How To Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member in Delaware in 2026

Transferring a vehicle title to a family member in Delaware requires completing an official change of ownership recorded through the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (Delaware DMV). Both the current owner and the recipient must satisfy all procedural requirements established by the Delaware DMV to ensure that a new certificate of title is properly issued in the recipient's name.

What Does Transferring a Car Title to a Family Member in Delaware Mean?

Under Delaware law, transferring a car title to a family member is the formal process of conveying recorded vehicle ownership from one individual to another through the state's official certificate-of-title system. Until a new certificate is issued in the recipient's name, the original owner remains the legal owner on record — regardless of any private understanding between the parties.

Delaware law requires all buyers of Delaware-registered vehicles to apply for a new certificate of title immediately upon purchase or transfer, and in no case more than 30 days after the date of transfer. The Delaware DMV strongly recommends that both the transferring party and the recipient appear together at a Division facility to complete the transfer, as this ensures the paperwork is reviewed by a Title Associate, any errors can be corrected immediately, and the seller's name is formally removed from the vehicle record on the same visit.

The governing authority for certificate of title requirements in Delaware is Title 21, Chapter 23 of the Delaware Code, which establishes requirements for original and transferred certificates of title, lien recording, and associated penalties. The vehicle document fee — Delaware's equivalent of a transfer tax — is governed by Title 30, Del. C. § 3003 and administered through 2 Del. Admin. Code § 2266. Both gift transfers and sale transfers entail different document-fee obligations under that regulation.

Eligible Family Members for Title Transfers in Delaware

Delaware does not restrict title transfers to a defined list of family relationships. Any two individuals may transfer vehicle ownership. However, the vehicle document fee — assessed at the time of titling as a percentage of the purchase price or NADA book value — is waived for qualifying transfers between immediate family members under 2 Del. Admin. Code § 2266, Section 2.1.

To qualify for the document fee exemption, the transfer must be structured as a genuine gift with no monetary consideration and must involve one of the following immediate family relationships:

• Spouse
• Parent or child (including stepparents, stepchildren, and in-laws)
• Sibling (including step-siblings and in-laws)
• Grandparent or grandchild (including step-grandparents, step-grandchildren, and in-laws)

The exemption applies only to the transfer of a Delaware certificate of title. If a family member's vehicle carries an active lien at the time of transfer, a lien release must be obtained before the transfer proceeds; the document fee exemption status is unaffected by the lien's prior existence, but the lien must be resolved as part of the transaction.

If the transfer involves any monetary consideration — even a nominal payment — it is treated as a private sale rather than a gift, and the 5.25% document fee applies to the higher of the stated purchase price or the current NADA average trade-in value. Regardless of the family relationship, both parties must complete the standard Delaware title transfer procedures, and the new owner must apply for a new certificate of title within 30 days of the transfer date.

How To Transfer a Car Title as a Gift to a Family Member in Delaware

A gift transfer applies when no money is exchanged, and ownership is conveyed at no cost to the recipient. The Delaware DMV recommends that both parties appear together at a Division office to complete the transaction. The following steps govern the gift transfer process.

Step 1 — Confirm the title is free of active liens. Before proceeding, the current owner must verify that no lienholder is recorded on the Delaware Certificate of Title. If a lien is present, a written lien release from the lienholder must be secured before the title can be reassigned. The lien release must be submitted as part of the title package at the DMV.

Step 2 — Complete Section 1 (Assignment of Certificate of Title) on the reverse of the existing title. The transferring party must complete the seller's section on the back of the Delaware Certificate of Title. Required fields include:

• Recipient's full legal name and Delaware address
• Date of transfer
• Purchase price — enter "$0" or "Gift"
• Odometer reading at the time of transfer (required for applicable vehicles per federal odometer disclosure rules)
• All sellers must sign and print their names; if ownership is listed as "AND," all owners must sign

Step 3 — Complete Section 4 (Purchaser's Application) on the reverse of the existing title. The recipient (buyer) must also complete the Purchaser's Application on the back of the same title. Required fields include:

• Recipient's full legal name and Delaware address
• Recipient's Delaware driver's license number and date of birth
• All buyers must sign this section

Step 4 — Seller completes the Seller's Report of Sale Delaware law requires the registered owner to notify the DMV of any vehicle sale or transfer. The Seller's Report of Sale is located at the bottom of the Delaware title form and must be completed with the buyer's name and address, the date and hour of the transfer, and the seller's signature. If both parties appear together at a DMV office, the Report of Sale may be submitted in person. If the parties cannot meet at the DMV, the seller must mail the completed Report of Sale and registration card directly to the Delaware DMV.

Step 5 — Gather all required documents and visit a Delaware DMV office. The recipient must visit a Delaware DMV location with the complete document package:

• The assigned Delaware Certificate of Title (Sections 1 and 4 completed)
• Valid proof of Delaware liability insurance for the vehicle
• Delaware driver's license, or two accepted proofs of Delaware residency
• Seller's Report of Sale (if not already mailed separately)
• Payment for the applicable title fee (no document fee for qualifying family gifts)

Step 6 — Obtain a new certificate of title and register the vehicle. Upon acceptance of the application, the Delaware DMV issues a new Certificate of Title in the recipient's name. The vehicle may not be legally operated until the new title has been issued. Registration in the recipient's name must also be completed, and any applicable registration fees must be paid at the time of titling.

How To Transfer a Car Title as a Sale to a Family Member in Delaware

When a family member purchases the vehicle for an agreed price, the transfer is treated as a private sale. The 5.25% vehicle document fee applies to the higher of the stated purchase price or the current NADA average trade-in value. The process is as follows.

Step 1 — Agree on a purchase price and complete Section 1 (Assignment) on the reverse of the title. The seller records the agreed purchase price and completes the full assignment section on the back of the Delaware Certificate of Title, including:

• Buyer's full legal name and Delaware address
• Stated purchase price (document fee will be assessed on this amount or NADA value, whichever is greater)
• Date of transfer
• Odometer reading at the time of transfer
• All sellers' original signatures and printed names

Step 2 — Prepare a Bill of Sale. A written bill of sale should be executed between the parties and must include:

• Vehicle identification number (VIN)
• Year, make, and model of the vehicle
• Full legal names and addresses of both the seller and buyer
• Agreed purchase price
• Date of sale
• Original signatures of both parties

Step 3 — Release any existing lien, if applicable. If a lienholder is recorded on the Delaware Certificate of Title, a written lien release from the lienholder is required before the title can be assigned. The lien release document must be submitted with the title package at the DMV.

Step 4 — Seller completes the Seller's Report of Sale The seller must complete the Seller's Report of Sale with the buyer's name and address, the date and hour of the sale, and the seller's signature. This form must be mailed to the Delaware DMV or submitted in person if both parties visit a Division office together.

Step 5 — Buyer completes Section 4 (Purchaser's Application) on the back of the title. The buyer must complete Section 4 of the Delaware Certificate of Title with full legal name, Delaware address, driver's license number, date of birth, and original signature. If the vehicle purchase is financed, the lien section (Section 3) on the back of the title must also be completed with the lienholder's mailing address.

Step 6 — Visit a Delaware DMV office and submit the document package. The buyer must present the following to a Delaware DMV office within 30 days of the transfer date:

• The assigned Delaware Certificate of Title (Sections 1, 3 if financed, and 4 completed)
• Bill of sale
• Lien release (if applicable)
• Valid proof of Delaware liability insurance
• Delaware driver's license or two accepted proofs of residency
• Payment for the title fee, document fee (5.25% of the higher of the purchase price or NADA trade-in value), and registration fees

Step 7 — Obtain the new certificate of title and register the vehicle. Upon approval, a new Certificate of Title is issued in the buyer's name. The vehicle may not be operated on Delaware highways until the new title is issued. Registration fees are collected at the time of title application.

What Documents Are Needed To Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member in Delaware

Required for all transfers:

• Delaware Certificate of Title — The original certificate, with Section 1 (Assignment) completed by the seller and Section 4 (Purchaser's Application) completed by the buyer. All co-owners listed as "AND" on the title must sign; "AND/OR" titles require only one owner's signature on the seller's section.
• Seller's Report of Sale — Completed by the seller. Includes the buyer's name and address, the date and hour of the transfer, and the seller's signature. Must be mailed to the DMV or submitted in person at a Division office.
• Valid Proof of Delaware Liability Insurance — An insurance card, insurance policy, or letter from an insurance agent on agency letterhead identifying the vehicle (or confirming all vehicles owned by the applicant are insured).
• Delaware Driver's License or Two Accepted Proofs of Residency — Required from the new owner at time of title application.
• Payment for Applicable Fees — Title fee plus registration fees; document fee applies for sale transfers.

Required for sale transfers only:

• Bill of Sale — A written record of the transaction including the VIN, year, make, and model, the full legal names and addresses of both parties, the purchase price, the date of sale, and original signatures. If no bill of sale is available and the purchase price is not indicated on the title, the document fee will be assessed based on the current NADA average trade-in value.

Additional documents that may be required:

• Lien Release Documentation — If a lienholder is recorded on the Certificate of Title, a written release from the lienholder is required before or at the time of submission.
• Form MV386 — Power of Attorney to Transfer — Required if an authorized representative is signing on behalf of an owner who cannot appear in person. Only original documents are accepted; photocopies will be rejected.
• Certified Estate or Probate Documents — Required when a vehicle is transferred from the estate of a deceased owner.

How To Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member Online in Delaware

A standard title transfer that changes recorded vehicle ownership in Delaware cannot be completed entirely online. The new owner must appear in person at a Delaware DMV office to:

• Present the assigned Delaware Certificate of Title and all supporting documents in their original form
• Submit a complete Purchaser's Application (Section 4) in person or confirm the assignment section was fully executed
• Pay the title fee, applicable document fee, and registration fees
• Provide a valid Delaware driver's license or two accepted proofs of residency
• Present valid proof of Delaware liability insurance for the vehicle

What's the Cost To Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member in Delaware?

All fees listed below are published on the official Delaware DMV fee schedule.

Title Fees:

Registration Fees:

Vehicle Document Fee (for sale transfers only):

Delaware does not impose a traditional sales tax on private vehicle transfers. Instead, the state assesses a vehicle document fee under 2 Del. Admin. Code § 2266. Effective October 1, 2025, the document fee rate is 5.25% of the purchase price or the current NADA average trade-in value, whichever is greater, with a minimum fee of $8.00. The fee is collected by the Delaware DMV at the time of title application.

For qualifying gift transfers between immediate family members — as defined in Section 2.1 of the regulation — the document fee is fully waived, provided the transfer is documented as a genuine gift with no monetary consideration. If any amount of consideration is stated on the bill of sale or title assignment, the document fee is assessed on that amount or the NADA value, whichever is higher. Trade-in allowances may be deducted from the gross purchase price when calculating the document fee, subject to the conditions in Section 4.0 of the regulation.

Contact Information

Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles
303 Transportation Circle, Dover, Delaware 19903
Phone: (302) 744-2500
Official Website: Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles