How to Sell a Car in Oregon

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 Oregon.

Whether you live in the rural parts of the Willamette Lowland, the Cascade mountains, the Columbia Plateau or in one of Oregon’s larger cities like Portland, Eugene or Salem, if you are thinking about privately selling your used car or truck, you’ve come to the right place. With an estimated 3 million registered trucks and cars in the state of Oregon, it is no wonder that thousands of private car owners from the Beaver State have used Autotrader to sell their car. Below, we’ve outlined the five steps and forms required for how to sell a car in the state of Oregon so you can sell your car quickly for the most cash. Remember, most U.S. states consider the vehicle title a legal document which is why it is advised to use the legal names (no nicknames) of both parties involved along with legible handwriting using a 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 license plates and notify the DMV

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

Most 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.

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Step 2: Organize and gather all related vehicle documentation

Find all maintenance records, 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 recurring manner. If it’s a newer car, ask your dealership or repair shop if they have electronic records on file for the car you’re selling.

If you’ve already paid off your vehicle’s loan but the lienholder has not been removed, you’ll need to remove the lien from your Oregon vehicle’s title within 30 days of doing so. The lienholder must sign the front of the title, declaring the vehicle loan has been satisfied. The Oregon DMV provides this Statement of Lien Satisfaction form 735-524. Vehicles which are registered within the Portland and Medford areas may require an emissions test which will be the responsibility of the buyer.

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Step 3: Bill of Sale

A Bill of Sale should include the following information:

• Plate number, title number
• Year and Make of the Vehicle
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
• Date of Sale
• Purchase Price
• Legal full names, address and signatures of the buyer and seller
• Odometer reading on the date of the sale

Although not legally required in Oregon, a Bill of Sale can be helpful if problems arise when the buyer goes to transfer the title or register the vehicle in their name. Many private owners notarize their Bill of Sale as a best practice.

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Step 4: Transfer the title

If the vehicle’s title has been lost or stolen or badly damaged, you’ll need to apply for a replacement vehicle title and pay the associated fees prior to selling the car. If the vehicle’s owner has passed away, Oregon provides a transfer of ownership form which applies in cases where there is or is not a surviving spouse. If one or more of the original vehicle owners are deceased, you’ll need additional documents depending on whether survivorship is listed on the title and if the estate is in probate. Go to the deceased owner section of this page to find out the specific documents you’ll need for your situation.

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. If no connection listed, it will default to “and” and all owners (sellers) must sign.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) odometer disclosure requirements were updated in December 2020 impacting certain private vehicle sales in Oregon: 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. The Oregon DMV has put together this odometer exemption chart which may help buyers and sellers. If the vehicle title does not have a field to disclose the odometer reading, you must contact the Oregon DMV to request a secure odometer disclosure form. The buyer will need to complete an Application for Title and Registration within 30 days from the date of purchase.

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Step 5: Remove your license plates and notify the DMV

Before you complete the sale, take your license plates off the vehicle. Unless the license plate is transferred to another vehicle, cancel your registration online or at a Oregon DMV office as soon as possible. If you do not remove your license plate, you could be blamed for future traffic violations by the new owner like this seller was in 2018. State law requires all private sellers to inform the Oregon DMV within 10 days that the vehicle has been sold by using this online form or by submitting a Notice of Sale either in person to a local DMV office or by mailing it to:

Oregon DMV
1905 Lana Avenue NE
Salem, OR 97314

For more information, visit the Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services website.

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

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

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

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

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

Does a vehicle title have to be notarized in Oregon?