My car has not been on the road for a year and I didn't pay for the tags I sold the car and now it's time for the tags again so how do I go about doing this

You need to get a non o.o permit from the DMV. 0n your renewal notice there is an option for a non op permit for about 41 dollars or so and that stops all penalties until car is ready to put back on the road.if you sold the vehicle you need to fill out a release of liability form to have your name removed as owner of the vehicle

So I have to go to the DMV to get a form to fill out and transfer it.never did it before that's why I'm asking

The person you sold it to needs to take care of the tags. As long as the vehicle is no longer in your name and you completed the release of liability form you should be okay. You should not have gotten a notice for the renewal for the vehicle if they switched the vehicle into their name.