In the US in a private sale, the buyer goes in person with the seller to the nearest tag agency or dept. of motor vehicles office) and the buyer pays a fee to have a title transferred and filed promptly with the state/territory. The seller is right there to sign the title transfer and make sure it happens. If you are selling to a dealership or other business, they have it filed electronically and you have to follow up with them many times to make sure that it got filed properly. Source: painful experience.