Wyoming: Private-Party Vehicle Title Transfer Requirements

Requirements one by one

The notarized title assignment

Wyoming moves ownership through a notarized certificate of title. Section 31-2-104(a)
requires the owner to "endorse an assignment and warranty of title upon the
certificate ... with a statement of all liens and encumbrances," and that assignment
"shall be signed and dated by the owner before a notarial officer and acknowledged,"
then delivered to the buyer when the vehicle is delivered. The title itself has "space
for the notarization of the seller's signature" (§ 31-2-103(d)).

Where the title lists more than one owner, any single owner can transfer the vehicle
unless the title shows joint tenancy or tenancy by the entirety, or joins the owners
with "and," in which case every co-owner must sign (§ 31-2-104(m)). Any lien must be
released first, and the buyer then presents the certificate to the county clerk to
apply for a new title.

Two county offices

Wyoming splits the transaction between two offices in the county seat: the county
clerk issues the new title, while the county treasurer registers the vehicle,
issues plates, and collects the sales or use tax (WYDOT). The county clerk "shall not
deliver a certificate of title ... until presentation of a receipt for payment of sales
or use tax" (§ 31-2-103(d)).

Notarization is required (with a 2027 change coming)

Unlike most states, Wyoming requires the title assignment to be notarized
(§ 31-2-104(a)). The buyer's application to the county clerk is not itself notarized.
Effective July 1, 2027, an electronic signature through the state's electronic lien and
title system will become an alternative to notarization — but until then the notarized
paper assignment governs.

The bill of sale

A bill of sale is not required for an ordinary private sale carried on a clear,
notarized title — the title is the instrument. It is required for a purchase from a
dealer or auction or a lease buyout, and a bill of sale showing the year, make, VIN, and
date of purchase lets the buyer pay the sales or use tax before the title is processed
(county). A statutory bill-of-sale form applies when the title is held by a lender or
auctioneer, with the title to follow within 30 days (§ 31-2-104(h)).

Odometer and title brands

The seller certifies the odometer reading in the affidavit on the title, with the
federal odometer-fraud warning language (§ 31-2-103(a)(v)); a separate Odometer
Disclosure Statement may accompany the title. Disclosure is not required for a model
year 2010 or older vehicle (county). Wyoming will brand a title from National Motor
Vehicle Title Information System records "even if the current title appears to have no
brands" (WYDOT), and a VIN inspection is required for an out-of-state or rebuilt vehicle.

The buyer's 45 days, and the tax within 65 days

The buyer must register "within forty-five (45) days" of an ordinary transfer and may
drive during that window "when accompanied by a properly executed title"
(§ 31-2-201(a)(ii)(D)). Registration, plates, and the sales/use tax are handled by the
county treasurer, with proof of insurance and the roughly $15 title fee. Wyoming taxes
the vehicle's purchase price at a state-plus-county rate — commonly 5% to 6% depending
on the county — and the tax is due within 65 days of purchase, after which interest and
a civil penalty accrue. A gift is exempt if the giver already paid the tax.

Inspection and insurance

Wyoming runs no periodic safety inspection and no emissions test for an ordinary
passenger vehicle; a VIN inspection applies only to out-of-state, homemade, or rebuilt
vehicles (§ 31-2-103(a)(vi)). Proof of current liability insurance is required to
register — a county treasurer will not issue a registration without it. The buyer may
operate on the properly executed title for the 45-day window, then must be registered.

What trips people up

• Skipping the notary. Wyoming requires the seller's title assignment to be
  notarized (§ 31-2-104(a)); an unnotarized signature will not transfer the title.
• Confusing the two offices. The county clerk makes the title; the county treasurer
  registers the vehicle and collects the tax — and the clerk won't release the title
  until the tax receipt is shown.
• Missing the 65-day tax deadline. Sales or use tax is due within 65 days of
  purchase; after that, interest and a civil penalty accrue even if you have not
  registered.
• Waiting past 45 days to register. The buyer must register within 45 days and may
  drive during that window only with the properly executed title.
• Assuming the plates come with the car. Plates come from the county treasurer; the
  seller keeps any registration credit for their own next Wyoming vehicle.

Common questions

Does the Wyoming title have to be notarized?
Yes. The seller must sign the assignment on the title before a notary (§ 31-2-104(a)).
An electronic-signature alternative is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2027.

Is there sales tax on a private car sale?
Yes. The county treasurer collects a state-and-county sales or use tax on the purchase
price — commonly 5% to 6% — due within 65 days of purchase.

Where do I take the paperwork?
To two county offices: the county clerk to title the vehicle and the county treasurer to
register it, pay the tax, and get plates.

Do I need an inspection?
No safety or emissions inspection is required for an ordinary passenger vehicle; a VIN
inspection applies only to out-of-state or rebuilt vehicles. Proof of insurance is
required to register.

Statutes and sources

• Wyo. Stat. § 31-2-104 — the transfer: the notarized assignment and warranty of
  title, the multiple-owner signature rule, and the false-statement misdemeanor.
  https://law.justia.com/codes/wyoming/title-31/chapter-2/article-1/section-31-2-104/ (accessed 2026-07-23)
• Wyo. Stat. § 31-2-201 — the 45-day registration deadline and operation on the
  assigned title.
  https://law.justia.com/codes/wyoming/title-31/chapter-2/article-2/section-31-2-201/ (accessed 2026-07-23)
• Wyo. Stat. § 31-2-103 — the county clerk's title issuance, the notarization space,
  and the sales-tax-receipt condition.
  https://law.justia.com/codes/wyoming/title-31/chapter-2/article-1/section-31-2-103/ (accessed 2026-07-23)
• Wyoming DOT — Titles, Plates and Registration — county clerk titles, county
  treasurer registers, and NMVTIS branding.
  https://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/titles_plates_registration.html (accessed 2026-07-23)
• Laramie County Treasurer — Vehicle Sales and Use Tax — the 65-day tax deadline,
  penalties, and paying tax on a notarized bill of sale.
  https://www.laramiecountywy.gov/County-Government/Elected-Officials/County-Treasurer/Vehicle-Sales-and-Use-Tax (accessed 2026-07-23)
• Converse County — Vehicle Registration FAQ — the clerk/treasurer split, bill of
  sale, insurance, and registration credit.
  https://www.conversecountywy.gov/faq (accessed 2026-07-23)