How to Sell a Car in Nevada

The steps and process for selling a vehicle online are different in every state. Learn how to sell your used car or truck privately in Nevada.

Whether you live in Northern, Central, Southern, or Western Nevada, if you are thinking about privately selling your used car or truck, you’ve come to the right place. With an estimated 700,000 registered trucks and cars in the state of Nevada, it’s no wonder that thousands of private vehicle sellers from the Silver State have used Autotrader to sell their car. Below, we’ve outlined the six steps and forms required for how to sell a car in the state of Nevada so you can sell your car quickly for the most cash.

Remember, most states consider the vehicle title a legal document, so the legal names (no nicknames) of both parties involved should be used, along with legible handwriting using black or blue ink. Mistakes, errors, and using White-Out may void the document so be careful and take your time filling it out.

Step 1: Allow the buyer to have the car inspected by a third party
Step 2: Organize and gather all related vehicle documentation
Step 3: Bill of Sale
Step 4: Transfer the title
Step 5: Remove your plates and cancel your insurance
Step 6: Let the Nevada DMV know you have sold the vehicle

Step 1: Allow the buyer to have the car inspected by a third party

Many vehicle shoppers who buy a car privately pay for a pre-purchase vehicle inspection conducted by a qualified and licensed auto mechanic of their choosing. Although the buyer pays for this inspection, the seller and buyer must agree on when and where the inspection is to be held. If the inspection does find any issues with the car, it is a good idea for you as the seller to keep the report for your records. Nevada does not require this inspection and doesn’t have any forms that need to be filled out, but it’s a good idea for the buyer to have the inspection performed prior to the purchase.

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Step 2: Organize and gather all related vehicle documentation

Find all maintenance records, the owner’s manual and other paperwork related to the vehicle. If you can provide the buyer with extensive and detailed maintenance records, this will help provide the buyer with confidence that you’ve maintained the car in a proper and regular manner. You may even want to consider including a vehicle history report from a service like CarFax or AutoCheck.

The most important document when selling a car is the certificate of title. If there is a lien on the title, the lienholder must release interest in the vehicle before the car is sold. This can be achieved either by the seller paying off the car or by getting a lien release from the lienholder.

Nevada has an Electronic Lien and Title system which enables the DMV and lending institutions to exchange vehicle and title information electronically. If the title on your vehicle is electronic, then the lien must be released electronically. If you have a paper title with a lien on it and need a lien release, then your lender needs to fill out form VP186. This form must be signed by a lienholder representative in the presence of a notary.

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Step 3: Bill of Sale

Nevada requires a bill of sale to be filled out by the buyer and the seller for private vehicle purchases. The official form for this is form VP104 which records information like the purchase price, the odometer reading, and the VIN of the vehicle in question. This document needs to be signed by both the buyer and the seller. After it’s filled out and signed, it’s a good idea for the seller to make a copy and hold onto it as proof that the car has legally changed hands.

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Step 4: Transfer the title

If the vehicle’s title has been lost, stolen or badly damaged, you can get a replacement/duplicate Nevada title by filling out form VP012. With that form filled out plus a $21 fee you can get a duplicate title. Your signature on this form must be notarized or witnessed by an authorized DMV representative.

When selling a car privately in Nevada, the buyer and the seller both need to fill out the relevant sections on the back of the title. This information includes the legal name, address, and signature of the buyer and the seller(s) along with the date of the sale, and the odometer reading. When this is filled out accurately and legibly, it makes it easy for the buyer to transfer registration and acquire a new plate.

In response to the rise in odometer fraud cases in Nevada and across the U.S., the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) odometer disclosure requirements were updated in December 2020 impacting certain private vehicle sales in Nevada: For a vehicle transfer that occurs from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2030, any vehicle of model year 2011 or newer (2012, 2013, etc.) will require an odometer disclosure. Starting on January 1, 2031, any vehicle that is less than 20 model years old will require an odometer disclosure. Previously, the NHTSA required disclosure was for only the first 10 years. Cars older than 2010 are exempt from odometer disclosures. Odometer readings during vehicle smog checks will continue. If your vehicle is exempt from odometer readings, use exemption form EC-018.

If there is more than one owner showing on the title, the following number of signatures will be required based on the connection between the names: And – All persons listed must sign. Or – Either seller can sign, only one signature required. And/Or - Only one seller must sign. If no connection listed, it will default to “and” and all owners (sellers) must sign.

If you’re wondering about gifting a car to a relative, you can follow the same process that is outlined below to transfer the title. For inheriting a car, it’s a similar process, but you’ll need to file documentation of the inheritance with the county along with the title of the vehicle in question

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Step 5: Remove your plates and cancel your insurance

The seller must remove their license plates before handing the vehicle over to the buyer. If you do not do so, you may be liable for any violations after the buyer has taken possession of the vehicle. After the sale of your vehicle, you can either transfer your plates to another vehicle you own or turn them in to the DMV for cancellation. You have 60 days to turn in standard plates or 30 days for special plates.

If you mistakenly leave your license plates on a car when you sell it, you can get them cancelled by filing form VP202. You’ll need to either have you signature notarized or sign it at the DMV. If you want to transfer the plates to the buyer, that can be done with License Plate Release form SP67. Make sure to cancel your insurance as soon as possible after you’ve removed your plates so you don’t continue paying to insure a car that you no longer own.

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Step 6: Let the Nevada DMV know you have sold the vehicle

After the steps above are complete, there’s one thing left for the seller to do. Go online and use the MyDMV Registration Cancellation & Vehicle Resale Notification to notify the Nevada DMV and receive your registration fee credit.

For more information, visit the Nevada DMV website or Nevada's Vehicle Registration and Title Guide.

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Questions about selling your car in Nevada? We have answers.

What paperwork do I need to privately sell a car in Nevada?

Is a Bill of Sale required for selling a car in Nevada?

Do I remove my license plate when I sell a car in Nevada?

Does a bill of sale have to be notarized in Nevada?

Does a vehicle title have to be notarized in Nevada?