What a Release of Liability Does and When You Need It

A Release of Liability is a form you file with the California DMV to remove your name from a vehicle's registration after you sell, trade in, or give away the car. Once the DMV processes it, you are no longer legally responsible for the vehicle — meaning you will not receive traffic tickets, parking citations, or liability notices connected to that car after the sale date.

You should file this form as soon as the vehicle leaves your possession. If you do not, and the new owner gets into an accident, racks up parking tickets, or uses the car in a crime, those notices can still reach you because the registration still shows your name. The DMV will not automatically remove you when ownership changes hands — you have to initiate it.

California law does not require you to file a Release of Liability to complete a private sale, but filing it protects you. If you sell through a dealership, the dealer typically handles this step, but you should confirm they have done so before leaving the lot.

Key Takeaways

  • File a Release of Liability within 5 days of selling your vehicle to protect yourself from liability for the new owner's actions.
  • You can file the form online through the DMV website, by mail, or in person at a DMV office — online is fastest.
  • You need the vehicle's license plate number or VIN, the sale date, and the buyer's name and address (if you have it).
  • The DMV processes the form within 2 to 4 weeks; you can check the status online using your driver's license number.
  • If you sold the car to a private buyer and do not have their information, you can still file with just the plate number and sale date.

How to File Online Through the DMV Website

The fastest way to file is through the California DMV website. Go to dmv.ca.gov, select "Register a Vehicle" from the main menu, then choose "Release of Liability." You will be taken to the online form, which asks for the vehicle's license plate number or VIN, the date you sold the car, and the buyer's name and address if you have it.

Fill in all fields you can complete. If you do not know the buyer's name or address — which is common in private sales — leave those fields blank and enter the plate number instead. The DMV can match the plate to the vehicle record. After you submit, you will receive a confirmation number on screen. Save or print this number; it proves you filed and gives you a way to track the status.

Online filing takes about 10 minutes and costs nothing. The DMV will process your form within 2 to 4 weeks. You can check the status anytime by logging into your DMV online account or calling the DMV customer service line with your confirmation number.

Filing by Mail or In Person

If you prefer to file by mail, read the Release of Liability form (Form REG 138) from the DMV website or pick one up at any DMV office. Fill it out completely with the vehicle information and sale date. Sign and date the form, then mail it to the address listed on the form — this varies by county, so check the DMV website for your region's mailing address.

Mail filing takes longer than online — expect 3 to 6 weeks for processing — because the form has to travel to the DMV and be entered into the system manually. Include a copy for your records. You do not need to include payment; there is no fee for filing a Release of Liability.

You can also file in person at any DMV office. Bring the completed form, your driver's license, and the vehicle's registration or pink slip if you still have it. An office visit usually takes 15 to 30 minutes, and you will receive a receipt showing the DMV received your form. Processing time is still 2 to 4 weeks after filing.

What Information You Need Before You File

Gather these details before you start the form. You will need the vehicle's license plate number or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) — the VIN is on your registration, insurance card, or the dashboard on the driver's side. You also need the date you sold or transferred the vehicle; use the date the buyer took possession, not the date you signed paperwork.

If you have the buyer's information, include their name and address. This is helpful but not required — the DMV can process the form with just the plate number and sale date. If you sold to a private buyer and did not exchange contact details, that is fine; you can still file. If you sold through a dealership, you may have a bill of sale with the dealer's information, which you can use instead.

Do not delay filing because you are missing the buyer's address. File with what you have. A Release of Liability with incomplete buyer information still protects you from future liability.

Timeline and What Happens After You File

The DMV processes Release of Liability forms in the order they are received. Online and in-person filings typically process within 2 to 4 weeks; mail filings may take 4 to 6 weeks because of mail transit time. During this period, the vehicle is still technically registered to you in the DMV system, but your filing creates a record that you no longer own it.

Once processed, the DMV will remove your name from the registration and update the vehicle's record to show the sale date and your release. You will not receive a confirmation letter in most cases — the form straightforward disappears from the processing queue once it is complete. To verify the form was processed, log into your DMV online account and check your vehicle records, or call the DMV with your confirmation number.

After the form is processed, any traffic tickets, parking citations, or registration notices for that vehicle will go to the new owner, not to you. If you receive a notice after filing, contact the DMV with your confirmation number to show you filed a timely Release of Liability.

What to Do If You Sold the Car but Did Not Get the Buyer's Information

This is a common situation in private sales. You can still file a Release of Liability with only the vehicle's license plate number, the sale date, and your driver's license number. The DMV does not require the buyer's name or address to process the form, though having it speeds up the process slightly.

If you realize weeks later that you never filed, file when ready. There is no important date, but the longer you wait, the longer you remain liable if the new owner causes damage or breaks traffic laws. Filing a Release of Liability retroactively — even months after the sale — still protects you going forward, though it does not erase liability for the period between the sale and your filing.

If you sold the car informally and have no documentation of the sale, file with the plate number and your best estimate of the sale date. The DMV will accept the form based on your statement. Keep a copy of your filing confirmation for your records.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common mistake is not filing at all. Many people assume the new owner's registration automatically removes the old owner's name — it does not. If you skip this step and the new owner gets a ticket or is in an accident, you can still be held liable. File within 5 days of the sale to be safe.

Another mistake is filing with the wrong date. Use the date the buyer took possession of the vehicle, not the date you signed the title or bill of sale. If these dates differ, use the possession date. The DMV uses this date to determine when your liability ends.

Do not assume the dealership filed for you. If you sold through a dealer, ask them to confirm they have submitted the Release of Liability to the DMV. Get a receipt or confirmation number. If they did not file, you are still responsible for doing so yourself.

Finally, do not throw away your confirmation number or receipt. Keep it for at least one year. If a citation or notice arrives after you filed, you will need proof that you filed timely to dispute it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I sold the car but the new owner never registered it in their name?

File your Release of Liability anyway. The form removes you from liability based on your sale date, regardless of whether the new owner has registered the vehicle yet. If they never register it and it gets towed or ticketed, your filing protects you from those notices.

Can I file a Release of Liability if I gave the car away instead of selling it?

Yes. Use the same form and process. Enter the date you gave the vehicle to the other person as the sale date. The DMV treats gifts the same as sales for liability purposes.

How do I check if my Release of Liability was processed?

Log into your DMV online account at dmv.ca.gov using your driver's license number and date of birth. Go to "My Vehicles" and look for the vehicle in question. If the form was processed, the vehicle will no longer appear in your active registration list, or it will show a release date. You can also call the DMV customer service line with your confirmation number.

What if I filed a Release of Liability but still got a ticket for the car?

Contact the court or citation issuer with your Release of Liability confirmation number and filing date. Provide proof that you filed before the ticket date. The citation should be dismissed or transferred to the new owner. If the ticket was issued before your filing date, you may be responsible for it.

Is there a fee to file a Release of Liability?

No. Filing a Release of Liability is free whether you file online, by mail, or in person. The DMV does not charge a processing fee for this form.