Signing Over A Car
G.S. 20-72 — the plates come off, and title does not pass until the assignment is executed and the car delivered
The plates. When the owner of a registered vehicle transfers title, the owner removes the license plates. They are forwarded to the Division unless they are to be moved to another vehicle, in which case the owner applies within 20 days after they were last used.
Before a notary, and then title passes. The owner executes an assignment and warranty of title on the certificate, including the transferee's name and address, before a person authorized to administer oaths, or in a manner that conforms to Article 40 of Chapter 66 of the General Statutes. No title passes until the assignment is executed and the vehicle delivered.
Never blank. Any person who delivers or accepts a certificate of title assigned in blank is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Fees, taxes, odometer statements and the dealer rules are set out in other sections that are not on this page. Whether a particular sale left the seller liable is a question for a licensed North Carolina attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- G.S. 20-72 — Transfer by owner: the plates, and the assignment of title
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Carolina attorney.