Donate a car or vehicle in Minnesota - MN
State Title Information
Help a child with a car, motorcycle, automobile, truck, boat or any vehicle donation. What vehicles need titles in your state. How to transfer ownership...
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Donate a car or any vehicle to our Teddy Bear Cops™ Program.Official Web Site of the State of Minnesota |
When donating a car it is necessary to transfer ownership. Various states have different regulations on how this is done. This page is a collection of actual references from various state web sites.
Just click on any of the links below for more information on that subject.
1. What types of vehicles must be titled in the State of Minnesota?
2. What types of titles are there?
3. What kinds of Title Brands are there?
4. Lien Definitions and Information
5. Transfer of Title Information
What types of vehicles must be titled in the State of Minnesota?
Every vehicle must be titled with the following exceptions:
- Vehicles owned by the United States government, unless it is registered in this state.
- Vehicles used by a manufacturer solely for testing.
- A vehicle owned by a non-resident, not required by law to be registered in this state.
- A vehicle regularly engaged in the interstate transportation of persons or property for which a currently effective Certificate of Title has been issued in another state.
- A vehicle moved solely by animal power.
- An implement of husbandry.
- Special mobile equipment, as defined by Minnesota Statute.
- A self-propelled wheel chair or invalid tricycle.
- A trailer having a gross weight of 4,000 lbs. or less.
- A trailer designed primarily for agricultural purposes with a gross weight of less than 10,000 pounds, except recreational equipment or a mobile home.
- ATV’s, snowmobiles, and off-road vehicles, as defined in Minnesota Statutes.
- Clearly marked municipal fire apparatus, police patrols, ambulances, and ambulances owned by ambulance services licensed under section 144.802.
2. What types of titles are there?
Negotiable: (Transferable): Includes bonded title which will be stamped, “Secured by surety bond for three years from date of filing.”
Duplicate: A duplicate title contains the notation “This Duplicate Certificate of Title may be subject to the rights of a person under the original certificate.”
Distinctive: Issued for four months if the vehicle was previously registered in a non-title state; or if the security interest need not be shown on the foreign state title to be perfected; or if a foreign state duplicate title is submitted which is less than four months old, or contains the notation “This vehicle may be subject to an undisclosed lien.”
- The customer may apply for a title without the distinctive notation after four months from date of issue at no fee.
- A distinctive title contains the notation “This vehicle may be subject to an undisclosed lien.”
Salvage: A salvage certificate of title is issued to a vehicle declared a repairable total loss vehicle by an insurance company and includes an existing certificate of title that has been stamped with the legend "Salvage Certificate of Title". Salvage titles are issued to vehicles less than 6 years old or valued in excess of $5000 before being damaged, or a vehicle with a manufacturer 's rating of over 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.
3. What kinds of Title Brands are there?
Foreign state titles with similar brands will receive the appropriately branded Minnesota title. Once branded, the brands will be retained for all subsequent transfers. No vehicle older than model year 1985 is subject to branding.
REBUILT: Reflected on titles for vehicles that have sustained 70% damage or more. Damage declarations are required on transfers of vehicles less than 6 years old, except for commercial vehicles with a gross weight of 16,000 lbs or more.
FLOOD DAMAGED: Reflected on titles for vehicles declared a total loss because of water or flood damage.
PR SALV: Reflected on titles for salvage vehicles that have been repaired and inspected, with exception of motorcycles, vehicles with a gross vehicle rating of 16,000 pounds or more, or vehicles which obtained their salvage status due to their high market value.
4. Lien Definitions and Information:
perfection of Lien: A security interest is perfected by the delivery to the Department of the existing Certificate of Title, if any, or by application for a Certificate of Title, each of which must contain the name and address of the secured party, date of security agreement and required fee. This notification of a security interest must be signed by all vehicle owners.
Lien Release: Upon satisfaction of a security interest the lien must be released on the Confirmation of Lien Perfection/Certificate of Lien Release card or a notarized Notification of Assignment, Release, or Grant of Secured Interest (PS2017-03).
Repossession: For a vehicle titled in Minnesota, with the title in the possession of the secured party, an affidavit of repossession and Minnesota Certificate of Title along with transfer fees are due. The secured party may retain documents until the vehicle is sold to a new purchaser.
For repossession situations where the title was mailed to the owner and the title has not been obtained by the secured party: the secured party must complete an affidavit of repossession and apply for a title in their name.
For Minnesota Registered Vehicles, not required to be titled, Uniform Commercial Code procedures are observed.
5. Transfer of Title Information:
Minnesota Titled Vehicles: Transfer of a vehicle to which a title has been issued is accomplished by properly executing the Certificate of Title to show sale and transfer. Plural ownership requires signature of all joint owners. Notarization is not required.
Odometer Requirements: Odometer statements are required on all vehicles covered under the Federal Truth in Mileage Act (TIMA). All vehicles (including motorcycles) are subject to TIMA, except the following:
- Motor Vehicles that are ten model years old or older.
- Vehicles having a GVW rating of more than 16,000 lbs.
- Vehicles that are not self-propelled.
Emissions Certification: Title certificates issued after July 1, 1990, contain an emission declaration statement which must be answered. The emission certification applies only to vehicles in the passenger and motorcycle classes. The certification is not required on vehicles that are model years of 1967 and older.
Damage Declaration: Title certificates issued after July 1, 1990, contain a damage declaration statement. Damage declarations are not required on vehicles six years old or older as calculated from the first day of January of the designated model year, or on commercial vehicles with a gross weight of 26,000 pounds or more.
Secured Power of Attorney (SPOA): A department approved power of attorney form may be used by a Minnesota dealer to facilitate the transfer and in certain cases the reassignment of vehicles covered by TIMA. The Minnesota Secure POA may only be used with a duplicate title or when the title is being held by the lienholder.
Secured Reassignment Form: The use of a Minnesota "Secured Reassignment Form" (SRF) is restricted to certain classes of licensed Minnesota dealers (new, used, lessor, wholesaler, or auctioneer). It is to be used in situations where all the reassignment spaces on a Minnesota or foreign state title have been used, and in those instances where the Minnesota dealer does not have the title available on which to complete the reassignment of ownership.
Foreign State Titles: Transfer of ownership must take place on the foreign state certificate of title, unless that state issues a Secured Reassignment form which contains conforming odometer language as required by TIMA. Minnesota will only accept a foreign state reassignment form if issued by the state which also issued the accompanying title; or if the assignment form was issued by the state of the dealership using the form.
Non-Titled Vehicles: Transfer of ownership is accomplished on the vehicle registration card, or by a written bill of sale which includes a complete vehicle description (year, make, model, and vehicle identification number), purchasers name, and date of sale. All owners must sign. Purchaser must complete an Application to Title/Register a Motor Vehicle (PS2000).
Vehicles with No Proof of Ownership: When tangible proof of ownership cannot be established, and no record of the vehicle can be found on file in the central office, (vehicle records are maintained for a seven year period), the following items are required:
- A Bill of Sale, signed by the seller, providing a complete description of the vehicle (year, make, model, and vehicle identification number), the name of the purchaser and the date of sale. All owners must sign. Purchaser must complete an Application to Title/Register a Motor Vehicle (PS2000).
- A statement of facts, written and signed by the seller of the vehicle. This statement must give as much information as possible regarding the history of the vehicle and indicate why there is no documentary proof of ownership. It must also contain a complete vehicle description (year, make, model, and vehicle identification number).
- A signed statement from purchaser that s/he agrees to defend and protect the State of Minnesota against any and all future claims of ownership.
- Photographs showing all sides of the vehicle (photographs are not required on utility trailers with a gross weight of less than 6000 pounds).
