A title must be transferred when a car is sold so that the previous owner will no longer be held responsible for the car. In some cases a notary is required to prove that the signing of the title was, indeed, done by the owner. The requirements vary by state.
When a title needs to be transferred, the current owner signs the back of the title. The new owner then takes the title to the local DMV, or department of motor vehicles. The old owner is then free of any responsibility for the car.
Many states do not require that the title be signed in front of a notary public in order to transfer it legally. Check with the state's DMV to find out if notarization is required. For instance, Arizona does not require a notarized signature, while Ohio does.
While a state may not require notarization, it may be a good idea to have the title signature notarized anyway. This will prove that the title was signed by the proper person at a particular time, in case there are damages or fees incurred after the transfer. If the new owner does not sign the title in a timely manner, the old owner may still be held liable for damages even after the vehicle is no longer in his possession.
