PURPOSE
To provide information regarding the requirement for original handwritten signatures on the Application for Texas Certificate of Title, Form 130-U, the Auction Sales Receipts, Form VTR-71-1 and all transfer of ownership documents.

DETAILS
The City of Odessa Police Department (OPD) has informed TxDOT that from May 2002 through mid-December 2004, they used a digitized signature for the authorized agent/seller instead of an original handwritten signature on the Form VTR-71-1 and the Form 130-U. Current statutes, rules, and procedures require that an original, handwritten signature on all transfer of ownership documents including the Auction Sales Receipts and the Application for Texas Certificate of Title documents.

COUNTY ACTION
All Application for Texas Certificate of Title, Form 130-U and the Auction Sales Receipts, Form VTR-71-1 executed by OPD after December 20, 2004, will require an original handwritten signature. These forms will be accepted with a digitized signature only in the event that they were issued by OPD and dated December 20, 2004, or earlier.

CONTACT
If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact your local Vehicle Titles and Registration Division Regional Office. You may also call Mike Craig, Deputy Director, or me at (512) 465-7570. Thank you very much.

In some cases the Registration and Title Bulletins (RTB) contain attachments. If you require a copy of the original signed RTB and the attachments, please email your request with the RTB number to VTR Info Request/Open Records. Repeat requests are subject to charges in accordance with Open Record policies. A subscription service is also available for an annual fee of $250. Subscribers will automatically receive all RTB mailings as they are issued.