The short answer
Notarization of a car title is a state DMV rule, not a federal one, and most states don't require it for an ordinary private sale. The ones that do usually want the seller's signature on the back of the title (the assignment) witnessed by a notary. Check the row for the state that issued the title: North Carolina, for instance, says "for out-of-state titles, NCDMV will recognize that state's requirements".4
State by state
| State | Notarization required? | Who signs before the notary | Online notarization | DMV source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | Yes, paper and electronic titles | Seller on the paper title assignment; seller and buyer on form BMV 3770 for an electronic title | Ohio law says clerks of courts "shall not" reject an electronic document solely because it has an online notarization (R.C. 147.591)2 | Ohio BMV1 |
| Pennsylvania | Yes: "notarized or verified" | Seller ("verified" means by an authorized PennDOT agent such as a tag service or dealer) | Not stated by PennDOT | PennDOT3 |
| North Carolina | Yes, for a North Carolina title | Seller (owner); all owners on jointly owned vehicles | Not stated by NCDMV | NCDMV4 |
| Kentucky | Yes | Seller signs the back of the title "in the presence of a notary"; title application (TC 96-182) signatures notarized | Not stated by KYTC | Kentucky Transportation Cabinet5 |
| Oklahoma | Yes | Seller: "a properly assigned and notarized Oklahoma certificate of title"; Form 718 for electronic titles | Not stated by Service Oklahoma | Service Oklahoma6 |
| Montana | Not stated on the MVD forms page we read | Seller(s), when using the RON form | Yes: form MV24AB, "Remote Online Notarization Transfer Form", with the Montana title sent along with the title application | Montana MVD7 |
| Florida | Not checked in this table | n/a | Yes: FLHSMV accepts RON on its forms, but not where the law requires a physical VIN inspection (form HSMV 82042) | FLHSMV INFO21-0118 |
| Texas | No, for an ordinary private sale | Seller signs and dates the title with the odometer reading; no notary listed | n/a | TxDMV9 |
Notarize's own car-title page also names Arizona and Louisiana as requiring notarized titles.10 We haven't verified those two against their DMVs yet, so they're not in the table.
Can you do it online?
An online notary seals an electronic file. A paper title is a physical document, so online notarization only works where the DMV gives you an electronic route:
- Montana publishes a dedicated Remote Online Notarization Transfer Form (MV24AB).7
- Ohio requires county clerks to accept electronic documents notarized online, and uses form BMV 3770 for electronic titles.21
- Florida's FLHSMV accepts RON on its forms, except where a physical VIN inspection is required; forms with an odometer disclosure have extra e-signature rules.8
Everywhere else, ask the DMV or county title office first. If they won't take an online-notarized document, a bank, credit union or local notary is the safer route for the title itself. Online notaries are still useful for supporting documents the DMV accepts, such as a bill of sale or power of attorney (see our power of attorney guide).
If you do notarize online
- Don't sign beforehand; sign on camera.
- Have a physical government photo ID ready; most platforms also run a credit-based quiz.
- Compare prices on our comparison table. In states with no RON law of their own, see online notarization in states without RON.
Sources (10)
Ohio BMV, Titles ("The seller must complete the 'assignment of ownership' portion on the back of the title and have their signature(s) notarized"; BMV 3770 seller and buyer sections). Read 2026-10-31. ↩↩
Ohio Rev. Code § 147.591, effective April 3, 2025. ↩↩
Pennsylvania DMV, Buying or Selling a Vehicle ("The seller's signature is required to be notarized or verified on the Pennsylvania title"). Read 2026-10-31. ↩
NCDMV, Vehicle Titles ("If the original title is a North Carolina title, it must also be notarized"). Read 2026-10-31. ↩↩
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Vehicle Titling ("the seller must sign the back of the title in the presence of a notary"). Read 2026-10-31. ↩
Service Oklahoma, Vehicle Titles. Read 2026-10-31. ↩
Montana Motor Vehicle Division, Forms & Manuals: Vehicle Title & Registration (MV24AB). Read 2026-10-31. ↩↩
FLHSMV, Information Notice INFO21-011: RON and electronic signatures accepted on FLHSMV forms (July 2, 2021). ↩↩
TxDMV, Buying or Selling a Vehicle ("A properly signed title, including the date of sale and odometer reading"). Read 2026-10-31. ↩
Notarize, Notarize a vehicle title online (provider page). Read 2026-10-31. ↩
Frequently asked questions
Which states require a car title to be notarized?
Of the states we checked against DMV pages: Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Kentucky and Oklahoma require notarized (or, in Pennsylvania, agent-verified) seller signatures on an in-state title. Texas does not for an ordinary private sale. Notarize also lists Arizona and Louisiana; we haven't verified those against the DMV yet.
Can I notarize a car title online?
Sometimes. Montana has a Remote Online Notarization Transfer Form (MV24AB), Ohio law requires clerks to accept electronic documents with online notarization, and Florida's FLHSMV accepts RON on its forms (not where a physical VIN inspection is required). A paper title is a physical document, so check with your DMV or title office before you book.
Does the buyer have to be at the notary too?
It depends on the state. In Ohio, the buyer's signature on an electronic-title assignment (form BMV 3770) must be notarized as well; in Kentucky the title application (TC 96-182) signatures must be notarized. Most other rows only require the seller's signature to be notarized.