Notice Of Transfer And Release Of Liability: Fill & Download for Free

Once you sell a car in California, you need to file a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (which can be done online).Quoting a portion of the Department of Motor Vehicles page at Notice of Release of Liability:What is a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability?The Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (NRL) is used to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) when you have sold or transferred your vehicle or vessel to another party. It is used only when ownership of the vehicle or vessel has changed. Legal owner transfers (transfers between lenders or removal of a lienholder from the title) do not require an NRL.How does the notice of transfer and release of liability protect me?When properly completed, and the information is recorded by DMV, liability for parking and/or traffic violations and civil litigation, resulting from operation after the date of sale, becomes the responsibility of the subsequent purchaser (Vehicle Code §5602). Additionally, when the NRL information is received by DMV, and the vehicle record is marked, no further vehicle registration renewal notices will be mailed to you for the reported vehicle.Am I required to notify DMV when I sell or transfer my vehicle to another owner?Yes. You are required by law to notify DMV within five calendar days from the date you sell or transfer title or interest in and deliver possession of a vehicle to another owner (Vehicle Code §5900).Does the NRL remove my name from the vehicle record?No. Only the buyer's application for transfer, using the endorsed title received from you, can do that. When the information required on the NRL is received by DMV and updated to the record, you are no longer responsible for civil or criminal actions arising with the vehicle after the date of sale.For example, you will not be liable for:Parking or traffic violations resulting from operation of the vehicle after the sale or transfer date, orCivil litigation resulting from use of the vehicle after the date of sale.Registration renewal fees and penalties resulting from operation of the vehicle after the sale.NOTE: In the case of a suit or complaint, the court is responsible for determining if you have complied with the law and are exempt from civil and/or criminal liability.

Did you promptly file a notice of transfer and release of liability with your DMV, naming the buyer? Did you keep of copy of the bill of sale, preferably with the buyer’s signature?If you did these things, I wouldn’t worry. If you receive an impound notice, notice of camera enforcement for red light violations, toll violations, etc., just write back and state that you were no longer the owner and enclose a copy of your dated receipt for the release of liability.Note that in California, you only get a dated receipt if you file the release online, so always do it that way.Another strategy that some prefer is to conduct the sale at DMV. Instead of handing the title to the buyer, you hand it to DMV, who performs the transfer then and there.

The other answers are fundamentally correct, but are missing an important piece. Do not mail the release of liability. Complete it online and keep a copy of the confirmation. Ideally, do this the same day as the sale. This method is faster, more reliable, and you get to retain superior documentation.Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability