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California Vehicle Bill of Sale

Quick answer: California does not require a vehicle bill of sale to be notarized; the parties' signatures are enough. Federal odometer disclosure (49 CFR Part 580) still applies at transfer for most vehicles under 20 model years old. Details below.

A vehicle bill of sale records the seller, the buyer, the VIN, the price, and the odometer reading of a private car sale in California. California does not require a vehicle bill of sale to be notarized; signing before a notary is optional extra proof. The California DMV provides Form REG 135 (Bill of Sale); this page gives you a printable template that records the same sale terms.

Fill in the parties, the vehicle, and the terms, and download a printable California vehicle bill of sale in Word and PDF. It documents your sale; it does not replace the title transfer paperwork California requires.

Create your California vehicle bill of saleRead the full Vehicle Bill of Sale guide

California bill of sale requirements

California vehicle bill of sale requirements at a glance
NotarizationNot required; notarizing is optional extra proof
Official state formThe California DMV provides Form REG 135 (Bill of Sale)
Odometer disclosureFederal rules (49 CFR Part 580) require the seller to disclose the mileage at transfer for most vehicles less than 20 model years old; the official disclosure is normally made on the title itself

Verify before you rely on it

Title transfer practices change, and county offices can have their own requirements. Confirm the current California requirement with the DMV before you rely on this bill of sale for a title transfer.

Vehicle bill of sale requirements in California

California does not require the bill of sale to be notarized: the parties' signatures are enough. Notarizing remains an option if you want independent proof of who signed and when, which can matter if the sale is later disputed, but it is extra insurance rather than a requirement.

The California DMV publishes Form REG 135 (Bill of Sale). This page gives you a printable template that records the same sale terms; if the DMV or your county office asks for the official form at title transfer, complete that one as well, using the same figures. Consistency between the two documents is what matters.

Federal law adds the one requirement that applies in every state: under the odometer disclosure rules of 49 CFR Part 580, the seller must disclose the mileage at transfer for most vehicles less than 20 model years old. The official disclosure normally happens on the certificate of title itself; the bill of sale records the same reading so the paper trail is consistent from handshake to registration.

Keep the roles straight: the bill of sale proves the terms of the private sale (who sold what to whom, for how much, in what condition), while the certificate of title transfers ownership in the eyes of California. You need both sides done correctly, and the DMV controls the second one.

The document itself is short but every field earns its place: full names and addresses of both parties, the vehicle's year, make, model, and VIN, the price and how it was paid, the odometer reading, the as-is statement or any warranty actually given, and dated signatures. Print two copies, sign both, and keep one per party; disputes about private sales are usually disputes about what nobody wrote down.

Step by step: preparing your California vehicle bill of sale

Here is the order of operations for a clean private car sale in California, from agreement to registration.

  1. Agree on the terms. Settle the price, the payment method, and what stays with the vehicle (keys, manuals, service records). Put any promised repairs or conditions in writing in the bill of sale itself, because spoken side agreements do not survive disputes.
  2. Verify the vehicle identity. Check the VIN on the dashboard and door jamb against the certificate of title, and confirm the seller is the titled owner. A bill of sale cannot fix a title problem, so catch mismatches before money moves.
  3. Record the odometer reading. Read the odometer together at the handover and write the figure into the bill of sale. For most vehicles under 20 model years old, federal law (49 CFR Part 580) requires the seller to disclose the mileage at transfer, normally on the title itself.
  4. Complete the bill of sale. Fill in both parties, the vehicle description with VIN, the price, the odometer reading, and the as-is statement using the guided form on the main page, then print two copies for the signing.
  5. Sign it properly. Sign and date two copies at the handover, one for each party. California does not require notarization, though you may notarize for extra proof if you wish.
  6. Finish the title and registration work. Complete the California title transfer with the DMV: the seller signs the title over, and the buyer registers the vehicle and pays any taxes and fees. The bill of sale supports this paperwork but does not replace it, and the seller should keep their copy until the transfer is confirmed.

How this template works in California

Answer guided questions about the seller, the buyer, and the vehicle, enter the odometer reading, and download a printable California bill of sale ready to sign at the handover, in Word and PDF. Both parties should keep a signed copy.

The form, the live preview, and the full guide live on the main Vehicle Bill of Sale page.

California vehicle bill of sale FAQ

Does a vehicle bill of sale need to be notarized in California?

No, California does not require it: the parties' signatures make the document effective. Notarizing is optional extra proof of who signed and when.

Is a bill of sale enough to transfer ownership in California?

No. The bill of sale documents the private sale terms; legal ownership transfers through the certificate of title and the California DMV's registration process. Treat the two as a pair: the bill of sale proves the deal, the title work makes the buyer the owner of record.

Does California have an official bill of sale form?

Yes, the California DMV provides Form REG 135 (Bill of Sale). The template on this page records the same sale terms; if the DMV asks for its own form at title transfer, complete it with identical figures.

Who keeps the bill of sale after a private car sale in California?

Both parties should keep a signed copy. The seller uses it to show the vehicle left their possession on a given date (which matters for tickets, tolls, and liability after the sale), and the buyer uses it for registration, taxes, and proof of the price actually paid.

Vehicle Bill of Sale in other states