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.
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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.
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 stage, and fit on a single…
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 for the car, creating negative equity…
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 application. Get the difference from pre-qualification,…
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 extra IRS forms or an appraisal…
From the blog
Latest Car Guides
New step-by-step guides on titles, registration, donation, trade-ins and financing.
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,…
How to Register an Out-of-State Car After You Move
Register the car in your new state first if that state requires immediate registration, then line…
Used Car Inspection Checklist PDF: What It Should Include
A useful used car inspection checklist PDF should include 12 sections, pass/fail fields, notes, and a…
How Much Should a First Car Cost?
A first car should fit about 15% of your take-home pay each month, which often maps…
What Paperwork Do You Need to Trade in a Car?
Bring the title, lender info, and a valid ID. If the title is missing or financed,…
Recent Guides
- Test Drive Checklist PDF: What Should It Include?
- What Does Upside Down on a Trade-In Mean?
- Auto Loan Preapproval: How It Works and How to Get It
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