Form 130-U: Fill Out Online in 2026

Form 130-U is the official Application for Texas Title and/or Registration. You use it to apply for a Texas Certificate of Title, vehicle registration, or both through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV). The title records ownership, while registration allows the vehicle to be driven on public roads when all state rules are met.

You may need this 130-U title application when you buy, sell, or transfer a vehicle in Texas. Both the seller and applicant must provide required details, such as vehicle information, sales data, odometer disclosure, and signatures. A complete and accurate Form 130-U Texas title transfer helps the county tax assessor-collector process the transaction. Missing or incorrect information may delay the title or registration and could leave the vehicle without valid state records.

You use the application for Texas title (Form 130-U) to request a new Texas title, transfer vehicle ownership, or apply for registration without a title. It also lets you correct vehicle details on an existing title or registration record and add or remove a lienholder.

The form also covers non-title registration for certain trailers, farm equipment, construction machinery, and similar vehicles. For an out-of-state vehicle, you may apply for registration purposes only. In that case, Texas will not issue a title, and you should not surrender the original out-of-state title. Your receipt serves as proof of the application.

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) issues blank copies of Form 130-U. You can get the current official version from TxDMV. PDFLeader also has a blank copy preloaded in our browser-based editor, ready for you to fill out, so you do not need to download a separate template.

PDFLeader helps you complete the form and download the finished PDF for future use. PDFLeader does not submit or file Form 130-U with TxDMV or a county tax office.

Take or mail your completed Form 130-U to the county tax assessor-collector’s office in the Texas county where you live. Check with that office before mailing, since local procedures may vary. Texas does not offer a direct online filing option for this form.

For a vehicle purchase, deliver the form within 30 days of the sale. If you recently moved to Texas, apply for a Texas title and registration through your county tax assessor-collector within 30 days of becoming a resident.

The buyer and seller, donor, or trader complete Form 130-U to record the change in ownership. The buyer must provide an original signature. The seller’s signature may be copied or faxed. For a dealer sale, the dealer fills in most sections, including vehicle details, owner information, lien details, and sales tax. The buyer provides an ID number and signs as the new owner. If the vehicle is financed, the lienholder’s information must also appear on the form.

The county tax assessor-collector’s office receives the completed form. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles then uses it to process the title transfer and update ownership records. The applicant must submit it to an eligible county office within 30 days of the sale.

Download the filled Form 130-U from PDFLeader, then print it. The buyer must add an original handwritten signature. The seller’s signature may be reproduced or faxed. A typed or electronic signature does not replace the buyer’s handwritten signature. Check the latest TxDMV instructions for updates before signing. PDFLeader does not submit the completed form, so you must send or deliver it through the required channel.

Have your Applicant Type and any Tax Exemption details ready. Check page 2 of the Application for Texas Title and/or Registration (Form 130-U) for the correct options. You also need the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) shown on the certificate of title and vehicle, plus the Year, Make, and Body Style.

Provide the Applicant's Social Security Number. If the applicant does not have one, include Form VTR-171 with the 130-U title application. Next, enter the Previous Owner's Name and Mailing Address as shown on the assigned title or other evidence of ownership. That ownership document must be surrendered with Form 130-U. If the vehicle has a lien, have the First Lien Date and First Lienholder Name/Mailing Address from the signed security agreement ready.

Form 130-U is due within 30 days of the vehicle’s sale or purchase date. New Texas residents bringing a vehicle into the state must file it within 30 days of establishing residency. Submit the completed form and required documents to your county tax assessor-collector’s office.

If you miss the deadline, Texas may charge a 5% penalty when the tax is 1 to 30 days late. The penalty rises to 10% when the tax is more than 30 days late. A separate delinquent transfer penalty may also apply to a late title application and can reach $250.

You do not need Form 130-U when you renew an existing vehicle registration without transferring the title. Certain trailers, farm equipment, construction machinery, oil well servicing machinery, and water well drilling units may qualify for Non-Title Registration instead.

You may also skip this form when you buy a motor vehicle in Texas for use only outside the state and do not use or register it in Texas. In that case, claim the motor vehicle sales tax exemption with Form 14-312. If an out-of-state seller cannot be required to sign Form 130-U, you may use a bill of sale in place of the seller’s signature.