Registry of Motor Vehicles Title Correction Procedures
The back of a title document has one (1) space for an owner of motor vehicle to assign the title.  If that space becomes unavailable to make a valid assignment, the owner must apply for a duplicate title.  If a mistake is made in the assignment of the title, a Notarized Affidavit for Correction be used.  The following sections explain when each form must be used.

 

Voided Sale by Owner
  Sometimes, an agreement to sell a vehicle falls through after the owner identified on the front of the title has completed the owner's assignment is no longer available for a subsequent assignment.  In this situation, the owner must do the following:

    • Submit an Application for Duplicate Title

    • Submit the voided title

    • Pay the appropriate fee

The owner must then wait to receive the duplicate title, before the vehicle can be sold.

A Notarized Affidavit for Correction cannot be used by a owner to explain a voided sale.

 

Mistakes Made in Assignment of the Title
Sometimes, an owner makes an error when entering information on an assignment for the sale of a vehicle.  A Notarized Affidavit for Correction can be used to correct mistakes such as misspelled names or addresses, transposed numbers, or incorrect names, dates or selling price.  However, an RMV employee must be able to tell why the information on the title was crossed out (or erased or whitened out) before accepting the Notarized Affidavit for Correction.  If a mistake was made, there should only be minor corrections made on the title.  If a sale was voided, most or all of the information on the title will be crossed out.  In this case, the owner must apply for a duplicate title.  When presented with a title with crossed out information, an RMV employee must make a judgment call on whether a sale was voided or whether is was a simple mistake. If you cannot tell, refer the customer to our supervisor.

 

Dealer Voided Sales or Mistakes in Assignment of Title
When a dealer voids an assignment or makes a mistake in one of the spaces set aside on the title for dealer-transfers, the dealer can then use any of the spaces that are left for dealer transfers.  If all three (3) spaces for dealer-transfers are already filled in, the dealer can use a DRT-1 form.  Even if there is still space left on the title, the dealer is still required to complete and file a Notarized Affidavit for Correction to explain a voided entry or any corrections.  An Application for Duplicate Title is not required in this situation.