Fill Out Form 130-U in 2026
Covers a Texas certificate of title or vehicle registration for a purchase, gift, inheritance, or transfer. Fill in the details, sign where allowed, and download your copy.
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How to fill out a 130-U Form
Follow the steps below and you'll finish with no guesswork.
Open the form
Access the pre-loaded form in our editor, ready for your vehicle's VIN and details.
Fill in your details
Complete every required field, including the VIN, empty weight, and applicant type.
Download as PDF
Save your completed title application as a PDF, ready to submit in person.
What is a 130-U Form?
Form 130-U, the Application for Texas Title and/or Registration, is the official paperwork the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles uses to title and register a vehicle. You need it whenever a vehicle is bought, sold, gifted, inherited, or brought into Texas from another state or country. Without a completed 130-U application, the state cannot legally title or register your vehicle, which can lead to fines. The form also helps the county tax office calculate any sales tax owed on the vehicle.
Key Takeaways
- Form 130-U titles and registers Texas vehicles
- Required when buying, selling, or gifting vehicles
- Confirms sales tax owed on the vehicle
What is a Form 130-U used for?
Texas drivers use this form for several vehicle ownership and registration tasks. It covers:
- Applying for a Texas Certificate of Title after buying, selling, gifting, or inheriting a vehicle
- Registering a vehicle in Texas, including "Registration Purposes Only" for out-of-state vehicles that won't get a Texas title
- Handling nontitle registration for trailers, farm equipment, and similar machinery
- Correcting title or registration records, such as fixing a vehicle description or adding a lien
- Registering an out-of-state vehicle after moving to Texas
What information is required on a 130-U Form?
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Enter the VIN exactly as it appears on the title or stamped on the vehicle.
Year
Enter the model year assigned to the vehicle by its manufacturer.
Make
Enter the manufacturer brand name, such as Chevrolet, Ford, or Toyota.
Body Style
Enter the vehicle's body style code, like 2D for a two-door sedan.
Model
Enter the specific model name the manufacturer gave the vehicle.
Empty Weight
Enter the vehicle's unloaded weight in pounds, rounded up to the next hundred.
Applicant Type
Mark whether the applicant is an individual, business, government entity, trust, or non-profit, and give the ID number.
Applicant's/Owner's Legal Name
Enter the legal name and mailing address for each owner listed on the title.
When is a 130-U Form due?
You must file Form 130-U with the county tax assessor-collector within 30 days of the sale date. That same 30-day window applies to establishing Texas residency and paying the 6.25% motor vehicle sales/use tax. Miss it, and penalties climb to $250 on the transfer alone, plus a separate late tax penalty.
Ready to title your vehicle
Open Form 130-U here, fill in your vehicle details, and download the completed title application for your records.
When is a Form 130-U not required?
Form 130-U isn't required when you simply renew registration on a vehicle already titled in your name. It's also unnecessary for vehicle classes exempt from titling, such as certain trailers, farm equipment, or construction machinery, which use nontitle registration instead. Gift transfers between immediate family members or a qualifying nonprofit rely on Form 14-317, signed jointly by donor and recipient, rather than this one.
What does a 130-U form look like
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