California DMV Release of Liability
Report your car sale within 5 days to protect yourself from the buyer’s tickets
The California DMV release of liability, officially the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (NRL), tells DMV you sold or transferred your vehicle. Once DMV has it, parking and traffic violations and civil lawsuits tied to the car after the sale date become the buyer’s responsibility. You have 5 calendar days to file it, online or by mail.
By California DMV Appointments Editorial TeamUpdated November 2026Source: California DMV (dmv.ca.gov)
- 5 daysto file, counted in calendar days from the sale
- 1 dayDMV updates the record within 1 business day of an online filing
- 4 detailsbuyer’s name and address, plate + last 5 of VIN, odometer, sale date
When Is My NRL Due?
Enter the day you sold the car and handed it over. We’ll count the 5 calendar days.
The 5 days start when you sell or transfer the vehicle and hand it to the new owner.
Prepare my NRL ↓How Do You File a Release of Liability in California?
Fill in what you know about the sale. The receipt checks the details DMV requires and flags anything missing, because DMV may not update the record if information is missing. Then file on DMV’s site, or print the sheet to copy onto a REG 138.
Nothing you type is sent or saved. It stays in your browser and clears when you leave the page.
- Plate—
- VIN, last 5—
- New owner—
- Owner address—
- Date of sale—
- Odometer—
- Price (REG 138)—
Should You File the NRL Online or Mail a REG 138?
Both ask for the same details and both count. Online is quicker and gives you proof on the spot.
| Online NRL | REG 138 by mail | |
|---|---|---|
| How | Fill out DMV’s online release of liability form. | Complete the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138) and mail it to the address on the form. |
| You need | New owner’s name and address, plate, last 5 digits of the VIN, odometer reading and sale date. Make and model year fill in automatically. | The same details plus the vehicle’s make, model year and full description, written clearly. |
| Record update | Within 1 business day. | After DMV receives and processes the form. |
| Your proof | A confirmation. Print it and keep it. | A photocopy of the completed form, which DMV advises you to keep. |
| Watch out | Don’t type symbols from the plate, such as a heart or star. | Missing or illegible details may stop DMV from updating the record. |
Does a Release of Liability Transfer Ownership?
No. The NRL protects you, the seller. Only the buyer’s transfer, using the title you signed over, takes your name off the vehicle record.
What the NRL does
- Moves liability for parking and traffic violations after the sale date to the buyer
- Moves liability for civil lawsuits after the sale date to the buyer
- Stops registration renewal notices once DMV marks the record
What it doesn’t do
- Transfer ownership of the vehicle
- Remove your name from the vehicle record
- Decide a lawsuit; DMV says a court determines whether you complied
Tap the chart to open it full size.
What Else Does a Seller Do After Selling a Car?
The NRL is one of several jobs. The buyer’s side, like the 10-day transfer, is covered in our California DMV vehicle registration guide.
- Sign the title over
Sign the California title on Line 1 and give it to the buyer.
- Give a smog certification
Provide a valid smog certification unless the vehicle is exempt.
- Note the odometer
Write down the reading at the time of sale. The NRL asks for it.
- File the NRL within 5 days
Online or with a REG 138 by mail.
- Keep your proof
Save the online confirmation, or a photocopy of the mailed REG 138.
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What If Something Goes Wrong After the Sale?
Common situations covered in DMV’s own release of liability FAQs.
Still getting renewal notices
DMV either didn’t receive your NRL or it was incomplete or illegible, so submit another one. Notices print more than 60 days ahead, so one can cross with your NRL. If you filed online, don’t mail DMV the notice or your confirmation.
Can’t remember the buyer’s name
You may enter “unknown” in the name and address fields. DMV warns that missing details may stop it from updating the record and may cost you the liability protection.
Want a copy of the NRL you sent
Mail a Request for Record Information (INF 70) with the required fee to the address on that form.
A dealer or friend filed it for you
That’s allowed, but you’re still responsible if any information is missing. Filing it yourself is the surest way to get it right.
The buyer or seller is a business
The online form works. Enter the business name in the last name field, and continue into the first name field if needed.
A ticket shows up after the sale
Keep your NRL confirmation or REG 138 copy handy as proof of the sale date. In a dispute or lawsuit, DMV says the court decides whether you complied with the law.
What do the odometer choices mean?
- Actual mileage
- The odometer shows the vehicle’s real mileage.
- Exceeds mechanical limits
- The odometer reached its highest number and rolled over to start again.
- Not actual mileage
- The odometer is broken or was replaced, or you’re unsure of the true mileage.
California DMV Release of Liability FAQs
How long do I have to file a release of liability in California?
You must notify DMV within 5 calendar days of selling or transferring the vehicle and handing it over to the new owner.
How do I file a release of liability with the California DMV?
File the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability online on DMV’s website, or complete a REG 138 form and mail it to the address on the form.
What information do I need for the NRL?
You need the new owner’s name and address, the license plate number, the last five digits of the VIN, the odometer reading at the time of sale and the date of sale.
Does a release of liability transfer the title to the buyer?
No. The NRL doesn’t transfer ownership or remove your name from the vehicle record. The buyer must complete the transfer with the signed title and pay the fees.
How long does DMV take to update the record after an NRL?
When you file online, DMV updates the vehicle record within 1 business day.
How do I prove I filed a release of liability?
Print and keep the confirmation you get after filing online. If you mail a REG 138, keep a photocopy of the completed form.
What if I don’t know the buyer’s name?
You can enter “unknown” for the buyer’s name and address, but DMV may be unable to update the record without them, which may disqualify your liability exemption.
Why am I still getting renewal notices for a car I sold?
DMV may not have received your NRL, or it was incomplete or illegible. Submit another NRL. Renewal notices are generated more than 60 days ahead, so one can cross in the mail with your filing.