How does CA handle the transfer of title?

Many states do it with just a notarized signature.  Once the title is
signed over to the new guy, it's his.  Period.  Maybe you should have a
bill of sale and a copy of the notarized, signed title, just in case he
goes out and does some mayhem before he goes to the DMV to get his own
title, but if it's notarized and the notary can swear to it, you have no
problem.

Whenever I've sold a car to a private party:
1. take money
2. *take your plates off the car*
3. sign over title
4. wave bye-bye
5. call your insurance company and remove car from policy
6. notify DMV, turn in plates and get refund for remaining value of
registration
The buyer should come with temporary tags in order to drive away.
Alternatively, if you are a nice guy, you and a buddy can drop the car
off in the buyer's driveway, do the transaction and get a lift home in
your buddy's car. You are not responsible for waiting at the DMV for
the buyer to get new plates. In some states you are responsible for
selling an inspected car.

Being a Calif resident, where the plates stay with the car, there are
several things to do.
1)  Get the car smogged before you sell it.  The buyer can and will hold you
hostage for the repairs, as you are responsible for selling a car that can
pass smog to be re-registered.  $40 is a small price to pay for piece of
mind.  The results arfe submitted electronically to the DMV, so no need to
worry.
2)  Complete the Release of Liability form that you can download off the DMV
website and fill it out completely.  Doing this, you will not need to
accompany the buyer to the DMV to officially transfer the title.  The form
gets you off the legal hook.....believe me..it works!  Keep a copy though.
The signed pink is all the buyer needs.  It does not need to be notarized.
The Release also states the purchase price, so the buyer can't falsify the
price he paid in order to reduce the sales tax that he pays with the
transfer fees.
3) Take the cash and say good-bye to your car.

Most important....  don't take a certified or any other official check
unless you were at the bank seeing it drawn up.  It could be a fake.  I meet
the buyer at his bank. Have him get a check written or even consider check
because he can even stop payment on an official bank check.  Get notary
stuff done at bank.  Wave good bye.