Buying a Used Car in McLennan County? The Title Goes Through the Auto Department

Buy a used truck off a neighbor in Hewitt or sell your old sedan to someone in Robinson, and the paperwork lands at the county auto department in the Records Building at 215 N 5th in downtown Waco. The form that does the work is the Application for Texas Title, Form 130-U. The county keeps it on its own forms page under Auto Department, so you can fill it out before you ever stand at the counter.

Texas gives the buyer 30 days from the date of sale to transfer the title before late fees start stacking up, so don't let a signed title sit in a glovebox. Bring the signed-over title, a completed 130-U, proof of insurance, and a photo ID. If the seller gives you the car, a Gift Tax Affidavit (Form 14-317) replaces the usual sales tax with a flat $10 gift tax, but that only works between close relatives, so check who actually qualifies.

The downtown office runs 7:30 to 4:30 on weekdays at (254) 757-5151, and the McGregor and West substations can do the same title work if you'd rather not fight Waco traffic.