Minnesota titles cars, trucks, motorcycles, buses, vans and large trailers. Except in special situations, the transfer of ownership must take place on the certificate of title. You may transfer the ownership of a vehicle at any deputy registrar office. If a vehicle is purchased through a licensed Minnesota dealer, the dealer will take care of the transfer paperwork.
Minnesota laws requires that every motor vehicle be titled except the following:
- Vehicles owned by the United States government, unless they are registered in this state
- Vehicles used by a manufacturer solely for testing
- A vehicle owned by a non-resident, not required by law to be registered in this state
- A vehicle regularly engaged in the interstate transportation of persons or property for which a currently effective Certificate of Title has been issued in another state
- A vehicle moved solely by animal power
- An implement of husbandry
- Special mobile equipment, as defined by Minnesota statutes
- A self-propelled wheel chair or invalid tricycle
- A trailer having a gross weight of 4,000 pounds or less
- A trailer designed primarily for agricultural purposes with a gross weight of less than 10,000 pounds
- ATV’s, snowmobiles, and off-road vehicles, as defined in Minnesota statutes
- Utility, boat, or snowmobile trailers with a gross vehicle weight of less than 4,500 pounds, unless there is a lien. The Minnesota registration card is acceptable proof of ownership in these cases.
If the vehicle has never been titled, the Minnesota registration card is acceptable proof of ownership. If the title has been lost, the vehicle owner listed on DVS records must obtain a duplicate title. A foreign state registration card is not acceptable proof of ownership, even if the state that issued it does not issue a title to that particular type or model year vehicle. The owner must follow the No Proof of Ownership procedure.
Refer to the Buying or Selling a Motor Vehicle - Just the Facts for all the information regarding transferring vehicle ownership.
