Vermont title guide

Selling a junk car without a title in Vermont

The short answer

It depends on the car's age. If your vehicle is a 2009 or older model that was registered in Vermont before the Act 165 title change, you can sell it without a title. Give the new owner your registration certificate as proof of ownership. Newer vehicles need the title, or a duplicate from the Vermont DMV.

First published November 4, 2026. Rules checked against official Vermont sources on November 5, 2026 and reviewed by Paola Reniery, Operations Manager (see the sources).

What does Vermont ask of sellers?

In Vermont, a replacement title (form VT-004) costs $42.00. Each card links to the official page it came from.

Replacing a lost title: Form VT-004, Replacement Title Application. Fee: $42.00.; Official source
License plates: The seller takes the plates off the car; returning them to DMV is optional.; Official source

Vermont's official guide to selling a vehicle

What do you do if you have the title?

Sign and print your name where the seller signs, fill in the odometer reading if there's a space for it, and leave the buyer section blank. If your title has a notary section, the signatures have to be notarized. If it doesn't, you sign in front of the driver at pickup. Don't sign the title until the driver is there and you've agreed the price.

What if the title is lost or damaged?

Vermont replacement titles come from the Vermont DMV, using form VT-004 (Replacement Title Application), for a fee of $42.00. You'll need the VIN, which is on the dashboard by the windshield, on the driver's door jamb and on your registration. If you're in a hurry, tell our buyer partner when it contacts you: it can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for your car in Vermont.

Where to find a car's VIN: (1) on the dashboard on the driver's side, read through the windshield, (2) on the label on the driver's door jamb, and (3) on the title, registration or insurance card — The 17-character VIN appears in the same places on almost every car made since 1981: (1) on the dashboard, read through the windshield on the driver's side, (2) on the label on the driver's door jamb, and (3) on the title, registration and insurance card.

Older cars that don't need a title

If your vehicle is a 2009 or older model that was registered in Vermont before the Act 165 title change, you can sell it without a title. Give the new owner your registration certificate as proof of ownership. Bring your registration, a photo ID and a bill of sale with the VIN, the sale price and both signatures.

For the full walkthrough, including the states that exempt older cars and what to avoid, read how to sell a junk car without a title.

What if there's a loan, or the owner has died?

If a lender is still listed on the title, you'll need its lien release, or the loan gets paid off as part of the sale. If the owner has died, only someone with legal authority, usually the executor, can sell the car, and the Vermont DMV can tell you which estate papers Vermont accepts.

What do you do after the sale?

Plates: The seller takes the plates off the car; returning them to DMV is optional.
Ask the Vermont DMV whether Vermont has a notice of sale or release of liability form, and file it if it does, so tickets and tolls stop coming to you.
Keep a photo of the signed title, and cancel the insurance once the car has been picked up.

Title rules change, so confirm them with the Vermont DMV before you sell; this page is general information, not legal advice.

Can you junk a car without a title in Vermont?

Yes, if the car is old enough. If your vehicle is a 2009 or older model that was registered in Vermont before the Act 165 title change, you can sell it without a title. Give the new owner your registration certificate as proof of ownership. For newer cars you'll need the title or a duplicate from the Vermont DMV.

How do I get a duplicate title in Vermont?

Apply to the Vermont DMV with form VT-004 (Replacement Title Application), and have a photo ID and the VIN ready. The fee is $42.00, according to the agency.

Can I sell a car in Vermont with just a bill of sale?

For vehicles old enough to be title exempt, ask the buyer which papers it needs before pickup, and have your registration and a bill of sale ready. Newer vehicles still need a title.