Title

A title is the record of ownership of a vehicle (or other item) as recorded by jurisdictions pertaining to vehicles, vessels, etc. A paper title is the traditional physical document which represents the title. The heading on modern forms include the words "certificate of title" or "certificate of ownership". The term "pink slip" sometimes is used as a name for title documents, it is a reference to California certificates of ownership before 1988, when they were printed on a sheet of pink paper.

While the title is the final record of ownership, there are periods when ownership is being transferred and the MVA has yet to record and issue a new paper title. The regulations in many jurisdictions recognize assignment or transfer of ownership documents as identifying the owner. The regulations vary, these reassignment may be details written on the assignment form on the back of a title or may be a separate paper document. Reassignments are common in the exchanges between:

• Automobile dealers and their customers (buyer or sellers)
• Automobile dealers and other automobile dealers.
• Automobile dealers and auctioneers.

A state may issue an Affidavit as a provisional title when some documentation is missing. The data on an affidavit is similar to the data on a title.

Individual jurisdictions determine which information they include on the titles they issue. A jurisdictions paper title and/or an electronic title record, may contain some or all of the Title fields. It may also contain information about the Owner, Vehicle, Odometer, Registration, Purchase/Sale, Lien, Dealer and/or Agent. 28 CFR 25.54 lists the title data all U.S. jurisdictions have to exchange in NMVTIS.

A federal regulations for Insurance Carriers, as it relates to NMVTIS. For details see 28 CFR 25.55 on eCFR .

Within a state the title may be issued by the State's Motor Vehicle Agency, or by Counties within the state. States issue Titles for various types of vehicles. The data elements described for a Title, may be used on any of the following vehicle types:

• Road Vehicles; All U.S. states issue titles for Road Vehicles.
• Off-road Land Vehicles (farm equipment, ATVs, etc.): In some states titles are required, but in other states they do not need to be titled. State rules for requiring a title, may also vary by Vehicle Type.
• Smaller watercraft (vessels under 5 net tones which are usually under 27 feet long): Some states issue titles for small watercraft. Federal rules about watercraft and their data, include 46 CFR 67 & 68, 33 CFR 187 and 33 CFR 174.19.
  

  Federal regulations for the data included on a boat certificate. For details see 33 CFR 174.19 on eCFR.

  

  A federal regulation covering the Vessel Identification System. For details see 33 CFR 187 on eCFR.

  

  Federal regulations related to the documentation of a vessel. (The definitions begin in .67 and continue into .68). For details see 46 CFR 67 on eCFR.

  (Large watercraft (vessels over 5 tons) are registered by the U.S. Coastguard, not by the states).

A title can be identified by the jurisdiction code and title number, the VIN is optional when describing a given instance.