Last Updated 29th of January, 2010

If a family member gives me a car, do I need a gift form to transfer ownership?

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It depends on your state. Check the grid below.

Some states waive taxes for recipients of gifts, whether or not the relationship between the giver and receiver is a family one, and oftentimes these states require a gift form or affidavit to verify that the title transfer is a gift transaction.

Keep in mind that if your state doesn’t list a gift form it doesn’t mean the recipient isn’t eligible for tax exemption or that there aren’t other special instructions in place for family or gift transfers. Be sure to contact your motor vehicle agency for more information about special instructions, as well as to find out about any tax deduction you can take advantage of if the gift counts as a car donation.

Yes No
Alabama
x
Where the bill of sale asks for a purchase price, write “gift.”
Alaska
x
Arizona
x
Arkansas
x
California
x
Colorado
x
Where the bill of sale asks for a purchase price, write “gift.”
Connecticut
x
For tax purposes, include the nature of the transaction next to title signatures. Example: “Mother to daughter.”
Delaware
x
Where the bill of sale asks for a purchase price, write “gift.”
Florida
x
Where the bill of sale asks for a purchase price, write “gift.”
Georgia
x
Hawaii
x
Idaho
x
Idaho provides both a Sales Tax Exemption Certificate – Transfer Affidavit (online) and a gift form (available at your motor vehicle agency).
Illinois
x
Indiana
x
Where the bill of sale asks for a purchase price, write “gift.”
Iowa
x
Kansas
x
Family members complete an Affidavit of Relationship and in gifting situations complete the Vehicle Gift Certification portion of the Affidavit of Fact.
Kentucky
x
Louisiana
x
Louisiana provides an Act of Donation form.
Maine
x
Where the bill of sale asks for a purchase price, write “gift.”
Maryland
x
You can obtain the Application for Maryland Gift Certification online.
Massachusetts
x
In certain situations, you may be able to use the Affidavit in Support of a Claim for Exemption from Sales or Use Tax for Motor Vehicle Transferred as a Gift.
Michigan
x
Minnesota
x
Because Minnesota only allows transfers from parents to children, write “Gift Child” where the title asks for the purchase price. The state also provides a Sales Tax/Gift Affidavit.
Mississippi
x
Missouri
x
Missouri does provide a gift affidavit you can obtain online.
Montana
x
Nebraska
x
Nevada
x
New Hampshire
x
New Jersey
x
Where the bill of sale asks for a purchase price, write “gift.”
New Mexico
x
Obtain an Affidavit of Gift of Vehicle or Boat online.
New York
x
You can mark it as a “gift” on the sales tax form.
North Carolina
x
Obtain a Highway Use Tax Exemption Certification form online and mark the appropriate family relationship.
North Dakota
x
Ohio
x
Where the bill of sale asks for a purchase price, write “gift.”
Oklahoma
x
Oregon
x
Pennsylvania
x
Pennsylvania provides Form MV-13ST, also called an Affidavit of Gift, which requests the family relationship between two family members.
Rhode Island
x
The previous owner must write a letter explaining the vehicle is a gift to the new owner in order for sales tax exemption to apply.
South Carolina
x
South Dakota
x
Where the title asks for a purchase price, write “gift to” and the family members name.
Tennessee
x
Obtain a Gift/Low Selling Price Affidavit online.
Texas
x
Obtain an Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Gift Transfer online and mark the appropriate family relationship.
Utah
x
Vermont
x
Obtain the state’s Gift Tax Exemption Form online.
Virginia
x
Washington
x
The previous owner must write a Letter of Gift including the intent, vehicle description, names, signatures, and the date.
West Virginia
x
Wisconsin
x
Where the title asks for a purchase price, write “gift.”
Wyoming
x
Washington DC
x
Obtain an Excise Tax Gift Tax Exemption Form.

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Visitor Comments

  • Posted by r chepolis on May 21st, 2010

    Thanks for the answer. (It's frustrating that I was unable to find the answer to this question on the official MN Motor Vehicle website!)

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