Transferring Ownership of a Vehicle Out-of-State (eTitle Transfer)

If the vehicle is titled in another state, or the buyer or seller lives outside Arizona, you can still use eTitle Transfer—the process just works a little differently. The person in Arizona completes their part through AZ MVD Now, while the out-of-state person uses their own state's motor vehicle system.

Both parties in Arizona? Use Transferring Ownership of a Vehicle (eTitle Transfer) instead.

Note: Not every state supports out-of-state eTitle Transfer. You'll see the eligible states in AZ MVD Now when you begin.

What you'll need

For an out-of-state transfer, your vehicle must:

Have a standard Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Have no liens
Have no brands or statuses that prohibit transfer
Be a passenger vehicle, truck, van, or motorcycle
Have no active prohibitions or disqualifying withdrawals

Commercially registered vehicles are eligible, except International Registration Plan (IRP) vehicles.

The transfer also requires:

A single seller (one owner, or two owners listed with "OR")
A single buyer (one buyer per transfer)

How it works

The steps depend on whether you're the seller or the buyer. You’ll also have to use Enhanced Authentication on AZ MVD Now, where we take your photo and compare it to the one we have on file—just to make sure it’s you.

If you're the seller (Arizona title going to another state)

Important: Record your odometer reading accurately before you release ownership—don't guess. Accurate recording is required by law, and once you release ownership, it can't be reversed.

Sign in to AZMVDNow.gov and navigate to eTitle Transfer.
Select the vehicle you're selling and choose In Another State.
Enter your odometer reading and the agreed purchase price.
Share your Transfer Code, VIN, and state of origin with the buyer.
Wait for the buyer to review and accept the vehicle information.
Release ownership to complete the sale.

If you're the buyer (titling an out-of-state vehicle in Arizona)

Select In Another State and enter the Transfer Code, VIN, and state of origin from the seller.
Review the vehicle details and confirm the transfer.
Wait for the seller to release ownership.

To finish, complete emissions testing (if applicable) and visit a Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) office to register your vehicle. These last steps can't be done through AZ MVD Now. Check whether your vehicle needs emissions testing.

Check your transfer status

Sign in to AZ MVD Now and select the Transfers in Progress tab. Each transfer is labeled In-State or Out-of-State, so you always know where things stand.

Costs, fees, and timeline

Fees:

Sellers: There's no fee to use eTitle Transfer.
Buyers: Standard fees apply, and you pay them before completing the transaction.

Timeline:

The Transfer Code must be used within 24 hours.
Both parties have five calendar days to complete the transaction.
Either party can cancel any time before the seller releases ownership.

After your transfer

Sellers:

Your old paper title is no longer valid, so you can destroy it.
A Sold Notice is generated automatically and appears in My Documents on AZ MVD Now.
You may be eligible for a registration fee credit or refund.

Buyers:

Your eTitle Transfer Confirmation is available to download on AZ MVD Now.
Complete emissions (if applicable) and register your vehicle at an MVD office.

When you'll need to visit an office

Some situations require an in-person visit to a Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) or Third Party office instead of eTitle Transfer:

Adding a lien to the vehicle
Applying a registration exemption, such as a tribal exemption
Transactions involving a power of attorney, divorce decree, or other legal documents
Adding additional owners after the transfer

Ready to start?

Sign in or activate your account at azmvdnow.gov to begin your eTitle Transfer.