Ask a state Trooper

[Lee Borgersen]

          Ask a state Trooper:

  What does state require when you sell a vehicle?

Sep 27, 2015



 Q: What does the state of Minnesota require the seller of a vehicle licensed in Minnesota to do or report when a vehicle is sold through a private party sale?



 
A: When you sell a vehicle, you (owner/seller) are responsible to file the "notice of sale" within 10 days of the sale. This is located in the lower portion of the "certificate of title," and you would tear that small piece off.

The information you would include would be the transferee's full name, address, driver's license number and date of sale. Mail to: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services Division, 445 Minnesota St., St. Paul, MN 55101-5168.

It also can be filed over the Internet at mndriveinfo.org, or call (651) 284-1234. If you go to mndriveinfo.org, click on Vehicle Services, then click on Report of Sale; fill out the online form and submit it.

This notice is not required if sold to a licensed dealer. For your protection, upon the sale of a vehicle to a private party, it is recommended that the seller and buyer take the completed transfer to a deputy registrar.

I've seen several incidents in which people had sold vehicles and failed to file the "notice of sale." That later caused several issues and headaches for the former vehicle owners. Some of those included hit-and-run crashes and numerous other types of criminal activity.

If selling a vehicle, I strongly suggest viewing a valid form of identification from the new owner. If not, I'd most certainly go to a deputy registrar with the buyer.

Sgt. Neil Dickenson is a public information officer with the Minnesota State Patrol.