What documents do I need when purchasing a vehicle?:

SELLER:

Driver’s License (must be valid). Title of Vehicle selling (if your title has a lien, you must have the title release section signed/stamped, a lien release letter or contact your lien holder and have the title put in your name in order to sell the vehicle.) Please keep in mind that any and all names on the Title must be present to sign as the seller in the presence of the Notary. Current Odometer Reading and the Sales Price are also required. (A bill of sale is optional).

BUYER:
Current PA Driver’s License with correct address (a signed yellow update card from DMV if different address than listed on the license.) The driver’s license will be run at time of purchase as mandated by PennDOT. Proof of Current Auto Insurance, we do need a hard copy of the insurance as required by PennDOT. (does not need to be for the car being purchase that day, just for a current automobile. You will have a grace period to put the new car onto an insurance plan, the grace period varies depending on the insurance company.) If you want to use a current plate to transfer to the vehicle being purchased, please bring the registration card for that plate. (keep in mind when transferring a plate: car to car, truck to truck) Otherwise, we can issue a new plate on the spot!

What if the Buyer and I (the seller) can’t be at the Notary at the same time?

Schedules conflict, and you have some options. If you the seller can’t make it into the notary the same time as the buyer, you could have your part of the title (seller’s part) Notarized. There are two notarizations on titles in PA, both the seller’s signature & the buyer’s signature needs to be notarized. So the seller can go to a notary and have their part of the title notarized prior to the sale. You will however want to have the notary fill in the buyer’s name on the title, so that you do not have an open title. (An open title is when the seller signs over the title but there is no buyer named on the title, this is bad, you don’t want an open title.) Make sure this step is done last when you know the sale is final. You can then give the title to the buyer and the buyer can bring in the title to a notary and have the title transferred into their name. **Keep in mind that until the title is transffered to the buyer’s name at a Notary, that the vehicle is still your responsibility.

Another option is a vehicle POA. This type of Power of Attorney (POA) would be assigned to a specific VIN #, and they are good for 90 days. This is where the owner of the vehicle signs a POA with an Agent (person signing on their behalf) in order to sell the vehicle.

Selling a vehicle to an out of state buyer….

You will need the PA Title of the car being sold. You will sign as the seller (all people on title must be present to sign) in front of the notary. A valid (non expired) PA drivers license is required. The notary will record your current mileage, purchaser’s name and selling price. Then notarize your signature(s). The purchaser is then responsible to go to their state DMV office or a Notary depending on their state to have the title transferred into their name within 20 days.

If an out of state buyer, how will they get the vehicle back to their state?

A 60-day IN-Transit Tag can be issued giving the buyer time to legally drive the vehicle back to their state and make the transfer of the title into their state and name. Buyer is required to have a valid out-of-state photo drivers license and current auto insurance. IN-Transit Tag are available in office.

What are the fees I should expect to pay for a title transfer?

State & service fees that apply in a title transfer can vary dependent on the situation (for example if your selling or gifting and ect.) and what forms are required for each situation. Typically the buyer assumes all the fees for the purchase of the vehicle. Call us today for an estimate.
These are some of the fees you can expect:
-PA Sales Tax (6% or 7% depending on your county)
-PA Title Fee:  $67
-PA Lien Fee (if financing):  $33
-PA Registration Fee:  $45 Car/ Trucks are weight dependent (unless you are transferring a current tag from a prior vehicle)
-County Fee(applies in most counties):  $5/yr.
-Plate Fee OR *(transfer fee $10)(price of plate is variable depending on Agent but is STATE mandated up to $38)
-Agent Fees for Service (varies depending on type of processing & forms required by PennDOT)

How do I buy an out of state vehicle?

For an out of state title you have two options. The seller can take the title to a notary in their state and sign the seller’s part getting it properly notarized (if required in the title’s state) with record of mileage and sales price then give the buyer the title OR they can come into the office and sign the seller’s part in front of our notaries. BUT all people listed on the title must sign and be present. A vehicle purchased out-of-state must be titled & registered in PA. The state of Pennsylvania collects sales tax when you purchase a vehicle out of state. It is collected when you register the vehicle in PA. For example if you buy a car in Ohio, they won’t charge you the sales tax but when you come back to PA to register the car, then you will pay the tax. How do you know what tax % you will pay? It is determined by where you live not where you buy the car, boat, ATV, or ect. So PA sales tax (6% or 7% depending on your county) due as well as transferring your out-of-state title into a PA title and PA registration. In the case of buying a vehicle out of state, we do recommend a Bill of Sale, so that sales price can be verified and proper state taxes applied.

So you need the out-of-state title signed by the seller (and notarized if required in the selling state), and your Bill of Sale along with your PA Driver’s license and proof of insurance. Once a vehicle is transferred to PA you have 10 days to get the vehicle PA inspected.

Can I transfer my plate to the new owner of my car?

Plates can only be passed from Parent to Child or Spouse to Spouse. You can not pass on your plate to the new buyer unless one of the exceptions mentioned above. A plate, after the sale of the vehicle may be saved for a future vehicle or turned into PennDOT. FYI: plates must stay as they are categorized, for instance a car plate must be put on a car and a truck on a truck. You can not transfer a plate that was used on a car onto a truck or vice versa. We are a registered plate dealer and can issue one on the spot!

Classic or Antique plates can be passed to the new owner of a vehicle (1) time. This transfer must be accompanied by a letter of intent signed by both parties (buyer & seller) that the plate is being given to the new owner. At the time of transfer, the purchaser must apply for a classic plate in order for that prior classic/antique plate to be transferred, and pay the fees for the classic/antique plate.

Should I sign or fill out the title before I come in?

No. Please bring the title blank in to our notaries. All signatures must be done in front of our notaries in order for them to be properly notarized. We will then fill out the rest of the title for you! Mistakes could result in having to order a new title and that slows down the process and can be costly to you.

How do I sell or gift my deceased or incapacitated family member’s vehicle?

To sell, gift, or transfer the title of a deceased family member’s vehicle you must first have the Title. Once you have the title you have 3 options of death validation in which you can bring in. They are 1.) a Death Certificate, (you must be the Informant on the death certificate) 2.) a Short Form, (must be named on the short form) or 3.) an MV-39 Form signed by the Funeral Director who attended the deceased. A valid Driver’s license of the person named on the death verification is also required. In short to sell, gift, or transfer the vehicle you need, title, death verification, driver’s license of person named on death verification, current mileage & sale price.

If the family member is incapacitated and you are the Power of Attorney (and have a POA) you may sign the title for sale in their place. Must bring in full POA at the time of transaction and have a valid driver’s license.

With all the options mentioned above, all people named as either Informant or POA to be present at time of signing with valid ID, and all people named on the title must be present to sign as well.

Can I give my vehicle to my child, a family member or friend? (or even a stranger?)

Yes! A vehicle can be gifted to a family member, a friend, or even a stranger for that matter. At the time of sale a MV-13st form must be filled out by a PennDOT agent and signed by both parties, the gifter and the giftee. This exempts the buyer from being required to pay sales tax. Plates however can not be “given” unless they are to parent/child or spouse/spouse. When gifting to a friend, the friend can have a valid prior plate transferred or purchase a new plate.

What do I do if my license plate is damaged, lost, stolen or peeling?

There is currently a series of license plates that have paint peeling and if you have one of them you need to get it replaced! Here is what you do! You can print the MV-46 form off the internet or come into our office and we can provide you with one. Once you have that form you can go to your local police barracks or ask a police officer that you know to sign off on the section of the form that affirms that your plate is damaged, and this will allow PennDOT to send you a replacement plate free of charge. You must then fill out the rest of the form and mail it in to PennDOT. Plates can take up to 4-6 weeks to arrive. Old plates can be thrown out or returned to PennDOT for disposal. These MV forms can be tricky and your time is valuable, stop in and we can do the work for you by filling out the form and mailing it in for you!

If your license plate is lost or stolen, you must file a police report for that plate & notify PennDOT. You can come into the office and get a new plate. Please bring prior registration for that plate, (the police report if stolen), a Valid Driver’s license, & proof of insurance.

I am new to PA, how do I register my vehicle?

The first thing you need to do is go to your closest DMV and get your PA Driver’s License. If you are now living in PA permanently, you need a PA Driver’s license and that will cancel out your prior states Driver’s License. (You can’t have more than one US State’s Driver’s license at a time. ) After you have your PA Driver’s License you can come to transfer your vehicle into PA. You will need your Driver’s License, proof of (PA) insurance & the vehicle’s title. We will transfer your title into PA which will enable you to register your vehicle in PA & get a PA license plate. After your vehicle is registered in PA, you have 10 days to get your vehicle State Inspected in PA. Emissions may or may not be required depending on your county.

What ID do I need to have to get a document notarized? And do I need witnesses?

In order to have a document notarized you must have a valid PA Driver’s License , PA Identification Card, Military ID, an US Passport or other government issued ID. (Must be an ID with both a picture & signature.) What we do as Notaries is officially confirm that the person named on the document in question is in fact the person that is signing the document. It is to protect all parties involved, including you! So we are very diligent. When getting something notarized you MUST sign the document in front of the notary! The notary can walk you through the paperwork involving the document that needs notarized and help you fill it out.

Some documents require witnesses to also sign the documents. The vast majority of the time unless the document states otherwise, the notary can notarize and witness your document. If a document needs more than 1 witness, you should bring a witness with you into the office at the time of the service. While the notaries may have some working knowledge of the documents that we handle, we are not lawyers and can not dispense legal advice.

What is an I9 Form? What ID do I need, & how do I fill out this form?

I9 Forms are issued by the government and are used by employers. These forms verify the identity and employment authorization for individuals hired for employment in the United States. All employers in the United States must use them when hiring employees. These forms need to be filled out properly and require proper identification. Please read the form carefully, there are various types of ID that are acceptable and they must be original and valid if have an expiration date. Please bring all forms of ID that you plan to use at time of service. We as Notaries can act as the “Authorized Representative” and fill out these forms for you. We do not Notarize I9 forms. Further questions about these forms should be directed to your perspective employer.

What do I need for a title transfer of an ATV or a Side by side?

We are a registered DCNR Dealer. To transfer a title for a Side by Side or an ATV you need to bring in the Title, & a valid PA Driver’s License (Bill of Sale recommended but not required). As with a vehicle title, please do not sign ahead of time, they are to be witnessed signatures in front of a notary. We are able to do these transfers online with the DCNR portal. The fees that you can expect to pay are as follows,

Sales Tax: (6% or 7% depending on your county)

Add a Lien: $5

Titling fee: $22.50

2 year Registration fee : (two options listed below)

* Regular(General) Registration: $20 - able to be driven on public land and/or trails. The owner is provided with a registration plate, an expiration sticker, and a Certificate of Registration wallet card. (Registration cannot be transferred from one owner to the next.) In addition, if you plan to ride your ATV on property that is not owned or leased by you, you must carry liability insurance. Proof of that insurance must be carried with you when you ride.

*Limited Registration: Free - usage is restricted to your property. There is no fee and the registration does not expire. The owner is provided with a registration plate and a card, but no expiration sticker.

Dealer fees: vary depending on your services.

Plates are free, and if there is not one already assigned to the ATV/Side by side, you will be given one at time of transfer with an expiration sticker & will receive a registration sticker in the mail for your plate. We highly recommend that you do not purchase an ATV/Side by Side without a title. PA requires all ATVs/Side by Sides to be registered. (Any machine AFTER 1987 MUST have a TITLE for legal sale to a second person. If the person you’re buying a machine from tells you they DO NOT have a TITLE, get the VIN numbers off of the frame and have the DCNR do a ORIGINAL OWNER search . Then acquire the TITLE for the purchase. If the last LEGAL TITLE holder no longer can find the TITLE, the DCNR can help to get a NEW one registered . You can contact the DCNR for a TITLE search to LAST LEGAL owner. ) DCNR can be reached at: 1-866-545-2476.

If the avenues above are exhausted and there is still no title in hand then you may have to go to your local magistrate with all the documentation that you have and file to prove ownership.

What do I need to transfer the title of a boat?

We are Fish & Boat Agents. When coming in you need to bring the Title (or Registration Card if the boat never had a title), & valid PA Driver’s license. If using a Registration card, we recommend you bring a bill of sale for the boat. Please expect to pay

Sales Tax: 6% or 7% depending on the county in which you live

Titling Fee: $30

2 year Registration Fees (depends on the length of the boat)

Boats less than 16 feet: $26

Boat 16 feet, but less than 20 feet: $39

Boats 20 feet and larger: $52

Unpowered boats (no motor): $22

Commerical Passenger Boat: $50

Duplicate Registration Cert: $3

Lien Filing Fee: $20

Agent Fees: dependent on the service you require at time of transfer.

“Homemade” boats from other states may not be titled or registered here in PA. That being said PA kits will come with a Manufacturers Origin paper and can be titled and registered. We do not recommend purchasing a boat without a title, manufacturers Origin, or a former registration that has the title transfer ability clearly written on the back of the registration.

Do Trailers need to be registered?

Trailers fall under PennDOT. All trailers must be registered and have a plate just like a vehicle in Pennsylvania. Trailers should have a title, but if your buying one new from big box store it will have a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin. You will bring in that certificate, and the sales receipt. The same as with buying a vehicle in PA, you must pay tax. Tax is usually collected at the time of registration. To register a trailer, you will need a valid PA Driver’s license, (or a PA ID) and the title (a sales receipt or bill of sale if bought new & the manufacturer’s statement of origin). Registration for trailers can be done in 1 year or 5 year intervals. We do not recommend that you buy a trailer without a title or a manufacturer’s statement of origin.

Not all states require titles, so please check with the state of purchase. In Ohio for instance trailers are titled depending on weight. If under 2000lbs, then they are not titled but do have registration. That registration acts as the title for transfer into PA. On the back of the registration you will see the verbiage, “Transfer to…” this will allow you to use this in place of a title. Again please call and ask questions as to what you need to make sure that you are purchasing a trailer that will be road legal here in PA.

FFL Services at our Leechburg Office….

At our Leechburg office we have an FFL Agent. She is the only licensed Agent in our two offices and you must call and speak to her to make an appointment before you come in. Any questions you have can be answered at that time.

CALL EITHER OF OUR OFFICES WITH ANY QUESTIONS, ANY TIME WE ARE HAPPY TO HELP!

Holiday Park Plum Office- (724) 519-2365

Leechburg Office- (724) 236-0541