A notarized statement of non-ownership affidavit is a legal document in which a person swears (under penalty of perjury) that they do not own—or no longer own—a specific vehicle. It is “notarized” because a notary public witnesses your signature, confirming your identity and adding weight to your declaration.
Such a document can serve as proof of your non-ownership status when asked by a DMV office, a court, an insurance company, or other entities that need to clarify who owns the vehicle. It’s especially useful when confusion arises over title, registration, or liability.
Why and When You Might Need One
You may need a notarized statement of non-ownership in situations like:
- Someone claims you are the owner of the vehicle, but you no longer are.
- A citation, parking ticket, or toll violation is assigned to a license plate tied to your name, but you sold or transferred the car.
- An insurance company or motor vehicle service center requests confirmation you no longer hold ownership interests in the car.
- You sold a car but never transferred the certificate of title or recorded the bill of sale, and now the title or registration is still in your name.
- You want to support a notice of sale or a statement of non ownership Florida (or in your state) to prevent liability after a sale.
- As part of processing a vehicle registration application, the state DMV wants you to clarify who the new owner is.
In many states, if you sell or transfer a car, you’re supposed to file a notice of transfer or release of liability. If you fail to do that, the DMV may still see you as the registered owner. In that case, a notarized statement of non-ownership can help protect you.
Key Terms You Should Know
To follow along more easily, here are a few key terms:
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Certificate of title | The document that proves you are the legal owner of the vehicle. |
| Bill of sale | A document evidencing the purchase price and transfer from seller to buyer. |
| Vehicle identification number (VIN) | The unique serial number that identifies the specific vehicle. |
| New owner | The person to whom ownership is transferred. |
| Transfer of ownership | The legal process of moving title from one person to another. |
| Affidavit of abandonment / affidavit in lieu | Some states accept a substitute or alternative affidavit when the title is lost or unavailable. |
| Power of attorney | If you can’t appear in person, someone else may sign on your behalf (if properly authorized) and then have that document notarized. |
| Required fields / designated fields | The blanks or lines in the form you must fill out to make it valid. |
| Complete fillable fields | The idea that all required parts must be filled in—no blank required boxes. |
| Legal forms | The official, often state-approved templates used for affidavits, title transfers, etc. |
What a Notarized Statement of Non-Ownership Should Include
Although every state may have its own version or required form, most statements or affidavits of non-ownership include the following required fields or components:
- Full name and contact information of the declarant (you).
- Your personal information (address, driver license or ID number, sometimes Social Security in some contexts).
- The license plate number, make, model, year, and vehicle identification number (VIN) of the specific vehicle in question.
- A declaration in plain language, e.g.:“I, [full name], hereby declare that I am not the present owner or co-owner of the vehicle described above, and I have no ownership interest in it.”
- If applicable, a statement of when and how you ceased ownership (sale, trade, transfer) and to whom (the new owner).
- Details from the bill of sale, such as purchase price, date of sale, and signatures.
- A clause affirming the truthfulness of your statement (i.e. under penalty of perjury) and your understanding that false statements may carry legal consequences.
- Space for your signature and date.
- Space for the notary public to sign, apply their seal or stamp, and record the commission expiration.
- If applicable, a power of attorney reference if someone else is signing for you.
- Any extra fields if your state or DMV requires additional data (e.g. state, county, or designated legal forms numbering).
Make sure you completely fill all required fields — missing or blank required fields may invalidate your document.
In states like Florida, you may see a form titled “Statement of Non Ownership of Vehicle Florida” specifically.
Other states use different names—for example, “Affidavit of Non-Ownership,” “Declaration of Non-Ownership,” “Affidavit of Loss / Release of Interest,” or “Affidavit in Lieu of Title.”
STATE OF ____
COUNTY OF __
I, ____________ (full name),
Address: ______________
Driver’s License / ID #: __
Vehicle Info:
- License Plate: ______
- Year / Make / Model: __
- VIN: __________________
Declaration:
I declare that I do not own and am not now a co-owner of the vehicle described above. I have no ownership interests in this vehicle. I ceased to own it on //_ by sale/transfer to _____ (new owner).
Bill of Sale Info (if applicable):
Date of sale: //_ Purchase price: $_____
I affirm under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Signature: ____________ Date: //__
Notary Section
State of ____
County of ____
On this _ day of , 20, before me, a Notary Public, personally appeared ___________,
known to me (or satisfactorily proven) to be the person whose name is subscribed above, and who sworn to and subscribed the foregoing.
Notary Signature: ______
My commission expires: __
(Seal / Stamp)
It’s really as easy as that! You can type it up and print it out or simply hand write it and present it to a notary. Since you are attesting to the information in the document, wait until you are in front of a notary to sign it.
Steps to Create and Use Your Notarized Statement
- Obtain a state-appropriate form or draft your own (see sample above). Some DMVs publish official forms; others accept a custom affidavit so long as it meets criteria.
- Fill in all required fields fully (designated fields) including license plate, VIN, full name, and details of the sale or transfer.
- Do not sign until you are in front of a notary (unless your state allows pre-signing).
- Appear before a notary public with valid identification (driver’s license, passport).
- Sign the document in the notary’s presence; the notary signs, dates, and stamps or seals.
- Make copies (keep some for your records).
- Submit the notarized statement to the requesting party—this may be the DMV, your insurance company, a court, or motor vehicle service center.
- In some cases, file a notice of transfer / release of liability with the DMV if your state requires it, to complete the transfer of ownership process.
If you cannot attend in person, some states may allow a power of attorney to sign on your behalf, but that too may require notarization and adherence to state rules.
What This Doesn’t Replace
- A notarized non-ownership statement is not a substitute for transferring title in states that require it. If the certificate of title is still in your name, you should complete a bill of sale and title transfer if possible.
- If a proof of ownership is needed (for example, to register or insure a vehicle), the certificate of title is usually the gold standard.
- In cases where a vehicle has been abandoned, destroyed, or you can’t locate the buyer, some states allow an affidavit of abandonment or affidavit in lieu of title form.
- A non-ownership statement may not absolve you of every liability—if the DMV or court sees ambiguity or fraud, the document’s weight depends on local law and context.
State Variations and Tips
- Some states publish official non-ownership or non-use forms (e.g. DR 2056 in Colorado, a restricted license affidavit of non-ownership)
- In Florida, a “statement of non ownership of vehicle Florida” form is available to help clarify non-ownership when title or registration is in question.
- In Washington State, the Affidavit of Loss / Release of Interest form includes a section for releasing your interest in a vehicle, and must be signed by all registered owners and notarized.
- In many states, if you sell a vehicle, you should also file a notice of transfer and release of liability with the DMV (so the state knows you are no longer responsible).
- If you’re dealing with out-of-state title issues, some DMVs may require additional proof (e.g. chain of ownership, bills of sale) beyond just the non-ownership statement.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Leaving required fields blank (never skip complete fillable fields).
- Signing before seeing the notary or without proper ID.
- Using a generic template that doesn’t include state-required language or disclaimers.
- Not also filing a notice of transfer or release of liability if your state requires it.
- Assuming this document alone absolves liability—always check state rules and possibly consult legal counsel.
- Not keeping a copy for your records.
Final Thoughts
A notarized statement of non-ownership is a useful tool when you need to formally declare you don’t own a particular vehicle. It adds credibility because of the notary seal and can serve as evidence in disputes involving your name, license plate, title, registration, or insurance company.
However, it should be used in tandem with proper title transfer, bill of sale, and filing of release or notice of transfer as required in your state’s DMV rules. Always confirm your state’s specific requirements and whether the requesting party (DMV, court, insurance company) accepts such affidavits.
Need to have an affidavit of non-ownership notarized? Contact me and I’ll help you out