A motor vehicle bill of sale is a form that serves as a means of documenting a transaction in which payment was made in exchange for the ownership of a car or truck. The bill of sale accompanies the title, which is signed by the seller at the time of sale. The form can be used for any type of motor vehicle, including passenger cars, trucks, SUVs, sports cars, and commercial vehicles.
By State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Contents |
Required Information
When selling a motor vehicle, the seller will need to enter the following information regarding themselves, the vehicle, and the individual making the purchase:
- The names, addresses, and contact information (phone# + email) of both parties.
- The vehicle’s VIN (the 17-character alphanumeric identification number that is completely unique to the vehicle).
- The vehicle’s make, model/trim, body type, year, color, and odometer reading.
How to Transfer a Car Title
While the title-transferring process varies state by state, the process generally goes as follows:
- The seller downloads and completes a bill of sale.
- The parties sign their names in the designated spots.
- The seller signs the title over to the buyer. If the vehicle is registered in Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, or Pennsylvania, the parties will need to have their signatures notarized (click “Notarize” or “Upload file” after following the link).
- Once all signatures have been recorded on the form, the buyer is now the official title-holder (owner) of the vehicle. They can now register the vehicle, obtain car insurance, and inspect the vehicle (unless the inspection was already performed).
Online Registration Renewal + Fees
The following table provides the links for each state’s online registration renewal for motor vehicles and the accompanying fees.
How to Write
Download: PDF, Word (.docx), OpenDocument
Step 1 – Enter the Vehicle’s Specs
To identify the exact vehicle being sold, the following information will need to be entered into the form:
- Make (e.g. “Toyota”)
- Model (e.g. “Corolla”)
- Style / Body Type (e.g. “4-door sedan”)
- Year (e.g. “2012”)
- Color (e.g. “Red”)
- Odometer Reading (e.g. “84,520”)
- VIN # (e.g. “9324G54657K8791A3”)
Step 2 – Buyer and Seller Information
After entering all of the specs on the vehicle, the following contact information for both the buyer and seller must be provided:
- The date the parties are completing the form (in “mm/dd/yyyy” format).
- The buyer’s full name.
- The buyer’s address (street, city, state, & ZIP code).
- The buyer’s phone number (optional, but recommended).
- The buyer’s email address (optional, but recommended).
- The seller’s full name.
- The seller’s address.
- The seller’s phone number (optional, but recommended).
- The seller’s email address (optional, but recommended).
Step 3 – Select the Transaction Type
Select the type of transaction the parties are engaging in by checking one (1) of the three boxes as shown in the image below.
- Payment – The most common option wherein the buyer pays the seller a specific amount of money for the vehicle.
- Gift – The seller will be giving the vehicle to the buyer at no cost. An estimation of the vehicle’s value should still be entered.
- Trade-in – If the buyer will be providing the seller with a car or truck in exchange for their vehicle, both vehicle’s values should be written. Next the make, model, type, year, VIN #, and odometer reading of the trade-in should be entered into the table.
Step 4 – Choose the Payment Method
Select the payment type that the buyer will be using to pay for the vehicle by selecting the corresponding checkbox. If taxes are included in the purchase price, check “Yes,” if not, check “No.” The seller can specify any additional terms and conditions in the box provided.
Step 5 – Confirm the Mileage
The form includes a disclosure statement, which is a federally-mandated section used to affirm that the mileage amount entered on the first (1st) page is accurate. In the space provided, write the name (or names) of the seller(s), and check either of the two (2) boxes if the statements apply. If the statements do not apply, both boxes should be left unchecked.
Step 6 – eSign It
Enter the date (mm/dd/yyyy) the parties will sign the bill of sale. The form must be signed by the seller and the buyer; however, the form contains signature fields for an additional buyer and seller, if applicable. Each signatory will need to print their name to the right of their signature. The fields for the two (2) witnesses is optional. If the form will be notarized, do NOT sign until directed to do so by the Notary Public.
Step 7 – Have it Notarized
If the buyer intends to register the vehicle, they will most likely have to have the signatures on the document notarized. The parties cannot sign until they are directed to do so by the Notary. It’s important to know that notarization may be optional depending on the state in which the parties reside. If it isn’t required, the notarization area can be left blank.