How to Sell a Car in Nebraska

The steps and process for selling a vehicle online are different in every state. Learn how to sell your used car or truck privately in Nebraska.

Whether you live in Western, Southeast, the Central Plains, or the Three Rivers region of Nebraska, if you are thinking about privately selling your used car or truck, you’ve come to the right place. With an estimated 750,000 registered trucks and cars in the state of Nebraska, it’s no wonder that thousands of private vehicle sellers from the Cornhusker State have used Autotrader to sell their car. Below, we’ve outlined the five steps and forms required for how to sell a car in the state of Nebraska so you can sell your car quickly for the most cash.

Remember, most states consider the vehicle title a legal document, so the legal names (no nicknames) of both parties involved should be used, along with legible handwriting using black or blue ink. Mistakes, errors, and using White-Out may void the document so be careful and take your time filling it out.

Step 1: Allow the buyer to have the car inspected by a third party
Step 2: Organize and gather all related vehicle documentation
Step 3: Bill of Sale
Step 4: Transfer the title
Step 5: Remove your plates and cancel your insurance

Step 1: Allow the buyer to have the car inspected by a third party

Many vehicle shoppers who buy a car privately pay for a pre-purchase vehicle inspection conducted by a qualified and licensed auto mechanic of their choosing. Although the buyer pays for this inspection, the seller and buyer must agree on when and where the inspection is to be held. If the inspection does find any issues with the car, it is a good idea for you as the seller to keep the report for your records. Nebraska does not require this inspection and doesn’t have any forms that need to be filled out, but it’s a good idea for the buyer to have the inspection performed prior to the purchase.

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Step 2: Organize and gather all related vehicle documentation

Find all maintenance records (these can be hard copies, or electronic) the owner’s manual and other paperwork related to the vehicle. If you can provide the buyer with extensive and detailed maintenance records, this will help provide the buyer with confidence that you’ve maintained the car in a proper and regular manner. You may even want to consider including a vehicle history report from a service like CarFax or AutoCheck.

The most important document when selling a car is the certificate of title. If there is a lien on the title, the lienholder must release interest in the vehicle before the car is sold. This can be achieved either by the seller paying off the car or by the lienholder releasing the lien electronically. If your lender does not participate in the Nebraska Electronic Lien and Title program, they will have to fill out this form and get it notarized.

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Step 3: Bill of Sale

Nebraska requires a bill of sale to be filled out by the buyer and the seller for private vehicle purchases. The official form for this is form 6 which records information like the purchase price, the odometer reading, and the VIN of the vehicle in question. This document needs to be signed by both the buyer and the seller in the presence of a notary. If you’re not sure where to find a notary, you can search for a notary by city, county, or zip code here. When the buyer has a notarized bill of sale in hand, the process of getting it registered in the new owner’s name can proceed.

If there is more than one owner showing on the title, the following number of signatures will be required based on the connection between the names: And – All persons listed must sign. Or – Either seller can sign, only one signature required. And/Or - Both sellers must sign. If no connection listed, it will default to “and” and all owners (sellers) must sign.

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Step 4: Transfer the title

If the vehicle’s title has been lost, stolen or badly damaged, you can get a replacement/duplicate Nebraska title by filling out form RV-707a. With that form filled out plus a $14 fee you can get a duplicate title by filing the form at your local county treasurer’s office.

When selling a car privately in Nebraska, the buyer and the seller both need to fill out the relevant sections on the back of the title. This information includes the legal name, address, and signature of the buyer and the seller(s) along with the date of the sale, and the odometer reading. When this is filled out accurately and legibly, it makes it easy for the buyer to transfer registration and acquire a new plate.

In response to the rise in odometer fraud cases in Nebraska and across the U.S., the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) odometer disclosure requirements were updated in December 2020 impacting certain private vehicle sales in Nebraska: For a vehicle transfer that occurs from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2030, any vehicle of model year 2011 or newer (2012, 2013, etc.) will require an odometer disclosure. Starting on January 1, 2031, any vehicle that is less than 20 model years old will require an odometer disclosure. Previously, the NHTSA required disclosure was for only the first 10 years. Cars older than 2010 are exempt from odometer disclosures. Nebraska's DMV provides this Odometer Disclosure Statement on their website

If you’re wondering about gifting a car to a relative, you can follow the same process that is outlined here to transfer the title. For inheriting a car, it’s a similar process, but you’ll need to file documentation of the inheritance with the county along with the title of the vehicle in question. You’ll also need to fill out a new Application for Certificate of Title with form RV-707 and file an Affidavit for Transfer of Decedent’s Vehicle.

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Step 5: Remove your plates and cancel your insurance

The seller must remove their license plates before handing the vehicle over to the buyer. If you do not do so, you may be liable for any violations after the buyer has taken possession of the vehicle. Make sure to cancel your insurance as soon as possible after you’ve removed your plates so you don’t continue paying to insure a car that you no longer own.

For more information, visit the Nebraska DMV website.

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Questions about selling your car in Nebraska? We have answers.

What paperwork do I need to privately sell a car in Nebraska?

Is a Bill of Sale required for selling a car in Nebraska?

Do I remove my license plate when I sell a car in Nebraska?

Does a bill of sale have to be notarized in Nebraska?

Does a vehicle title have to be notarized in Nebraska?