How To Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member in Washington D.C. in 2026

In Washington, D.C., a vehicle title transfer between family members is administered by the DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV). The title record is the legal ownership record for the vehicle, so a family transfer is not complete until DC DMV processes the application and issues a new title in the recipient’s name.

A family transfer may be documented as a gift or as a sale, and the tax result depends on the implemented excise tax law. DC DMV also requires title and registration materials to be submitted together for ordinary titling transactions through its title and registration process.

What Does Transferring a Car Title to a Family Member in Washington D.C. Mean?

Transferring a car title to a family member in Washington, D.C. means changing the legal owner of record through the official titling system. The DC DMV explains that a title is the legal document that establishes ownership and identifies the vehicle by its VIN, year, make, and model.

Until the DC DMV accepts the reassigned title and creates a new title, the currently titled owner remains the owner of record. DC DMV states that the new title is mailed to the primary owner or, if a lien exists, to the primary lienholder within 10 business days after the required documents are presented.

Washington, D.C. also uses electronic lien records in some cases. Under D.C. Code § 50-1218, when a vehicle is subject to an electronic lien, the certificate of title is considered to be held by the lienholder.

Eligible Family Members for Title Transfers in Washington D.C.

Washington, D.C. does not provide a universal family-transfer exemption for all relatives. A title may be transferred between relatives in the same way as any other private transaction, but the special excise tax treatment is limited to specific gift relationships listed by the DC DMV.

For excise tax purposes, Washington, D.C. recognizes a gift exemption only for transfers between spouses, domestic partners, parents, and children, and children and parents, as shown on the gift exemption form. DC DMV’s exemption materials also state that this exemption applies only if the vehicle already has a title, as shown in the exemption categories.

If the transfer is a sale, the family relationship does not create a general tax exemption. In that situation, Washington, D.C. generally imposes a motor vehicle excise tax under D.C. Code § 50-2201.03, and the DC DMV calculates the tax using the vehicle’s fair market value and the current weight-and-fuel-efficiency schedule.

How To Transfer a Car Title as a Gift to a Family Member in Washington D.C.

Step 1 — Confirm the Title Status and Gift-Exemption Eligibility
The current owner should confirm that the vehicle has an existing DC title if the parties intend to claim a family gift excise-tax exemption. DC DMV limits that exemption to spouse, domestic partner, parent-to-child, and child-to-parent transfers on its gift exemption form. If the transfer falls outside those relationships or the vehicle is not already DC-titled, the transfer may still be processed, but excise tax may still be due.

Step 2 — Remove the Current License Plates
The DC DMV instructs a seller to remove the license tags before the vehicle changes hands. If the tags will not be transferred to another vehicle, they should be surrendered to the DC DMV. The agency also warns on that page that insurance should not be canceled before tag surrender because an insurance lapse fee may result.

Step 3 — Sign the Title Over to the Recipient
The current owner must properly assign the existing title to the family member who will receive the vehicle. For a used vehicle, the DC DMV accepts the odometer certification on the back of the title as proof of mileage. If more than one owner appears on the title, all titled owners must sign.

Step 4 — Complete the Title Application
The recipient must complete the Certificate of Title/Temporary Tag Application, which DC DMV uses for title-only, title-and-tag, and temporary registration transactions. The posted form includes owner information, vehicle information, mileage, lien information, insurance information, and signature blocks.

Step 5 — Complete the Gift-Exemption Paperwork if the Transfer Qualifies
For a qualifying exempt gift, both parties should complete the Excise Tax Gift Exemption Form. That form requires proof of relationship:

• An original full birth certificate or adoption court order for parent-child or child-parent transfers
• An original marriage license for a spouse transfer
• A certified domestic partnership certificate for a domestic partner transfer

Step 6 — Prepare the Supporting Transaction Record
The DC DMV includes a bill of sale in its title and registration process checklist. In a gift transfer, a separate bill of sale is not required on the gift form, but a written record identifying the vehicle, the parties, the transfer date, and the nature of the gift is advisable because the DC DMV’s general title checklist expects sale documentation.

Step 7 — Obtain Temporary Registration if Inspection Must Occur Before Full Registration
A Washington, D.C. resident who must take the vehicle through inspection may apply for a 45-day temporary registration using the temporary registration process. DC DMV requires the title application, a properly endorsed title, proof of valid DC insurance, and a valid DC DMV credential for that temporary registration.

Step 8 — Submit the Title and Registration Materials to DC DMV
For a standard transfer, the recipient must present the assigned title, the completed title application, proof of insurance, odometer documentation, and any exemption materials through the registration of a new or used vehicle process. Used vehicles generally must pass an inspection before full registration is issued.

How To Transfer a Car Title as a Sale to a Family Member in Washington D.C.

Step 1 — Remove the Seller’s Tags Before Delivery
The titled owner should remove the plates before the vehicle is delivered to the buyer. The DC DMV gives that instruction on its selling a vehicle page and also directs tag surrender if the tags will not be reused.

Step 2 — Complete the Title Assignment
The seller must sign the title over to the buyer exactly as required on the back of the title. DC DMV notes in its buying a vehicle guidance that a private seller must have the title in the seller’s possession and in the seller’s name and that a vehicle not properly assigned on the back of the title cannot be registered at DC DMV.

Step 3 — Record the Purchase Price and Transaction Details
The parties should prepare a bill of sale showing the buyer’s and seller’s names, the vehicle description, the VIN, the sale date, and the agreed purchase price. The DC DMV includes a bill of sale in its required documents for title and registration.

Step 4 — Address Any Lien Before Filing the Transfer
If the vehicle is financed, the lien paperwork must be provided with the transaction. The DC DMV lists a lien contract or financial agreement in its vehicle titles materials, and the agency provides a lienholder out-of-state title request form for cases in which a lienholder holds the original out-of-state title.

Step 5 — Complete the Title Application
The buyer must complete the Certificate of Title/Temporary Tag Application. The posted form includes a mileage certification field and identifies the type of service requested, including title-only and title-with-tags transactions.

Step 6 — Obtain Temporary Registration if Inspection Is Still Pending
If the buyer needs to take the vehicle through inspection before full registration, DC DMV offers a 45-day temporary registration under its temporary registration rules. DC DMV states that the fees associated with the title transaction, including excise tax and title fees, are collected when the temporary registration is issued.

Step 7 — Submit the Transaction to DC DMV and Register the Vehicle
The buyer must present the assigned title, title application, proof of valid DC insurance, bill of sale, odometer information, and any lien documents required by the registration of a new or used vehicle process. Used vehicles generally must pass an inspection before full registration is issued.

Step 8 — Pay Title Fees, Registration Fees, and Excise Tax
A family sale is generally treated as a private sale for tax purposes. Under its vehicle title and excise tax fees schedule, excise tax is calculated from the vehicle’s fair market value using the applicable rate table.

What Documents Are Needed To Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member in Washington D.C.

Required for All Transfers

• Current certificate of title. The original title must be properly assigned to the new owner, and all titled owners must sign if multiple owners are shown, as DC DMV explains in its vehicle titles guidance.
• Certificate of Title/Temporary Tag Application (DMV-CTA-001). The title application is required for title-only, new title, transfer-tag, and temporary tag transactions.
• Proof of identity or Washington, D.C. credential. The posted title application states that a valid DC driver's license, DC identification card, DC business license, DC certificate of occupancy, or a government-issued DC tax identification document must accompany the form, depending on the applicant.
• Proof of valid DC insurance. DC DMV requires insurance documentation through its title and registration process.
• Odometer mileage verification. DC DMV requires proof of odometer mileage for title work. For used vehicles, the agency accepts certification on the back of the title, and its buyer guidance states that odometer disclosure statements should be available for vehicles less than 10 years old.
• Inspection certificate, if applicable. DC DMV requires a used vehicle to pass an inspection before full registration, as explained in its registration rules.

Additional Documents for Sale Transfers

• Bill of sale. DC DMV includes a bill of sale in its required documents list for title and registration, and the bill of sale should identify the vehicle, the parties, the date, and the sale price.
• Lien contract or financing agreement. If the vehicle is financed, DC DMV lists lien paperwork among the documents needed in its vehicle titles materials.

Documents Required in Specific Circumstances

• Excise Tax Gift Exemption Form. A qualifying family gift transfer requires a gift exemption form, and the exemption is limited to specified relationships for vehicles already carrying a DC title.
• Proof of family relationship. The gift exemption file requires an original birth certificate or adoption court order for parent-child transfers, an original marriage license for spouse transfers, and a certified domestic partnership certificate for domestic partner transfers.
• Vehicle Power of Attorney Application. If a representative acts for an owner, DC DMV provides a power of attorney form for vehicle transactions.
• Lienholder Out-of-State Title Request. If an out-of-state lienholder holds the original title, the request form listed on the DMV forms page may be needed.
• Lease contract. DC DMV requires lease paperwork when the vehicle is leased, as described in its title and registration process.

DC DMV’s posted title application and gift-exemption form are signature forms and do not state a general notarization requirement for an ordinary family transfer on the face of the title application or the gift exemption PDF.

How To Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member Online in Washington D.C.

Washington, D.C. offers a limited online option through its online private sale vehicle registration service for residents who recently purchased a vehicle in a private sale.

A standard family gift transfer cannot be completed entirely online in Washington, D.C. The online private-sale system is limited to recent private-sale purchases by residents, and it still requires mailing the original title.

For ordinary family transfers that fall outside that hybrid process, DC DMV requires submission through a service center. In-person processing may also be necessary when temporary registration is required to obtain an inspection prior to final registration.

What's the Cost To Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member in Washington D.C.?

DC DMV publishes its official title fees on the vehicle title and excise tax fees page.

DC DMV publishes passenger registration fees on its vehicle registration fees page, and the standard 2026 schedule includes the following common classes:

Washington, D.C.’s motor vehicle excise tax is separate from the title fee. On its vehicle title and excise tax fees page, DC DMV states that the tax is calculated from fair market value using the current weight-and-fuel-efficiency rate table.

For family transfers, the tax treatment is as follows:

• Qualifying gift transfer: A gift between spouses, domestic partners, parents and children, or children and parents may be excise-tax exempt if the vehicle already has a DC title, as shown in the exemption categories.
• Nonqualifying gift transfer: A gift to another relative does not appear in the published family gift exemption categories and may therefore remain taxable.
• Sale transfer: A sale between family members is generally taxable under Washington, D.C.'s excise tax law.

Contact Information

District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles
95 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024
Phone: (202) 737-4404
Official Website: District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles