle registration fees after selling or transferring your vehicle.
The amount of available credit depends in part on how much time remains on the registration when you request it, so waiting can reduce the available amount.
Arizona applies a processing fee to registration credits, and eligibility depends on the circumstances of the transaction.
What If the Buyer Never Transfers the Title?
This is one of the biggest reasons to submit a Sold Notice promptly.
Once the vehicle leaves your possession, you cannot control when the buyer completes their title and registration responsibilities. A Sold Notice creates a record with MVD showing that you transferred the vehicle, helping protect you even if the buyer hasn’t completed the title transfer yet.
The buyer will still need to complete the appropriate title and registration process to establish ownership in their name.
Is a Sold Notice Required If I Trade My Car to a Dealership?
A Sold Notice applies when you sell, trade, donate or otherwise transfer ownership of your vehicle, so it isn’t limited to private-party sales.
If you trade your vehicle to a dealership, make sure the transfer is properly documented and that the Sold Notice requirement has been handled.
Keeping copies of your sale or trade documents is also a good practice in case questions about the vehicle arise later.
Can I Submit a Sold Notice at a Third Party MVD?
Yes. Arizona MVD identifies Authorized Third Party locations as an option for completing Sold Notice transactions.
At participating 1 Stop Motor Vehicle locations, we can assist with eligible Sold Notice and other vehicle transactions, giving customers another option for handling their MVD needs.
Protect Yourself After Selling a Vehicle
Selling a vehicle involves more than handing over the keys. Completing the title transfer, removing your license plate and submitting an Arizona Sold Notice are important steps for protecting yourself after ownership changes.
Submitting your Sold Notice promptly creates a record that the vehicle is no longer yours and can help prevent future problems involving tickets, accidents or an abandoned vehicle.
Sold or transferred a vehicle? Visit a participating 1 Stop Motor Vehicle location for help with eligible MVD vehicle services.