How to Change Car Titles in Minnesota

There are many reasons to change a Minnesota car title. You may need to change the owner information, remove an owner or lienholder from a title or correct other information on the title. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety will handle all changes to a car title within the state. You may complete changes to a car title in person at a local DPS office or by mail.

Instructions

1

Transfer ownership on a Minnesota car title. To transfer ownership, all owners listed on the title must sign off in the appropriate fields on the title. The buyer's full name, valid driver's license number and address must then be added to the appropriate fields on the title. A lien release must be attached from any potential lienholders, such as a finance company. Mail the signed title and lien release, if applicable, to DPS. There is a charge for transferring a title, it varies based on the vehicle sales tax amount.

2

Remove an owner or lienholder from a Minnesota car title. Submit a lien release and the title to a local DPS office. You can also mail in this information. Be sure to make a copy of the lien release for your own records. To remove an owner, the owner must sign off in the appropriate field on the title. They must then sell or gift the car to you as the sole buyer. Send in the signed title and a new title with you as the sole owner will be issued to you. To remove the name of a deceased person, complete the "Assignment of a Vehicle to a Surviving Spouse" form, have it notarized and submit the title and proof of death to DPS. There is a charge to correct a title and a fee to file the title.

3

Change other information on a Minnesota car title. To change an incorrect VIN, vehicle description, or the mileage, complete an "Application for a Corrected Title/Odometer." You can download the form online or fill one out at a local DPS office. If mailing, attach the completed and signed form to the current title and mail it to the DPS office in St. Paul. A new title with the corrected information will be issued to you in the mail. There is a charge to correct a title and a fee to file the title.

4

Change the name printed on the title. If you, the owner, have legally changed your name and would like the Minnesota car title to reflect that, complete the "Application for a Corrected Title/Odometer." Insert the new driver's license number next to your name on the application. If you haven't gotten a new license that reflects your new name, submit a certified copy of your proof of name change with the application in person at a local DPS office or by mail. There is a charge to correct a title and a fee to file the title.