Car Titles & Bills of Sale

In Arizona, the rules for notarizing vehicle documents have changed significantly in recent years. As of 2026, here is exactly when you need a notary and when you can skip it.

1. The Car Title (Usually NOT Required)

Since late 2022, Arizona has modernized its title transfer process.

• The Rule: For a standard Arizona-to-Arizona title transfer, the seller’s signature no longer requires notarization. Even if your physical paper title has a "Notary" box on the back, you can generally leave it blank.

  
  

• The Exception: If you are selling the car to someone out of state, it is highly recommended to get your signature notarized. Other states (like California or Texas, please check on your states requirements) may not recognize Arizona’s "no-notary" rule and could reject the title, leaving the buyer stranded at their local DMV.

  
  

2. The Bill of Sale (SOMETIMES Required)

While a Bill of Sale isn't always required to transfer a title, there are specific situations where a notarized one is mandatory:

• When you DON'T have a title: If the physical title is lost or missing, you must use the Title Transfer Bill of Sale (Form 38-1306). This specific form must be notarized or witnessed by an MVD agent to act as a legal substitute for the title.

  
  

• General Bill of Sale (Form 48-2004): Even if you have the title, many people use a standard Bill of Sale for tax and liability protection. If you use the official MVD form, it includes a notary section. While the MVD may not strictly require it for the transfer if you have a signed title, having it notarized makes it a much stronger legal "receipt" if a dispute ever arises.

  
  

3. When a Notary is ALWAYS Required

Regardless of the title status, you will definitely need a notary in these Arizona vehicle scenarios:

• Power of Attorney (POA): If you are signing the title on behalf of someone else (like a parent or a business), the POA document must be notarized.

• Lien Release: If the vehicle had a loan that was recently paid off, the bank must provide a notarized Lien Release if the "electronic lien" hasn't already been cleared in the MVD system.

• Beneficiary Designation: If you are adding a "Transfer on Death" (TOD) beneficiary to your title, that form requires a notary.

  
  

Summary Checklist for a Private Sale

Document	Need a Notary?	Why?
AZ Paper Title	No	Arizona law was updated to remove this hurdle.
Title Transfer Bill of Sale	Yes	Required if the physical title is missing.
Standard Bill of Sale	Recommended	Provides "bulletproof" proof of the sale date/price.
Out-of-State Buyer	Yes	To ensure the other state's DMV accepts the document.