Release of liability in California: the seller's 5-day notice, online or on paper
After you sell a car, one short filing tells the DMV you are no longer responsible for it. Here is how to file it, why the 5-day window matters, and what to do if the buyer never transfers the title.
General information based on official DMV and DOJ sources, not legal advice.
All guidesLast reviewed: October 2026. Registration Leaders is a private business, not the California DMV or any government agency. This guide is general information based on DMV publications; check with the DMV for forms and details.
The short answer
When you sell or give away a vehicle in California, you must notify the DMV within 5 calendar days using the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (NRL). You can file online or on paper with form REG 138. The notice tells the DMV you are no longer responsible for parking and traffic violations or civil or criminal actions connected with the vehicle after the date of sale.
Why it matters
Until the buyer completes the transfer, the vehicle record can still show you as the owner. Tickets, tolls, an accident or an abandoned car could then lead back to you. An on-time NRL puts the sale date and the buyer's details on record, and that is your proof that the vehicle was no longer yours.
How to file
Online
- Open the DMV's NRL application at dmv.ca.gov.
- Enter the license plate number, the last five digits of the VIN, the odometer reading at the time of sale, and the new owner's name and address.
- Submit it, then print the confirmation and keep it with your records. The DMV says electronic filings update within one business day.
On paper
Complete form REG 138, mail it to the address on the form, and keep a photocopy. Do not rely on the buyer to send it; if you hand the form to the new owner, they may never submit it.
What the notice does not do
Filing an NRL is not a transfer of ownership. The new owner must complete the transfer requirements and pay the fees. Only the buyer's application for transfer, using the title you endorsed, removes your name from the vehicle record. For the buyer's side, including the 10-day deadline and late penalties, read our title transfer guide.
If the buyer never transfers
- File your NRL right away so the sale date, odometer reading and buyer details are on record
- Keep the printed confirmation, a signed bill of sale and a copy of the signed title if you can
- Save the buyer's name, phone number and address
- If tickets or notices arrive after the sale date, send your NRL confirmation to the agency that issued them and contact the DMV
Before you hand over the title
Sign the title only when the buyer is ready, give the buyer a smog certificate if the vehicle needs one (see our smog check guide), and record the odometer reading. If the title is missing, see our lost title guide first.
Official sources
- Official source: California DMV, Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability
- Official source: California DMV, REG 138 form
Selling a car? Let us handle the buyer's transfer.
Registration Leaders is a private business contracted through the DMV Business Partner Automation program, not the DMV. We process title transfers for $65 + DMV fees; DMV fees vary by vehicle and are paid in addition to our service fee, and sales tax is collected on service fees. Walk-ins and appointments welcome, open 7 days; call (916) 595-8128 first, or book an appointment.
Frequently asked questions.
How long do I have to file a release of liability in California?
The DMV says the law requires you to notify it within 5 calendar days from the date you sell or transfer the title or interest in your vehicle and deliver possession to another owner. File the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (NRL) yourself rather than waiting for the buyer, because a form you hand to the buyer may never reach the DMV. Filing on the day of the sale is the safest habit. Keep a copy of your confirmation.
Can I file the release of liability online?
Yes. The DMV has an online NRL application that asks for the license plate number, the last five digits of the VIN, the odometer reading at the time of sale, and the new owner's name and address. Print the confirmation page and keep it with your records. The DMV says electronic filings update within one business day. If you prefer paper, complete form REG 138, mail it to the address on the form, and photocopy it first.
Does filing the release of liability transfer ownership?
No. The DMV states that submitting an NRL does not qualify as a transfer of ownership. It tells the DMV that you are no longer responsible for parking and traffic violations or civil or criminal actions tied to the vehicle after the date of sale. The new owner still has to complete the transfer requirements and pay the transfer fees, normally within 10 days of the sale.
What if the buyer never transfers the title into their name?
Only the buyer's application for transfer, using the endorsed title you gave them, can remove your name from the vehicle record. Filing your NRL on time is how you protect yourself in the meantime, because it puts the sale date, odometer reading and buyer details on record. Keep your NRL confirmation, a signed bill of sale and a note of the buyer's contact information, and contact the DMV if you start receiving notices for the vehicle.
Do I still need to file if a dealer buys my car?
Yes, file the NRL yourself unless the dealer confirms in writing that it has reported the sale, and keep proof either way. Dealers also have their own reporting duties, but you remain the person the DMV records show until a transfer or report of sale is processed. If you are trading in at one of our partner dealerships, ask how the sale is being reported before you hand over the keys.
Can Registration Leaders file it for me?
We can go over the sale paperwork with you, and when you book a title transfer for the buyer we process the transfer side of the sale. The release of liability is quick to do online, so we recommend sellers complete it themselves the same day as the sale. Call (916) 595-8128 if you want help with the steps.
Ready to get it done?
Walk-ins and appointments welcome, Monday to Friday, 10am to 9pm, Saturday, 10am to 4pm, and Sunday, 12pm to 4pm. Call first; we confirm booked times by text or email.