How to fill out Texas VTR-271

Appoints somebody to handle the transfer for you. It grants full power and authority to purchase, transfer and assign legal title to one named vehicle - and it comes with full power of substitution, which is broader than most people expect.

Written against VTR-271 (Rev 11/20), issued under Texas Transportation Code 501.0721. This is a broad authority over one vehicle, signed under a felony certification. Read the grant paragraph before you sign, not after.

Two documents, and they are not the same thing. Take the blank VTR-271 from the txdmv.gov copy so you get the revision that is current today.

Step 1 · the form itself Blank VTR-271 — Limited Power of Attorney for Eligible Motor Vehicle Transactions PDF at txdmv.gov · new tab

At a glance

What goes where

On the form	What to put in it
Vehicle information	VIN, year, make, body style, model, plate state and number, and the title or document number where known.
Grantor information	You. Name, address, city, county, state and zip - Texas asks for county on this one.
Grantee information	The person you are appointing, with the same block of details.
Certification and signature	Under the same third-degree-felony header the rest of the Texas forms carry.

What gets this one rejected

•Anything other than black or blue ink. The form says so in its first paragraph, along with original signatures required and no alterations allowed.
•An alteration of any kind. Not initialled, not tidied - the form does not allow them.
•Using it where federal odometer disclosure applies in a dealer transaction. That needs the secure Power of Attorney for Transfer of Ownership (Form VTR-271-A) instead, and this form names it.
•Filing it without ID. Where it is used to apply for title, initial registration or a certified copy, both grantor and grantee must attach a photocopy of their photo identification.
•An incomplete section. All sections must be properly completed for the document to be accepted.

Rules that decide whether it is accepted

•['What full power of substitution means', 'The form explains it rather than leaving you to guess: whoever is given this power of attorney may delegate it by putting another person in their place under a substitute power of attorney. Appoint somebody you would trust to appoint somebody else.']

Every line here was read off VTR-271 (Rev 11/20) itself — the PDF is here — and off the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles pages. This is plain-language help with a form, not legal advice, and where our wording and the agency's differ, theirs governs.

Back to all Texas seller paperwork, or what selling a car in Texas involves.

How to fill out Texas VTR-271

What goes where

What gets this one rejected

Rules that decide whether it is accepted

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