Buying and Selling Laws You Should Know

It is illegal to sell a vehicle on an empty lot in most circumstances. The DMV recommends private party sales be completed at a residence. Buyers may wish to check the seller's ID.

It is illegal to sell more than three personally-owned vehicles per year without a dealer's license.

Subleasing and "take over payments" arrangements are illegal. Any loan or lien on a vehicle must be satisfied before it can be sold.

Salvage vehicles should be rebuilt, inspected and titled as Rebuilt before being sold to a private party. A vehicle that has been issued an orange-colored salvage title may not be sold or registered in Nevada until it has been repaired and inspected.

Nevada law requires sellers to keep the plates and either use them on another vehicle or turn them in for cancellation within 60 days of the sale for standard issue plates or within 30 days for special plates. See Plate Surrender/Registration Fee Refunds.

If you wish to transfer the plates to the buyer, for example a classic car, you may complete a License Plate Release (SP 67). Please note that registration fee credits will not transfer to the buyer.

If you have left the plates on a vehicle you sold, you may complete a Lost, Stolen or Mutilated License Plate Affidavit (VP 202).

Sellers must provide a properly signed-off title to the buyer in private party sales, family sales or gifts. Any loan or other lien must be satisfied first.

If the title says 'person 1' AND 'person 2', both parties must sign it.

If the title says 'person 1' OR 'person 2', either party can sign without the other.

If you do not have a title, you (or the owner of record) will have to apply for a duplicate from the state where the vehicle was last titled. See 50 State DMV Links.

The only exception is if the vehicle was 1) last titled in Nevada, 2) is model year 2010 or older, and 3) has no liens or the owner of record has a lien release, the buyer and owner of record can then complete: 1) an Application for Duplicate Title (VP 012) and 2) a Bill of Sale to transfer ownership. The owner must obtain an actual title on vehicles 2011 and newer and enter the mileage in the Odometer Reading section.

See Titles for more information.