BlueNotary
Does a car title need to be notarized, and can digital notarization actually handle it? In nine states – Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wyoming – a notary must witness the signature on the title itself before a transfer is valid. Where that’s the case, you can typically complete it online in about 10 minutes, but you should confirm your specific DMV accepts a remotely notarized title before you rely on it.
Does a Car Title Need to Be Notarized?
In most states, a car title can be transferred with just the buyer’s and seller’s signatures and no notary. Nine states require notarization on the title itself. Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wyoming. This is a separate requirement from bill-of-sale notarization, which follows different rules.
If you’re not in one of those nine states, notarizing your title isn’t required, though some sellers still choose to for extra protection against disputes over a sale.
How Do You Notarize a Car Title With Digital Notarization?
To notarize a title with digital notarization, you upload the title, verify your identity, join a live video session with a commissioned notary, sign in the notary block while they witness electronically, and receive the completed document – typically in about 10 minutes.
- Locate the notary block on the title, usually on the back near the signature line; don’t sign it in advance.
- Upload the title document to your notarization platform.
- Verify your identity with a government ID scan and a knowledge-based or biometric check.
- Join a live video session where a commissioned notary witnesses your signature in real time.
- Receive your notarized title, ready to submit to your state’s DMV.
If both buyer and seller need to sign, as in Pennsylvania, both can join the same or a linked session from different locations.
Will Your DMV Actually Accept an Online-Notarized Title?
This is the step people skip and regret. even in a state that legally permits remote online notarization, your specific DMV office may or may not accept an electronically notarized title for processing. Several notarization providers flag this same gap independently; the notarization itself can be perfectly valid while still being rejected at the counter if DMV’s intake process isn’t set up for it.
- Call or check your DMV’s website first to confirm they accept remotely notarized titles, not just that your state allows RON generally.
- Ask specifically about the format – some DMVs want the original paper title with a wet or embossed seal, not a digital certificate.
- Confirm for out-of-state transactions too – a title notarized by an out-of-state notary is generally valid nationwide, but the receiving DMV’s own intake rules still apply.
Which States Require a Notarized Car Title, and Whose Signature?
Among the nine states with a title-notarization requirement, the rules differ on whether the buyer, the seller, or both need a notarized signature. Pennsylvania requires both; several others, including Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Wyoming, only require the seller’s.
| State | Whose Signature Needs Notarizing | Notes |
| Pennsylvania | Both buyer and seller | Notarized, or verified by an authorized dealer |
| Kentucky | Seller only | Buyer’s signature is not required to be notarized |
| Oklahoma | Seller only | Standard requirement for title transfer |
| Wyoming | Seller only | Notary block located on the back of the title |
How Much Does It Cost to Notarize a Car Title Online?
BlueNotary, an online notarization platform, charges $25 for one signer and one stamp, plus $5 for each additional signer and $8 for each additional stamp. In a state like Pennsylvania where both buyer and seller sign the title, the typical total is $30. Sessions typically take about 10 minutes.
BlueNotary maintains a dedicated car title notary service page covering exactly what to expect for this document type, including what to have ready before your session.
For volume needs like a dealership processing multiple titles, the pricing page lists the plans. For a dealership, Business Pro costs $47 per seat per month for teams that use their own notaries, with $10 sessions and $0 for additional stamps.
For a single title, remote online notarization is generally the fastest option once your DMV has confirmed it will accept the result.
Have a question about a document in another language? Email BlueNotary at [email protected] and the team will help.
FAQ Section
1. Does a car title need to be notarized?
In nine states – Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wyoming – yes. Elsewhere, it’s optional.
2. Can you notarize a car title with digital notarization?
Yes, where your state allows remote online notarization and your specific DMV accepts an electronically notarized title – always confirm the latter first.
3. Does the buyer or seller need to notarize the title?
It depends on the state. Pennsylvania requires both signatures notarized; Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Wyoming require only the seller’s.
4. Will my DMV accept a remotely notarized title?
Not always. Even where RON is legal statewide, individual DMV offices may require the original paper title with a physical seal – confirm before your session.
5. Is an out-of-state notarized title valid at my DMV?
Generally yes, a properly commissioned notary’s work is recognized nationwide, but the receiving DMV’s own intake process still applies – confirm first.
6. How much does it cost to notarize a car title online?
BlueNotary charges $25 for one signer and one stamp, plus $8 for each additional stamp and $5 for each additional signer. Where buyer and seller both sign, as in Pennsylvania, the typical total is $30. Sessions typically take about 10 minutes.
