Have you ever simply been handed the keys to a “new-to-you” automobile and questioned, “What paperwork will the RMV want so I’m not hit with gross sales tax?”
Or are you passing your previous SUV to your daughter and stressing over which kind—MVU-24 or MVU-26—retains the transaction tax-free?
Within the subsequent jiffy you’ll know precisely
which kind applies, what it prices, and the proof you should carry so the clerk can course of your switch with out surprises.
We’ll (1) outline every kind, (2) lay out a side-by-side comparability, (3) stroll via real-life situations, and (4) wrap up with the paperwork and subsequent steps you’ll want on the RMV counter.
The Fast Reply (for skimmers)
| State of affairs | Right Kind | Gross sales-Tax Owed? | Additional Charge? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car is really a present —no cash modifications palms, giver/recipient may be anybody |
MVU-24 | No gross sales tax |
$25 gift-transfer payment ( mass.gov , mass.gov ) |
| Car is transferred inside your instant household (mother or father, youngster, sibling, partner) |
MVU-26 | No gross sales tax |
No gift-transfer payment ( mass.gov , mass.gov ) |
Use MVU-24 for any
no-money reward; use MVU-26 solely when the giver and recipient are instant household.
What Is Kind MVU-24? – Present Transfers
MVU-24 is the sales-tax-exemption affidavit the giver completes when a car is transferred as a present
, no matter relationship.
( mass.gov
)
- Eligibility:
Any personal party-to-private-party reward the place no cash
modifications palms. - Charge:
A compulsory $25 “reward switch” cost
(plus customary title ®gistration charges). ( mass.gov
) - Paperwork to carry:
- Accomplished, signed MVU-24 kind (each events signal).
- Earlier title (signed over).
- Proof of insurance coverage & accomplished RMV-1/2 kind out of your insurer.
Take note of the $25 payment—many givers neglect to warn the recipient and find yourself scrambling on the cashier window.
What Is Kind MVU-26? – Household Transfers
- Eligible relationships:
Guardian ↔ youngster, spouses, siblings. (Aunt-to-niece and grandparent-to-grandchild do not
qualify—use MVU-24.) - Charge:
No gross sales tax; you pay solely customary title ®gistration charges. - Paperwork to carry:
- Accomplished, signed MVU-26 kind.
- Proof of the qualifying relationship (license addresses, start certificates, or marriage certificates).
- Title, insurance coverage, RMV-1/2 as normal.
For those who can’t show the household relationship on the spot, the RMV will reclassify the deal as a present and cost the $25 payment.
MVU-24 vs. MVU-26 – Detailed Comparability
| Function | MVU-24 (Present) | MVU-26 (Household) |
|---|---|---|
| Who can use it? | Anybody giving a car without cost | Solely instant relations |
| Gross sales-tax exemption | ✅ Sure | ✅ Sure |
| $25 Present-transfer payment | ✅ Sure | ❌ No |
| Proof required | Signed affidavit | Signed affidavit plus proof of relationship |
| Frequent examples | Pal offers you an previous truck | Mother indicators over her sedan to you |
Actual-Life Eventualities
- Pal-to-friend truck hand-off
– MVU-24 + $25 payment. - Dad transfers commuter automobile to son
– MVU-26, no payment. - Grandma to grandson
– Not
instant household per RMV; select MVU-24 and pay $25. - Partner retitles shared SUV after divorce
– MVU-26 nonetheless applies; no gross sales tax.
Frequent Errors (and How
You
Can Keep away from Them)
- Paying the $25 twice.
The RMV prices it as soon as
per reward switch—don’t let an over-eager clerk double-dip. - Bringing the flawed kind.
Givers typically obtain MVU-24 as a result of it exhibits up first in search; triple-check the connection field earlier than printing. - Leaving blanks.
Any clean on the affidavit invalidates the exemption; fill each line, even “N/A.”
What to Deliver to the RMV—Your Guidelines
- Signed title (vendor part accomplished).
- MVU-24 or
MVU-26—no substitutions. - RMV-1/2 insurance coverage kind with stamp or e-signature out of your insurer.
- Proof of relationship (if utilizing MVU-26).
- Your checkbook or card for the $25 payment (MVU-24) and customary title/registration charges for both kind.
Nonetheless not sure which kind works for your
switch? Name our native impartial insurance coverage execs at 617-298-0655
for a fast, no-pressure reply.