The Expert Podcast

So how long does it take to get a Vermont title for a vehicle? Well, in most cases, what you're asking about is the Vermont bill of sale process, where you go through the state of Vermont to get a registration and then switch it to your state for a title. For vehicles that are 15 years old and older—right now that means if you have a 2008 vehicle or older, like 2007 or 2006—you can use a process through the state of Vermont to get a valid ownership document. It’s their version of a title called a registration, and you can get that with only having a bill of sale. You don't need the prior title, you don't need the prior owner, and then once you get that, you can switch it to your state to get a title.

So how long does all this take? Well, once you have the paperwork filled out—whether we fill it out, you fill it out, anybody can fill it out—and prepared properly (that’s the key, and we’ll talk about that in a minute), once the Vermont DMV gets it, their average turnaround time right now is averaging 7 to 10 business days. So, a week or so, maybe a week and a half, and then you’ll get that registration in the mail from the state of Vermont. Once you get it, then you bring it to your state along with the proper documents for your state. You’re going to need an MV1 or a title application for your state, probably need insurance, and then your state will issue a title.

Normally, most states issue a title instantly, so if you walk in the door in person, you can usually walk out with a title. Now, there are a couple of exceptions to that. If your state has major branches and minor branches, some minor branches can’t issue titles on the spot because they don’t keep the title certificates in stock—they have to mail it to you. Or if you don’t want to make an appointment and go wait in line, you can mail it into the State DMV in your state and get it back usually in about four to five days or a week. So for most people, it might take you a week and a half to two weeks.

Now here’s the key: if the paperwork is done 100% correctly, and if it’s typed—not handwritten, but typed—it’s 7 to 10 business days. They have an automated system in Vermont where, when the paperwork comes in, it goes through a scanner and it scans and reads the documents. It can do it through automation so people don’t have to read it; there’s no humans that have to look at it. If the paperwork is handwritten or it’s messy or if there’s something off or something not exactly right, it gets kicked out of the automation process and goes into manual review. That can take longer—that can take three weeks, sometimes four weeks—even if it’s correct, it takes longer because now somebody has to read it and it sits on a desk, and they don’t process it right away.

If there’s something wrong with the paperwork, same thing—it’s going to go to manual review, might take three or four weeks, and they’ll send you back a rejection letter. Now you have to start over. They’ll tell you what the problem is, and they’ll make it easy to fix, but you just have to send it back in and wait again.

So the question of how long does it take to get a title going through the Vermont bill of sale process: if everything is done right—i's dotted, t’s crossed, all the right boxes are checked—you can figure a week to a week and a half, maybe two weeks altogether including getting the title from your state.

Now, if you want to make sure it’s done properly, check out our video channel—you’re on it right now. Do a search for instructions on filling out that form. It’s called the VD-119 form. And also, you might need a VT-010 VIN verification. If you watch those instructions, we will give you the step-by-step details on how to fill out the form the right way.

There’s a couple of very common errors that people make. There’s a box that looks like you’re supposed to check it off—but you can’t; you have to leave it blank. But there’s also a blank space that says “optional” on the box, but you have to put something in there. If you don’t put something in, they’ll kick it back.

So if you watch that video—and we update it a couple times a year because the forms change and the requirements change—you’ll get the proper title back to you much faster than if there’s errors or you handwrite it or other things. They don’t have any rush processing, and you also don’t want to use their online version because their online version actually doesn’t issue the full permanent registration—just a provisionary. And you still have to send in the forms, and it actually takes longer. That’s more for people who are local in Vermont and want to walk in the door.

So don’t use their online version. Do it in writing with paper. It takes a little longer because you have to mail it. Make sure you mail it to the right address—you’ll see the address on our website—and you can get your Vermont title process done a lot faster using those couple little steps.