Bill of Sale for a Car

A car bill of sale is the receipt for a private vehicle sale: who sold it, who bought it, what changed hands and for how much. Most DMVs want to see one, alongside the signed title, when the buyer registers the car and pays sales tax.

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1 Seller and buyer

Seller full name

Buyer full name

Seller address

Buyer address

2 The motor vehicle

Year

Make

Model

Body style

Color

VIN

We check the length and the check digit as you type.

Title number

Plate / registration no.

Odometer reading

Mileage is

Federal law requires an odometer disclosure for this vehicle (model year 2011 or newer, under 20 years old). How the rule works

3 Price and terms

Sale price (USD)

Paid by

Date of sale

City of sale

This is a gift (no money changes hands)

Sold "as is", no warranty

Seller confirms no liens or loans

Add notary block

Add witness line

Special terms (optional)

Original · Seller

Vehicle Bill of Sale

I, __________________________ ("Seller"), of ________________________________, in exchange for the sum of $____________ (______________________________ dollars), paid by cash, the receipt of which is acknowledged, sell and transfer to __________________________ ("Buyer"), of ________________________________, the following motor vehicle:

Year	______________
Make	______________
Model	______________
Body style	______________
Color	______________
VIN	____________________________
Title number	______________
Plate / registration no.	______________

Odometer disclosure

Federal and state law require you to state the mileage upon transfer of ownership. Failure to complete or providing a false statement may result in fines and/or imprisonment. I, the Seller, state that the odometer now reads ____________ miles and to the best of my knowledge it reflects:

☒ the actual mileage☐ mileage in excess of its mechanical limits☐ not the actual mileage (warning: odometer discrepancy)

Terms

The motor vehicle is sold "as is, where is", with no warranty, express or implied, including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The Buyer has had the opportunity to inspect it and accepts it in its present condition.

The Seller states that they are the lawful owner, that the motor vehicle is free of all liens, loans and encumbrances, and that they have the right to sell it.

Signed on ____________________.

Seller signature	Buyer signature
Seller printed name	Buyer printed name

What a vehicle bill of sale should include

Full VIN (17 characters for 1981 and newer vehicles)
Year, make, model and body style
Odometer reading and whether it is the actual mileage
Sale price and date
Printed names, addresses and signatures of both parties
An "as is" statement if you are not giving any warranty

Selling a vehicle under 20 model years old (2011 or newer)? Federal law also requires an odometer disclosure; the form above includes it.

Not giving any promises about condition? Keep the as-is clause ticked. Need a notary? See which states require one.

After you both sign

Make two copies. Each side keeps a signed original or copy.
Hand over the title (if the motor vehicle is titled), signed in the seller section.
Seller: remove plates if your state requires it and file any notice of sale.
Buyer: register and pay sales tax within your state's deadline, often 10–30 days.

Questions people ask

Is a bill of sale enough to transfer a car?

Usually not on its own. In almost every state ownership moves with the signed certificate of title; the bill of sale is supporting proof of the price and date. The exceptions are older vehicles that some states no longer title (for example Georgia for 1985 and older, Maine for 1994 and older), where the bill of sale does carry the transfer.

Do both buyer and seller sign?

Yes. Both should sign and each should keep a copy. Some states only require the seller's signature, but a document signed by both is much harder to dispute later.

What if the car has no title?

Ask the seller to apply for a duplicate title before the sale. A bill of sale alone rarely gets a titled vehicle registered, and some states treat a missing title as a red flag for theft.

Should I report the sale?

As the seller, yes. Many states have a notice-of-sale or release-of-liability step (California's NRL, Florida's HSMV 82050, for example). It protects you from tickets and tolls the new owner runs up before they re-register.

Vehicle bill of sale by state

Pick your state for the agency, official form number and notary rules. The generator above works for every state.

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