- Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles
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New option will allow residents to maintain vehicle titles electronically and transfer ownership online for eligible private sales within Massachusetts.
BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) today announced the first phase of its Electronic Vehicle Certificate of Title (E-Title) initiative. The initiative will allow customers to convert eligible paper Massachusetts vehicle titles to electronic titles and complete ownership transfers online for qualified private sales between Massachusetts residents.
Paper titles will remain the default form of title issuance, and vehicle owners who are not selling a vehicle do not need to take any action. When an eligible owner requests conversion to an E-Title, the electronic record will serve as the official certificate of title and proof of vehicle ownership. No paper title will be printed or mailed. Customers may convert titles between electronic and paper formats as needed for a $25 fee per conversion.
“The Healey-Driscoll Administration has continued to embrace innovation and technology to deliver services effectively and efficiently. This new electronic title option is an important step in modernizing the services we provide to Massachusetts residents and making vehicle transactions more secure, convenient, and efficient,” said Interim Transportation Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng. “By reducing reliance on paper documents, we can help protect customers from lost titles and fraud while creating a foundation for a more seamless vehicle ownership process in Massachusetts and, eventually, across state lines.”
“The implementation of electronic titles is the first step in a multi-stage effort to give customers a safe and convenient way to maintain their vehicle title without having to store and protect a paper document,” said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie. “This first phase will enable electronic ownership transfers for eligible private vehicle sales between Massachusetts residents. Both the seller and buyer will verify their identities and the vehicle’s ownership through the RMV, helping ensure the accuracy of the next vehicle title issued.”
Through the E-Title transfer process, sellers electronically release ownership to buyers, who can in some cases then complete an online title application, pay the required title fee and applicable sales tax, and receive an E-Title in their name. The vehicle registration process, including obtaining plates, remains unchanged and requires an in-person visit and insurance coverage confirmed by an insurance agent’s stamp.
Both parties must be Massachusetts residents with myRMV profiles accessed through myMassGov accounts. First-time myRMV users also need a Verification Letter ID, which can be requested online and mailed within seven business days or printed the same day at an RMV Service Center.
Dealership sales and trade-ins are not included in the first phase. A second phase, targeted for spring 2027, is expected to expand electronic title capabilities to dealerships participating in the Electronic Vehicle Registration program. Customers with E-Titles who wish to sell or trade their vehicles to dealerships may request paper titles.
To help prevent fraud, each conversion between electronic and paper formats generates a new title number and voids all previous versions. Only the most recently issued title is valid. Title information will continue to be reported to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, the federal database that helps protect consumers from vehicle fraud.
Visit the Massachusetts RMV’s E-Title webpage for more information, including eligibility, fees, and requirements.
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