No matter how much we love our cars, there’s always a time when we need to move on to better things. But selling a car in Maryland isn’t always straightforward. There are a number of important factors and documents to consider, and as such, we’ve put together this quick guide to lead you through the most important steps.
Get Your Car Inspected
As a seller, it is your responsibility to ensure that the car is safe to drive. To prove this, you need to get your car inspected by a licensed Maryland inspection station. This can be a car dealer, a specialist service center, or even just a service station, as most of these will have the necessary license. Once your car has passed its inspection, you will receive a Maryland Safety Inspection Certificate, which is valid for up to 90 days.
Gather Vehicle Documentation
Throughout the time you have had your car, it will have accumulated a lot of documents. These probably include not only the owner’s manual but, if possible, all maintenance records for the vehicle. The buyer will be much more confident if they know the full history of the car. Your mechanic or dealership might have kept an electronic record if you can’t find the paper copy.
The most important document that you have to find, however, is the Certificate of Title, which proves that you are the car’s rightful owner. If it’s been lost or damaged, then a replacement can be acquired, for a small fee. Things are complicated however if you have a lien on the title, or in other words, have taken out a car loan to pay for the vehicle. In this case, you must either pay off the loan in full, or the lienholder must send you a letter of lien release. In the latter case, you must send a copy to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration.
Transfer The Title
When everything else is done, the buyer and seller must both fill out the appropriate sections on the back of the title form, including names, addresses, and signatures. The purchase price will need to be entered as well.
From there, all that’s left to be done is to cancel your insurance. You must remove your plates before handing the vehicle over, as you will be liable for any violations by the new owner. The MVA also insists that you return your plates to them before the insurance is canceled to avoid any car being driven uninsured.
Gifting a Vehicle
If you’re looking to gift a vehicle to a relative, the process is much the same as above. The only differences are that there will be no sales tax incurred if there is no charge, but the new owner will still need to pay a title transfer fee.
We hope this guide helps you in the process of selling your car. We have you covered if you’re a Maryland resident looking for more beneficial auto-related content! Once you’re ready to start shopping for an upgrade, check out our new Toyota specials at DARCARS 355 Toyota of Rockville today!
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