A vehicle bill of sale is the written record of a private car sale: who sold what to whom, for how much, with which odometer reading, and on what terms. Most states require or strongly recommend one to transfer the title and register the vehicle.
Answer a few questions and download your bill of sale in Word and PDF. Print two copies, sign at the handover, and each party keeps one.
Why both parties need a bill of sale
- For the buyer: it is proof of purchase for the DMV, and evidence of the agreed price for sales tax purposes.
- For the seller: it documents the exact date and time responsibility transferred, which matters for parking tickets, tolls, and accidents after the sale.
- For both: the recorded VIN, odometer reading, and as-is clause prevent most post-sale disputes.
What "sold as-is" really means
In a private sale, "as-is" means the buyer accepts the vehicle in its current condition, with all faults, and cannot come back to the seller if the transmission fails a week later. It does not protect a seller who actively lies about the vehicle's condition or rolls back the odometer: fraud is never covered by an as-is clause.
Buyers: inspect before you sign
An as-is purchase is final. Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle and run a VIN history report before handing over payment.
After signing: title, registration, and plates
The bill of sale complements the title, it does not replace it. The seller signs the title over to the buyer (some states require notarized title signatures), removes the plates where state law says so, and notifies the DMV of the sale. The buyer then registers the vehicle, pays sales tax, and obtains insurance before driving. Deadlines are short in most states, often 15 to 30 days.
State forms may be required
Some states require their own official bill of sale or odometer disclosure form in addition to a private one. Check your DMV's requirements before the handover.
Selling something other than a car? Use the dedicated boat bill of sale, motorcycle bill of sale or general bill of sale templates, each adapted to the identifiers that matter for that asset.
How to sell a car privately, step by step
- Gather the paperwork: the title (check whose names are on it and whether a lien is listed), maintenance records, and your state's transfer requirements
- Settle any loan: a lien on the title must be released before or at the sale, either by paying it off or by closing the deal at the lender's office
- Agree on the price and the payment method, and verify funds before anything is signed
- Complete the bill of sale with the VIN copied from the dashboard or door jamb, the exact odometer reading, and the date and time of transfer
- Sign the title over exactly as the state requires (some states require notarized title signatures) and complete any state odometer or transfer forms
- Hand over keys and title only when payment is secured; both parties keep a signed bill of sale
- Seller: remove the plates where state law says so, and file the notice of sale or release of liability with the DMV, often within days
- Buyer: insure the vehicle, then register and pay sales tax within the state's deadline, commonly 15 to 30 days
What goes in the bill of sale, and why it matters
The VIN and vehicle identity
The 17-character VIN is the vehicle's fingerprint: it ties the document to one specific car regardless of typos in the make or model. Copy it character by character from the vehicle itself, not from an ad, and confirm it matches the title. A VIN mismatch between title, bill of sale, and vehicle is the kind of discrepancy that freezes a registration and, in the worst case, signals a stolen or re-tagged car.
Price and payment method
State the true price and how it was paid. Understating the price to shave the buyer's sales tax is a real offense with real audits: many DMVs compare declared prices to book values and question outliers, and some states simply tax the book value when the declared price looks artificial. If the car genuinely sold cheap (mechanical problems, salvage history), note the reason on the document.
The odometer disclosure
Federal law requires an odometer disclosure on most transfers of vehicles under 20 model years old, and odometer fraud is a federal crime. Record the exact mileage at sale, and tick the appropriate box if the odometer has rolled over or is known to be inaccurate. For the seller, an accurate disclosure is also self-protection: it fixes the mileage at the moment liability changed hands.
The as-is clause and known defects
Private sales are as-is by default in most states, but writing it removes all doubt. Sellers strengthen the clause by disclosing known problems on the document itself: an as-is sale with 'check engine light intermittent, AC inoperative' noted is nearly dispute-proof, because the buyer cannot claim concealment of what the paper discloses. As-is never covers active fraud: lying about a salvage title or flood damage stays actionable.
Getting paid safely
Most private-sale disasters are payment disasters. Cash counted at a bank is the cleanest option for typical amounts; for larger sums, meet the buyer at their bank and have a cashier's check issued in front of you, or use a bank-to-bank transfer and wait until the funds are irrevocably credited. Counterfeit cashier's checks remain a standard scam precisely because sellers trust the format: verification with the issuing bank (a phone number you look up, not one printed on the check) takes minutes. Peer-to-peer payment apps have transfer limits and fraud-reversal mechanics that make them poor fits for car-sized amounts.
Never release the car on a promise
The title and keys change hands when payment is secured, not before. A buyer who needs the car today but can only pay Friday is asking for an unsecured loan, and if you agree, that is a promissory note situation, not a completed sale.
Common private car sale mistakes
- Skipping the seller's notice of sale to the DMV, then receiving the buyer's toll bills, tickets, and impound notices for months
- Leaving the buyer's insurance and registration deadlines unmentioned, which strands the car legally
- Signing the title in the wrong place or the wrong way: title corrections often require affidavits or a duplicate title
- Selling with an open lien and assuming the buyer will sort it out
- Failing to record the exact date and time of sale, which decides who owned the car during that same-day accident
- Accepting a deposit and holding the car without any written terms
- Letting a test-drive happen without checking the driver's license and accompanying the buyer
- Handwriting corrections on the bill of sale without both parties initialing them
State rules: forms, notaries, and plates
The mechanics of a private sale are state law. States differ on whether their own bill of sale form is mandatory or optional, whether title signatures must be notarized, whether plates stay with the car or with the seller, how quickly the buyer must register, and how sales tax on private sales is assessed. A handful of states also require safety or emissions inspections before the new owner can register. Our state-by-state vehicle bill of sale pages, linked below, summarize each state's requirements, so check your state's page and your DMV's checklist before the handover: ten minutes of reading routinely saves a second trip to the counter.
Sellers have one more state-specific task after the buyer drives off: the notice of transfer, sometimes called a release of liability. Filing it with the DMV, online in most states, records the exact date the vehicle left your hands, which shields you from tickets, tolls, and liability the new owner racks up before registering. It usually takes five minutes and is the cheapest insurance a private seller can buy.
Frequently asked questions
Does a bill of sale need to be notarized?
In most states, no: signatures of the buyer and seller are enough. A few states (such as Louisiana and Montana in some cases) require notarization for title transfer documents, so check your DMV's rules.
Is a bill of sale enough to transfer ownership?
No. Ownership transfers through the certificate of title. The bill of sale documents the transaction and is required or recommended by many DMVs alongside the signed title.
Who pays sales tax on a private car sale?
The buyer, when registering the vehicle in their state. The DMV usually calculates the tax from the price on the bill of sale or the vehicle's book value, whichever policy the state applies.
What is the odometer disclosure requirement?
Federal law requires the seller to disclose the odometer reading when transferring most vehicles less than 20 years old. This template includes the disclosure; some states also require it on the title or a separate official form.
Should I accept a personal check for my car?
Prefer cash, a cashier's check verified with the issuing bank, or an electronic transfer that has fully cleared. Do not release the vehicle or the signed title until the payment is secured.
Do I need a bill of sale if I am gifting a car?
Yes, it is still a good idea. Write a nominal price or state that the vehicle is a gift, and complete the odometer disclosure as usual. Many states have a gift exemption or a reduced tax for transfers between close family members, but the DMV typically asks for a signed document showing the transfer, and some states use a specific gift affidavit alongside the title.
Can I sell a car that still has a loan on it?
Not cleanly until the lien is released. The lender usually holds the title, so the common approaches are paying off the loan first, completing the sale at the lender's office so the payoff and title release happen together, or using an escrow service. Never sign a bill of sale promising a clear title you cannot deliver yet.
What if the buyer never registers the car in their name?
You could keep receiving toll bills, parking tickets, or liability claims tied to the plate or the old registration. Protect yourself by filing a notice of transfer or release of liability with your DMV right after the sale, keeping a signed copy of the bill of sale, and removing your plates when your state requires the seller to keep them.
Do I keep the license plates or leave them on the car?
It depends on the state. In most states the plates belong to the seller, who removes them and either transfers them to another vehicle or returns them to the DMV. In a minority of states the plates stay with the vehicle. Check your DMV's rule before the buyer drives away, because driving with the wrong plates can lead to fines for both parties.
Is a handwritten bill of sale valid?
Generally yes, as long as it identifies the parties, the vehicle by VIN, the price, the date, and carries both signatures where required. A typed template is safer because it is legible, includes the odometer disclosure and as-is language, and matches what DMV clerks expect to see. Some states require their own official form in addition to or instead of a private one.
Can I sell a car without the title?
Usually not through a normal private sale. Most states require the signed title to transfer ownership, so if the title is lost you should apply for a duplicate from the DMV before selling. A bill of sale alone does not replace the title in most states, although a few have bonded title or bill of sale procedures for older vehicles.
Vehicle Bill of Sale rules in all 50 states
The table below summarizes the verified state rules with their statutory citations. Click your state for the full local guide; where a cell says "see statute", the rule is either not uniform or not compressed into a single number, and the state page explains what to check.
| State | Notarization | Official state form |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Not required | None cited |
| Alaska | Not required | None cited |
| Arizona | Not required | None cited |
| Arkansas | Not required | None cited |
| California | Not required | Form REG 135 (Bill of Sale) |
| Colorado | Not required | Form DR 2173 (Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale) |
| Connecticut | Not required | None cited |
| Delaware | Not required | None cited |
| District of Columbia | Not required | None cited |
| Florida | Not required | None cited |
| Georgia | Not required | None cited |
| Hawaii | Not required | None cited |
| Idaho | Not required | Form ITD 3738 (Bill of Sale) |
| Illinois | Not required | None cited |
| Indiana | Not required | None cited |
| Iowa | Not required | None cited |
| Kansas | Not required | None cited |
| Kentucky | Not required | None cited |
| Louisiana | Required | None cited |
| Maine | Not required | None cited |
| Maryland | In some cases | Form VR-181 (Bill of Sale) |
| Massachusetts | Not required | None cited |
| Michigan | Not required | None cited |
| Minnesota | Not required | None cited |
| Mississippi | Not required | None cited |
| Missouri | Not required | None cited |
| Montana | In some cases | Form MV-24 (Bill of Sale) |
| Nebraska | In some cases | None cited |
| Nevada | Not required | None cited |
| New Hampshire | In some cases | Form TDMV 22A (Bill of Sale) |
| New Jersey | Not required | None cited |
| New Mexico | Not required | None cited |
| New York | Not required | Form MV-912 (Vehicle Bill of Sale) |
| North Carolina | Not required | None cited |
| North Dakota | Not required | None cited |
| Ohio | Not required | None cited |
| Oklahoma | Not required | None cited |
| Oregon | Not required | None cited |
| Pennsylvania | Not required | None cited |
| Rhode Island | Not required | None cited |
| South Carolina | Not required | None cited |
| South Dakota | Not required | None cited |
| Tennessee | Not required | None cited |
| Texas | Not required | None cited |
| Utah | Not required | None cited |
| Vermont | Not required | None cited |
| Virginia | Not required | None cited |
| Washington | Not required | Form TD-420-065 (Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale) |
| West Virginia | In some cases | Form DMV-7-TR (Bill of Sale) |
| Wisconsin | Not required | None cited |
| Wyoming | Not required | None cited |