Car paperwork, step by step
Buy, sell, donate or register a car without the paperwork stress.
Plain-English, step-by-step guides to transferring a title, registering a car, donating or trading one in, financing basics and a first-car checklist.
Browse by topic
Explore Car Transaction Guides
Pick a topic for step-by-step help and checklists.
Car Title Transfer
Transferring, signing and fixing a car title, with or without a loan.
Explore topic →02Car Registration
Registering a new or used car, documents and why registrations get rejected.
Explore topic →03Car Donation
How to donate a car, the paperwork and the tax basics in plain English.
Explore topic →04Car Trade-In
Trade-in vs private sale, trading in with a loan and getting a fair value.
Explore topic →05First Car Checklist
What a first-time buyer should check, test and do after buying.
Explore topic →06Car Financing Basics
APR, loan terms, pre-approval, and loan vs lease basics.
Explore topic →Featured reading
Start Here: Car Paperwork Essentials
The questions drivers ask when they buy, sell, donate or register a car.
First Car Budget: How Much Can You Afford?
Cap total car costs at 10% to 15% of take-home pay, then use leftover cash after bills, debt, and savings to find…
Trade-in Value: How It Works and What Your Car Is Worth
Trade-in value is your car’s wholesale worth minus dealer costs and margin. See why offers vary, where negative equity shows up, and…
Title Transfer Steps: How to Transfer a Car Title
A car title transfer usually takes 6 steps, with extra rules for gifts, inherited cars, co-owners, lien payoffs, and out-of-state transfers.
Car Registration Documents: What You Need
Car registration usually requires ID, proof of ownership, insurance, and any required inspection or emissions paperwork. This guide covers renewal, transfer, and…
From the blog
Latest Car Guides
New step-by-step guides on titles, registration, donation, trade-ins and financing.
Test Drive Checklist PDF: What Should It Include?
A one-page test drive checklist PDF should use a 0-1-2 score, follow the drive stage by…
What Does Upside Down on a Trade-In Mean?
Upside down on a trade-in means you owe more on the loan than the dealer credits…
Auto Loan Preapproval: How It Works and How to Get It
Auto loan preapproval sets your budget before you shop and shows how a lender views your…
Car Donation Paperwork: What You Need and How It Works
Most car donations require a signed title, a charity receipt, and a state liability release, with…
What Is Car Registration Renewal?
Car registration renewal updates your vehicle’s legal registration with the state, usually yearly or every two…
Can You Donate a Car That Does Not Run?
Yes, many charities will accept a car that does not run if you have clear ownership,…
Recent Guides
- First Car Budget: How Much Can You Afford?
- Trade-in Value: How It Works and What Your Car Is Worth
- Title Transfer Steps: How to Transfer a Car Title
Browse a topic above or search for your question.
Looking for a specific answer?
Search by document, step or situation.