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Selling or junking a car in Vermont

What Vermont requires when you sell or junk a car: signing the title, selling without one, duplicate titles, release of liability and plates. Each answer links to the official source.

Checked against official sources in October 2026 · Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (Agency of Transportation)

How do I sign over a car title in Vermont?

The seller assigns the title to the buyer; all owners listed on the title must assign it, and all liens must be released. An Odometer Disclosure Statement is required for model year 2011 and newer. Anyone selling a salvaged, rebuilt or totaled vehicle must disclose it to the buyer orally and in writing before the sale, including on the bill of sale (23 V.S.A. §2093).

Can I sell or junk a car without a title in Vermont?

Yes, for some older vehicles. If your 2009 or older vehicle was registered before Vermont's title law change (Act 165) and has no title, you can sell it without one by giving the new owner the registration certificate as proof of ownership. A vehicle that has a title needs that title or a replacement.

How do I get a duplicate title in Vermont?

Replacement Title Application (Form VT-004), online, at a DMV office, or by mail. The fee is $42 for cars, trucks, trailers and motorcycles ($27 for vessels, ATVs and snowmobiles), plus $14 per lien. All owners must sign. If liens are still in effect, only the lienholder may apply. Online requests work only if the last title had no liens.

Do I need to file a release of liability in Vermont?

Vermont has no separate notice-of-sale filing. To cancel a registration and possibly get a refund, submit the Registration & Plate Cancelation Request (Form VD-170) with the registration certificate or the plates.

What do I do with the plates after selling a car in Vermont?

Do not leave your plates on the car when you sell it. You don't have to return plates to DMV, but you may mail them in, for example with Form VD-170 to cancel the registration.

What happens to the title when a car is junked or salvaged in Vermont?

Anyone who acquires a vehicle as salvage, or scraps, dismantles or destroys a vehicle, must apply for a salvage certificate of title within 15 days, with any title (23 V.S.A. §2091(a)). The current text exempts vehicles more than 15 years old. When a vehicle is crushed for scrap, the person crushing it must immediately send DMV the title endorsed 'crushed' and signed, with the original VIN plate (§2091(d)).

What can I do about an abandoned vehicle on my property in Vermont?

A vehicle left on private property without consent for more than 48 hours (or any time if it has no valid plate or VIN) is abandoned (23 V.S.A. §2151). The landowner may remove it or have it towed and must immediately notify police with the plate, VIN, make, model and color (§2152). An Abandoned Vehicle Certification (Form VN-012) must be filed with DMV within 90 days; DMV's page says the towing service that removed the vehicle files it (§2153).

Official sources

  1. Vermont DMV - Title
  2. Vermont DMV - Title Fees
  3. Vermont DMV FAQ - Can I sell my 2009 or older vehicle without a title
  4. Vermont DMV Form VT-004 Replacement Title Application
  5. Vermont DMV - Replacement Title
  6. Vermont DMV FAQ - I no longer need my plates
  7. Vermont DMV - Registration Cancellation
  8. Vermont DMV - Abandoned Vehicles
  9. 23 V.S.A. Chapter 21 (§§2091, 2093, 2151-2153)

This guide summarizes public rules and is not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (Agency of Transportation) before you sell.

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