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Texas Guide

How to Gift a Car in Texas

Last verified: October 2026 against TxDMV and Texas Comptroller sources

Texas taxes a gift between close family members only $10, instead of the 6.25% motor vehicle tax, when both sides sign a gift affidavit.

Here is who qualifies and how to transfer the title.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Check that the giver qualifies

    The $10 gift tax applies when the car comes from a spouse (separate property only), parent or stepparent, child or stepchild, sibling or sibling-in-law, parent-in-law or child-in-law, grandparent or grandchild (including in-laws and great-grand relationships), or guardian.

    Aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins do not qualify.

  2. 2

    Make sure nothing is given in return

    A gift has no payment of any kind. If the recipient takes over a loan, the payoff amount is taxable as a sale.

  3. 3

    Sign the Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Gift Transfer (Form 14-317)

    The giver and the recipient sign one joint, notarized affidavit. The county tax office can witness a signature instead of a notary if the person signs in front of staff.

  4. 4

    Complete the title and Form 130-U

    The giver signs the title over with the odometer reading, and you complete the Application for Texas Title and/or Registration (Form 130-U).

  5. 5

    Title it within 30 days

    Take the title, Form 130-U, and Form 14-317 to your county tax assessor-collector within 30 days. You pay the $10 gift tax, the title fee ($33 or $28 by county), and registration fees.

When a family transfer is taxed

  • The giver is not on the list (for example, an aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or cousin): the transfer is treated as a sale and the 6.25% motor vehicle tax applies, possibly on Standard Presumptive Value.
  • Money changes hands: a sale between family members is taxed like any private sale.
  • The recipient takes over a loan: the loan payoff (plus anything else paid) is taxable.

What to bring

  • The title, signed over by the giver with the odometer reading
  • Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Gift Transfer (Form 14-317), signed by both and notarized
  • Form 130-U, Application for Texas Title and/or Registration
  • Proof of liability insurance
  • Payment for the $10 gift tax, title fee, and registration fees

Estimate your Texas costs

For a qualifying gift, enter $0 as the price to see the title and registration costs, then add the $10 gift tax.

Open the full Texas calculator

Vehicle & Transaction Details

Enter purchase information to calculate true out-of-pocket costs in Texas.

51 Jurisdictions Active
Texas 6.25% tax base
$
7 years old
Optional
$

Texas taxes the greater of your price or 80% of SPV.

Standard Passenger
Texas tag options
1-Year Term (Texas registers for one year)
EV surcharge rules
Lien fee: $0.00
Texas: Non-Deductible
$

Texas Notice: Texas taxes the full agreed vehicle price. Trade-ins do not reduce the tax base on private-party sales.

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Estimated taxes & fees

Estimated taxes & fees

Jurisdiction

Texas

Estimated taxes & fees
$1,022.25

Sales/Excise Tax + Title Certificate + Tags & Registration

Itemized Line ItemEstimated Fee
1Vehicle Sales / Excise Tax (6.25%)

6.25% assessed on vehicle Fair Market Value

$937.50
2Certificate of Title Fee

Standard state title certificate issuance

$33.00
3Lien / Security Filing Fee

Unfinanced / cash purchase (waived $0.00)

$0.00
4Registration & Tag Fee

Base license plates & tags

$51.75

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Book Value Assessment Rule (≤ 7 Years Old)

Because this vehicle is 7 years old or newer (7 years old), Texas DMV may assess the 6.25% tax on book value instead of your purchase price unless accompanied by a verified or notarized bill of sale.

Texas rates last verified: October 2026
Official Notice & Statutory Disclaimers

Estimates only, not tax or legal advice. Verify with the Texas Comptroller, TxDMV, or your county tax assessor-collector.

Texas charges 6.25% motor vehicle tax on the greater of the purchase price or 80% of the Standard Presumptive Value (SPV).

Trade-in deductions do not apply to private-party sales in Texas.

Registration shown is the $50.75 base fee (or $54 for 6,001 to 10,000 lbs) plus $1 TexasSure. Also due at registration: a $7.50 inspection program replacement fee, a $4.75 processing fee, a $2.75 emissions fee in 17 counties, and county fees of $0 to $31.50. The title fee is $33 in nonattainment counties and $28 elsewhere.

Texas no longer requires safety inspections for non-commercial vehicles (since January 1, 2025). Vehicles in 17 counties still need an emissions inspection.

Texas’s definition of an electric vehicle leaves out motorcycles (Transp. Code 502.360), so the estimate does not add the $200 fee.

County & Local Tax Note: Texas charges a flat 6.25% motor vehicle sales tax statewide; local city and county sales taxes do not apply to motor vehicles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this TxDMV and Texas Comptroller process.

$10, when the car comes from a qualifying relative or guardian and both of you sign Form 14-317.

Sources

Last verified: October 2026. Rules change, so check with TxDMV and Texas Comptroller before you go.

More Texas guides

How to Title a Private Car Sale in TexasForm 130-U, the 6.25% tax and SPV rule, and the 30-day deadline.Registering a Car in Texas After Moving From Another StateThe 30-day deadline, the $90 new resident tax, and emissions counties.
Texas Private Party Car Tax Calculator