Family transfer — What You Need to Know
The vehicle is transferred between immediate family members. Many states offer reduced or waived sales and use tax for qualifying family transfers.
Seller guidance
Identify whether your state's DMV has a specific family transfer exemption form or requires a relationship affidavit. Qualifying relationships vary by state but typically include spouses, parents, children, siblings, and grandparents. Keep the bill of sale simple and clearly state the relationship.
Buyer guidance
Even if no money changes hands, you will owe use tax on fair market value in some states unless you qualify for the family exemption. Bring your relationship documentation (marriage certificate, birth certificate) to the DMV when re-registering. The title transfer process is otherwise the same as a standard sale.
Legal note (Massachusetts-specific)
Massachusetts exempts intra-family vehicle transfers from the 6.25% sales/use tax, provided the transferee is a spouse, parent, child, brother, or sister and the transferor previously paid Massachusetts sales or use tax on the vehicle. Use Form MVU-26 (Affidavit in Support of a Claim for Exemption from Sales or Use Tax for a Motor Vehicle Transferred Within a Family). The MVU-26 exemption eliminates both the sales tax and the $25 gift fee. Grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and cousins do not qualify for MVU-26; those transfers must use MVU-24 and pay the $25 gift fee if no consideration is exchanged.
Family transfer checklist
- Confirm qualifying family relationship under your state's DMV rules
- Obtain the required family transfer exemption form or affidavit
- Document fair market value on the bill of sale (for tax records)
- Bring relationship proof (marriage certificate, birth certificate) to the DMV
- Determine if IRS Form 709 is required if value exceeds the annual gift exclusion
- Complete Form MVU-26 (Affidavit — Family Transfer) — eligible relationships: spouse, parent, child, brother, sister only
- Bring proof of relationship (birth certificate or marriage certificate) to the RMV
- Transfers to grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, or cousins do not qualify — use MVU-24 with $25 fee instead
Bus Safety & Recall Information
Data sourced from NHTSA safety ratings and recall databases
Average Safety Rating
0 / 5
Avg. Price Range
$5,000–$100,000
Odometer Disclosure
Not required
Safety checkpoints for bus buyers
- Verify DOT inspection history — buses have stricter inspection requirements than passenger vehicles
- Check emergency exit operation for all doors, windows, and roof hatches
- Inspect brake system including air brake components and ABS function
- Test all lighting, stop arms (school bus), and warning systems
- Confirm fire extinguisher is present, properly mounted, and inspection-current
- Verify first-aid kit and body-fluid cleanup kit are present (school bus requirement)
- Test child-check reminder system and rearmost rear-aisle alarm (where required)
- Inspect seat-frame welds and seat-back integrity for all rows
Common recall categories
BrakesEngineElectricalBody StructureEmergency Exits
On average, each bus model has approximately 3.2 recalls. Always check your specific vehicle at NHTSA.gov/recalls before completing a sale.
Craig Family transfer bus generator — when to file
Massachusetts requires title transfer within 10 days of the sale date on the bill of sale. For family transfer transactions specifically, file at Massachusetts DMV – Craig (Visit https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-registry-of-motor-vehicles to find the nearest Craig office) during normal hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (verify hours with local office). Miss the 10-day window and Massachusetts typically charges a late-transfer penalty plus accrued use tax, and the seller can remain on the title for civil liability until the buyer completes retitling. Bring the signed title, the completed Craig bill of sale, your government-issued ID, and payment for the $75.00 title transfer fee plus 6.25% sales tax on the purchase price.
Generator reminder. Whether you keep your generator as a generator-produced document, both buyer and seller should leave the signing with an identical executed copy. The buyer needs the original to present at Massachusetts DMV – Craig; the seller keeps a duplicate to prove the date of transfer if a future liability question arises before the title fully retitles.