Quick answer: On a Minnesota title, the seller prints their name on the Seller’s Printed Name(s) line and signs on the Seller’s Signature(s) line, both on the front of the title in the section labeled Assignment of Ownership. That’s all you sign. When you sell or donate through Remarket Space, our title specialist completes the date of sale, buyer information, odometer reading, and damage disclosure at the time the vehicle sells, so leave those fields blank. Then report the sale or donation to the state within 10 days. The rest of this guide shows you exactly where each line is and how to avoid the mistakes that get a title rejected.
Where to sign a Minnesota title
Every Minnesota Certificate of Title has a boxed section on the front, about two-thirds of the way down, headed ASSIGNMENT OF OWNERSHIP. That box is the only part of the title the seller touches, and you only touch two lines in it.
- Seller’s Printed Name(s) — Print your full name exactly as it appears in the Owner box at the top of the title. If the title says “JOHN A DOE,” print “John A Doe,” not “J. Doe” or “Johnny Doe.”
- Seller’s Signature(s) — Sign directly below your printed name. Your signature goes on the line just under the printed-name line, on the left side of the box.
What to leave blank
Do not fill in the Date of Sale, the Odometer Disclosure, the Damage Disclosure, or any of the buyer lines (Buyer’s Printed Name, Buyer’s Address, Buyer’s Signature). When your vehicle sells through Remarket Space, our title specialist completes those fields with the actual sale date, the verified odometer reading, and the buyer’s information. Filling them in early with a guess or a placeholder is the most common reason we have to go back to a donor for a duplicate title.
The rules that keep your title from being rejected
Deputy registrars reject titles for small, avoidable reasons, and the same common title transfer mistakes come up again and again. Follow these and yours will go through the first time.
- Use blue or black ink. No pencil, no gel pens that smear.
- Match the name on the front. Your printed name and signature need to match the owner name on the title. If you’ve legally changed your name since the title was issued, let us know before you sign; we’ll tell you what documentation to include.
- No corrections of any kind. The bottom of every Minnesota title says it plainly: “Any alteration or erasure voids this title.” No white-out, no strike-throughs, no writing over a mistake. If you make an error, you can sign a Limited Power of Attorney that allows us to make the correction on your behalf.
- Write inside the lines. Cramped or wandering signatures that cross into other fields can be read as alterations.
Odometer and damage disclosures: we complete these
The Odometer Disclosure Statement and Damage Disclosure Statement at the top of the Assignment box are required on most transfers, but they’re completed by our title specialist, not by you. The odometer reading is recorded from the vehicle at the time of sale (federal rules exempt some older and heavier vehicles, and we’ll know which apply). The damage disclosure asks whether the vehicle has ever sustained damage over a set percentage of its value; Minnesota’s current threshold under Statute 325F.6641 is 80 percent, though older titles are still printed with the earlier 70 percent figure. If you know the vehicle was in a serious accident or flood, tell us when you turn in the title so it’s disclosed correctly. Otherwise, leave both sections blank.
Two names on the title? Both have to sign
If two owners are listed in the Owner box at the top of the title, both owners must print and sign, regardless of whether the names are joined by “AND,” “OR,” “AND/OR,” or nothing at all. Each owner prints on the Seller’s Printed Name(s) line and signs on the Seller’s Signature(s) line. There’s room for two; write small and stay inside the line.
If one of the listed owners is unavailable or has passed away, contact us before signing. The process depends on the situation, and signing first can create a title that has to be replaced.
Is there a lien on the title?
If the front of the title lists a lender in the Security Interests area (a clean title reads “NO SECURITY INTERESTS”), the loan has to be satisfied and released before ownership can transfer. That means one of the following:
- The lienholder’s signed release directly on the title, or
- A separate lien release card or notarized lien release letter from the lender on its letterhead, identifying the vehicle by VIN.
Donating your vehicle and don’t have the lien release? If you’re donating through one of our donation partners, we can likely request the lien release from your financial institution on your behalf at no cost to you. It just takes one additional form for you to sign authorizing us to make the request. Let us know when you turn in the title and we’ll handle it from there.
Seller’s report of sale or donation: the 10-day rule
This is the step most sellers skip, and it’s the one that protects you. Under Minnesota Statute 168A.10, after you sell or donate a vehicle you must notify the state within 10 days. You have two ways to do it:
- Online at the DVS Report a Vehicle Sold or donated tool. You’ll need the title number, VIN, date of sale, and the buyer’s or recipient’s name and address.
- By mail using the Seller’s Notice of Sale card printed at the bottom of your title (below the perforation). Tear it off before handing over the title, fill it in, and mail it to DVS.
Filing the report of sale is not the same as the buyer registering the vehicle in their own name; see registration vs. title transfer for how the two differ. Why it matters: once you’ve filed the notice, the statute says you are no longer liable as the owner for anything that happens with the vehicle afterward. Parking tickets, toll violations, an accident down the road — the report of sale is what keeps those off your record.
Lost or damaged title? Get a duplicate first
You cannot sell or donate a vehicle in Minnesota without a title, and you can’t sign a photocopy. If the title is lost or stolen, destroyed, or has an error on it, apply for a duplicate before you list or donate the vehicle.
Donating your vehicle? If you’re donating through one of our donation partners, we can likely apply for the duplicate Minnesota title on your behalf. It just takes one additional form for you to sign, and we take care of the rest. If you’d rather do it yourself, here’s how:
| How to apply | Form | Cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| In person at a deputy registrar | PS2067A + photo ID | $21.50 plus a $1 deputy registrar surcharge ($7.25 duplicate title fee + $12 filing fee + $2.25 technology surcharge) | Most offices print the duplicate the same day |
| By mail to DVS | PS2067A, signed | $21.50 | Several weeks; allow for mailing time |
Only the owner (or a legal representative with power of attorney) can request a duplicate. These fees are separate from what it costs to transfer a Minnesota title once the vehicle sells. The duplicate carries a printed legend noting it may be subject to the rights of anyone holding the original, so keep it somewhere safe and destroy the original if it later turns up.
Where to mail: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services, 445 Minnesota Street, St. Paul, MN 55101.
Five mistakes that void a Minnesota title
- Signing in the wrong place. The seller signs on the front in the Assignment box. Nothing on the back is for the seller.
- Correcting an error. White-out, cross-outs, and overwriting all void the title.
- Only one owner signing when two are listed. Both owners must print and sign, no matter how the names are joined.
- Filling in fields that should be left blank. Date, odometer, damage disclosure, and buyer information are completed at the time of sale by the title specialist.
- Skipping the report of sale or donation. It takes two minutes online and it’s your legal protection.
Donating through Remarket Space? We handle the title with you
Every vehicle we sell runs through a title review before it lists, and our team walks you through exactly where to sign so the paperwork clears the first time. Questions about your specific title? Call us at (763) 202-7252 or email support@remarketspace.com and we’ll look at it with you.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Minnesota title need to be notarized?
No. Minnesota does not require notarized signatures on a vehicle title. The seller’s signature in the Assignment of Ownership section is enough.
Where is the seller’s signature on a Minnesota title?
On the front, in the boxed Assignment of Ownership section. Print your name on the Seller’s Printed Name(s) line and sign on the Seller’s Signature(s) line directly below it, left side of the box.
Do I sign the back of a Minnesota title?
No. The back of the Minnesota title is the buyer’s application area. The seller completes only the front.
Should I fill in the date, mileage, or damage disclosure?
No. When you sell or donate through Remarket Space, our title specialist completes those at the time of sale with the actual date, verified odometer reading, and buyer information. Only print and sign your name.
What if I signed in the wrong spot or made a mistake?
Do not correct it. Any alteration or erasure voids the title. If you’re donating through one of our partners, we can likely file for the duplicate for you.
Can I sell or donate a car in Minnesota without a title?
Not in a normal transfer. A duplicate has to be issued first — here’s what to know about buying or selling a car without a title in Minnesota. Most deputy registrars can print one while you wait, or if you’re donating, ask us about applying on your behalf.
Do I have to report the sale even if the vehicle went to a charity or an auction?
Yes. The report of sale or donation is the seller’s obligation under 168A.10, and it’s the record that releases you from liability. File it within 10 days regardless of who took the vehicle.
What if the owner on the title has passed away?
A title in a deceased owner’s name is transferred by the estate’s personal representative (with letters from probate court) or, for small estates, by the surviving spouse or heir with the DVS affidavit forms. The process is specific to the situation, so call us before anyone signs and we’ll walk you through what’s needed.
This guide covers Minnesota private-party sales and donations and reflects Minnesota DVS fees and statutes as of September 2026. Fees change; confirm current amounts at dps.mn.gov before you go.
Sources
- Minnesota Statute 168A.10 — Transfer of interest by owner (report of sale, buyer’s 20-day deadline, seller liability release)
- Minnesota Statute 325F.6641 — Damage disclosure
- 49 CFR 580.17 — Federal odometer disclosure exemptions
- Minnesota DVS — Vehicle fees
- Minnesota DVS — Duplicate title application
- Minnesota DVS — Report a vehicle sold
