The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), through its Office of Motor Vehicle, administers vehicle titles, registration, and recorded liens. Before selling, identify the documents that apply to your RV and whether another owner or lender has an interest in it.
Completing the Arkansas Title Assignment
When a certificate of title is required, Arkansas law generally requires the owner to endorse its assignment and deliver the certificate to the purchaser, subject to statutory exceptions. DFA instructs sellers to print the purchaser's name and complete the required signatures and printed names correctly.
Check the title for incorrect ownership information, missing signatures, recorded liens, or incomplete assignments. For joint ownership, confirm the signatures required for the transaction. Do not assume every special document has the same notarization requirement. See Arkansas Code § 27-14-902 and DFA's title-assignment guidance.
Travel Trailer and Fifth-Wheel Titles
Arkansas generally includes trailers operated on public highways in its title and registration framework, subject to exceptions. Permanent trailer licensing for certain trailer categories is not the same as a universal exemption from certificates of title.
Do not assume a trailer is title-exempt merely because it is small or lightweight. For unusually classified trailers or out-of-state paperwork, verify the required records through DFA's title and registration guidance and the applicable law, including Arkansas Code § 27-14-703.
What If the Title Is Missing?
When a required Arkansas title has been lost, stolen, or damaged, the last titled owner or owners of record may apply for a duplicate. DFA's replacement-title instructions distinguish joint owners' names connected by "and" from those connected by "or". For this specific duplicate-title application, "and" requires both owners to sign, while "or" permits either owner to sign.
That rule does not automatically resolve every jointly owned sale or estate matter. DFA lists a $10 replacement fee and advises allowing at least three weeks for ordinary processing. An active or unreleased lien can alter the requirements. A handwritten bill of sale does not automatically substitute for a required title, so resolve a missing title before releasing the RV.
Selling an RV With an Outstanding Loan
An outstanding loan does not automatically prevent an inquiry, but the lender's interest must be addressed before ownership can transfer free of that lien. Ask the lender how settlement and title release work. DFA supplies an Official Release of Lien or Permission to Issue Replacement Title form for applicable situations.
If you owe more than a prospective buyer offers, the difference must still be resolved. Do not assume EasyRVBuyer automatically pays off loans or guarantees a settlement method.
Motorhome Odometer Rules Versus Towable RVs
Motorhomes are self-propelled and may require odometer disclosure. Under 49 CFR § 580.17, federal exemptions include non-self-propelled vehicles, those with a gross vehicle weight rating above 16,000 pounds, and qualifying older vehicles.
Model year 2010 and older vehicles generally use the earlier 10-year exemption framework, while model year 2011 and newer vehicles generally use a 20-year framework. Ordinary travel trailers and fifth wheels are not self-propelled and fall within the federal exemption, though separate Arkansas ownership documentation can still apply.
Inherited RVs, Multiple Owners, and Branded Titles
An inherited RV or one held by multiple owners may require estate documents, additional signatures, lien releases, or proof of a trustee's authority. DFA provides special ownership-document guidance and motor vehicle forms.
Disclose salvage, rebuilt, prior-salvage, or other recorded damage brands. Covered out-of-state branded vehicles being titled in Arkansas may require VIN verification, but not every out-of-state RV undergoes that same process. A title brand does not establish that EasyRVBuyer will purchase the RV or that it can immediately return to road use.
Different Purchaser Registration Deadlines
DFA generally gives purchasers 60 calendar days for motor vehicles and 30 calendar days for trailers after a qualifying transfer or lien release to apply for title and registration. These are primarily buyer-side deadlines, not universal seller filing obligations. Special circumstances and non-use exceptions can matter. Refer to the DFA registration instructions.
This section is general information, not individualized advice about title transfers, liens, estates, tax law, or registration. When a special circumstance applies, confirm the requirements with the relevant Arkansas agency or a qualified professional.