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 notify them that you no longer own a vehicle. It protects you from liability for traffic violations, accidents, or parking tickets that occur after you sell, donate, or transfer the car — even if the new owner never registers it in their name. The DMV uses this form to update their records so tickets and violations stop arriving at your address.
You should file a Release of Liability within five days of selling or transferring a vehicle. If you do not file it and the new owner gets a ticket or is involved in an accident, you may receive notices or citations at your old address, and you could be held responsible for unpaid parking tickets or violations. Filing online takes about five minutes and costs nothing.
California allows you to file this form entirely online through the DMV website, by mail, or in person at a DMV office. The online method is the fastest and gives you when ready confirmation that the DMV received your report.
Key Takeaways
- You must file a Release of Liability within five days of selling or transferring a vehicle to protect yourself from future liability.
- The online form requires the vehicle's license plate number or VIN, the date of sale, and the buyer's name and address if you have it.
- Filing online through the DMV website produces an when ready confirmation and takes about five minutes.
- If you sell a vehicle without filing, you remain liable for violations and tickets until the new owner registers it in their name.
How to File Online Through the DMV Website
Go to dmv.ca.gov and look for the "Release of Liability" option under the "Online Services" section. You will see a link labeled "Report a Vehicle Sale" or "Release of Liability" — both lead to the same form. Click it to begin.
You will need one of the following to identify the vehicle: the license plate number, the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), or the registration number from your registration card. Have this information ready before you start. The form also asks for the date you sold or transferred the vehicle and, if you have it, the buyer's name and address. If you do not know the buyer's name, you can still file — the date of sale is the critical piece.
Fill in each field, review your entries for accuracy, and submit. The DMV will display a confirmation number on screen. Write this number down or take a screenshot — you may need it if you have questions later. You will also receive a confirmation email if you provided an email address.
What Information You Need Before Starting
Gather these details before you open the online form. Having them ready prevents you from losing your place or timing out mid-submission.
- License plate number — the easiest identifier if you still have your registration card or a photo of the plate.
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) — found on your registration card, insurance documents, or the dashboard on the driver's side of the windshield.
- Registration number — printed on your registration card.
- Date of sale or transfer — the exact date you handed over the vehicle to the new owner.
- Buyer's name and address — optional but helpful; if you have a bill of sale, this information is usually there.
If you have lost your registration card and do not remember the plate number or VIN, you can still file by mail or in person at a DMV office, where staff can look up the vehicle using your driver's license number and the vehicle's make, model, and year.
What Happens After You File Online
The DMV processes online filings when ready. Your confirmation number appears on screen, and the form is recorded in the DMV system. The agency updates its records to show that you no longer own the vehicle, and future violations or tickets will not be sent to your address — assuming the new owner eventually registers the car in their name.
If the new owner never registers the vehicle and continues to drive it unregistered, violations may still be issued under the old registration. In that case, you can contact the DMV with your confirmation number and explain that you filed a Release of Liability. The DMV can investigate and may be able to clear your record if you can show proof of the sale (such as a bill of sale or cancelled check).
Keep your confirmation number and email confirmation for your records. If you receive a ticket or notice after filing, you have proof that you reported the sale within the required timeframe.
Filing by Mail or In Person If Online Is Not an Option
If you cannot file online, you can mail the Release of Liability form to the DMV or file it in person at any DMV office. read the form (REG 138) from dmv.ca.gov, fill it out by hand, and mail it to the address listed on the form. Processing by mail takes two to three weeks.
To file in person, visit a DMV office with your registration card, driver's license, and the completed form. Bring the buyer's information if you have it. You will receive a stamped copy as your proof of filing. In-person filing is processed the same day.
Mail filing is slower but useful if you have lost your registration card or do not have the license plate number or VIN readily available. DMV staff can look up the vehicle using your driver's license and the vehicle's description.
Common Mistakes That Delay or Prevent Filing
The most common error is filing too late. California law requires you to file within five days of the sale. If you wait weeks or months, the new owner may have already registered the vehicle, and the DMV may have already transferred ownership. At that point, filing a Release of Liability is unnecessary but harmless.
Another mistake is providing an incorrect date of sale. The DMV uses this date to determine whether you filed on time. If you are unsure of the exact date, use your best estimate — the DMV is looking for evidence that you reported the sale promptly, not a precise timestamp.
Some people file a Release of Liability but then receive a ticket anyway because the new owner never registered the vehicle. This is not a failure of the form — it means the vehicle is still registered under your name in the DMV system. If this happens, contact the DMV with your confirmation number and ask them to investigate. You may need to provide a bill of sale or other proof that you transferred ownership.
What to Do If You Sold the Vehicle to a Private Buyer and Have No Contact Information
You do not need the buyer's name or address to file a Release of Liability online. The form allows you to leave those fields blank. The critical information is the vehicle's license plate number or VIN and the date of sale. File with just those two pieces of information, and you are protected.
If you are concerned that the buyer may not register the vehicle, consider asking for a bill of sale at the time of sale. A bill of sale is a straightforward document that lists the vehicle's details, the sale date, and both parties' names and signatures. It costs nothing and takes two minutes to write. If you already sold the vehicle without one, you cannot go back and create one, but the Release of Liability filing alone is sufficient protection in most cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to file a Release of Liability if I trade in my vehicle at a dealership?
No. Dealerships handle the paperwork themselves and file the Release of Liability on your behalf. You do not need to file separately. The dealership's paperwork will show that you transferred the vehicle to them, and they will handle the rest.
What if I filed a Release of Liability but still got a ticket in the mail?
Contact the DMV with your confirmation number and explain that you filed a Release of Liability before the violation date. The DMV can investigate and may be able to clear your record. If the new owner never registered the vehicle, the ticket may still be in your name — bring proof of the sale (bill of sale, cancelled check, or bank transfer) to support your case.
Can I file a Release of Liability if I do not know the buyer's name?
Yes. The buyer's name and address are optional fields on the online form. You only need the vehicle's license plate number or VIN and the date of sale. File with just that information, and you are protected.
How long does it take for the DMV to process an online Release of Liability?
Online filings are processed when ready. You receive a confirmation number on screen and a confirmation email. The form is recorded in the DMV system right away, so you are protected from that moment forward.
What if I lost my registration card and do not remember the license plate number?
File by mail or in person at a DMV office instead of online. Bring your driver's license, and DMV staff can look up the vehicle using your name and the vehicle's make, model, and year. You do not need the registration card or plate number to file in person.