Title a Used Car in Your Name Within 30 Days in Galveston County

A private Texas car sale is not finished when the keys change hands. TxDMV says the vehicle has to be titled in the buyer's name within 30 days from the sale date. For a Galveston County buyer, that means the signed title, Form 130-U, proof of insurance, ID, and payment go to the county tax office.

The sale price matters. TxDMV says motor-vehicle sales tax is based on the purchase price or the standard presumptive value, whichever is higher. Sellers have their own clean-up step too: file the Vehicle Transfer Notification so tickets, tolls, or other trouble after the sale do not keep pointing back at you.