How To Sell a Car in Arkansas

Selling a motor vehicle in Arkansas requires the transfer of the ownership record, completion of any required mileage and lien paperwork, and payment of title and tax charges when the buyer applies through the state system. The Arkansas Office of Motor Vehicle (OMV), under the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), administers vehicle title, registration, and lien-perfection laws through state revenue offices.

What You Need To Know Before Selling a Car in Arkansas

Arkansas Title Law and Ownership Requirements

For a standard private sale, the existing Arkansas certificate of title is the principal ownership document. The title must be signed by the seller and buyer, and the seller must print the buyer's name in the assignment section on the back of the title. Both parties must sign and print their names in the appropriate sections.

Vehicles Exempt from Title Requirements

Arkansas law recognizes limited exceptions to the requirement that vehicles be titled. Under Arkansas Code § 27-14-101 et seq., certain categories of vehicles are exempt from ordinary title requirements, including vehicles owned by the United States government.

For a privately owned passenger vehicle sold in a private transaction, the standard sale process requires an assigned title and supporting transfer documents. These exemptions apply to vehicle ownership and registration and do not affect the requirement that a seller provide the buyer with a properly assigned certificate of title at the time of sale.

Satisfying an Existing Lien

If a lien remains on the vehicle record, that lien should be released before the transfer record is completed. Arkansas provides an official lien release form for the release of a lien or permission to issue a replacement title.

Inspection, Emissions, or VIN Verification Requirements

A routine private-sale inspection is not required in Arkansas. However, the DFA requires a VIN verification for vehicles with out-of-state titles bearing Salvage, Prior Salvage, Rebuilt, or similar designations.

Situations Involving Lost Titles, Duplicate Titles, or Title Correction

If the original title has been lost, damaged, or stolen, the owner may request a replacement through MyDMV or at a state revenue office with a $10.00 fee. Any unresolved title issue should be addressed before the vehicle is offered for sale.

Documents Required To Sell a Car in Arkansas

Certificate of Title

The Arkansas certificate of title is the primary transfer document in a private sale. The assignment section must identify the buyer and contain the required signatures and printed names. If the Arkansas title being surrendered has a control number 3003001 or greater, the bill of sale and odometer statement on the back of the title may satisfy those elements without a separate form.

Bill of Sale

Arkansas uses an official bill of sale. The bill of sale should include the VIN, date of sale, purchase price, and the signatures of both the seller and the buyer.

Odometer Disclosure Statement

For vehicles less than 20 years old, a fully completed odometer disclosure statement signed by both parties is required under federal guidelines. Arkansas provides a combined odometer disclosure statement, and the statutory disclosure framework is reflected in Act 926 of 2025, which amended Arkansas Code provisions governing odometer disclosures and electronic motor vehicle documents.

Damage Disclosure, Lien Release, or Other State-Specific Forms

If the title record shows an unsatisfied lien, the Arkansas official lien release may be needed to clear the record. After the sale, the buyer files the vehicle registration application used for title and registration processing. A notice of transfer of ownership may also be used by sellers to notify the state after the transfer.

If the vehicle carries salvage history, a salvage title buyer's notification form is completed to disclose that history to the purchaser.

How To Transfer a Car Title in Arkansas

Step 1: Complete the Title Assignment

The seller should complete the assignment on the back of the Arkansas title by entering the buyer's information and the required printed names and signatures. The buyer's name must be printed in the assignment section, and both parties must sign and print their names there.

Step 2: Prepare the Bill of Sale

A bill of sale should be prepared showing the VIN, date of sale, purchase amount, and the signatures of both parties. These are required for a newly purchased vehicle.

Step 3: Complete the Odometer Disclosure when Required

If the vehicle is less than 20 years old, the parties should complete the odometer disclosure at the time of transfer. For some Arkansas titles, the disclosure appears on the reverse side of the title; in other cases, the separate state form should be used.

Step 4: Release Any Lien Shown on the Record

If a lien still appears on the title record, the lienholder's release should be obtained before the transfer package is finalized. When the original title is unavailable because of loss or lien status, the DFA's replacement-title procedure governs the issuance of a replacement ownership document.

Step 5: Deliver the Transfer Documents to the Buyer

At the time of sale, the buyer should receive the assigned title, the bill of sale, the odometer disclosure if required, and any salvage-history disclosure that applies to the vehicle.

Step 6: Buyer Submits the Application to the DFA

The buyer must apply for Arkansas title and registration through a state revenue office or an eligible online filing. Act 41 of 2023 gives a transferee of a motor vehicle 60 calendar days after the date of transfer, or 60 calendar days after release of a prior lien, to apply for registration and title.

Step 7: File Through a State Revenue Office or MyDMV

Title applications may be made in any state revenue office, and the statewide office locations directory identifies those filing locations. For eligible transactions, MyDMV also allows title applications, registrations, sales tax payments, and license plate transfers.

Title Transfer Fee Schedule in Arkansas

The table below lists the standard title fee, replacement title fee, tag transfer fee, and lien filing fee in Arkansas

Sales Tax on Private Vehicle Sales

Private-party motor vehicle transactions in Arkansas are subject to taxation under DFA's motor vehicle sales and use tax rules. Effective January 2025, Arkansas law was amended to revise the sales tax structure for used motor vehicles. No state tax is collected if the gross sales price of a used motor vehicle is less than $10,000; the state rate is 2.875% if the price is at least $10,000 but less than $15,000; and the state rate is 6.5% if the price is $15,000 or more.

Local taxes may also apply depending on the purchaser's residence, and each local tax will not exceed $25.00 for each 1% of tax due. The buyer pays the applicable tax when applying for title and registration through DFA, either in person or, if eligible, through MyDMV.

What To Do After Selling a Car in Arkansas

Arkansas provides a transfer vehicle ownership service that allows the seller to notify the state after a sale and update the ownership record without an in-person visit. This ensures that liability records are updated after the sale.

Arkansas implements a plate transfer rather than a universal plate-surrender rule for every private sale. According to the DFA, a current registration certificate is required to transfer a license plate to another vehicle, and the published fee schedule sets the tag-transfer fee at $1.00.

After the transfer is complete and the registration record has been addressed, the seller should update the vehicle's insurance status directly with the insurer so that coverage matches current ownership.

Copies of the assigned title record, bill of sale, odometer disclosure if applicable, lien release if applicable, and any filed notice of transfer should be retained. Those records may be needed if a title, tax, registration, or liability question arises after the vehicle has been sold.

Contact Information

Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration — Office of Motor Vehicle
1900 W 7th St, Ste 1010, Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 682-4692
Official Website: Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration — Office of Motor Vehicle