Motor Vehicle (DMV) Bill of Sale Form

Create a bill of sale to formalize the purchase of a new or used vehicle. Start now and build your own printable form with our contract maker and customizable templates optimized for your state.

Templates created by legal professionals

Customize your documents quickly & easily

24/7 free phone & email customer support

Trusted by 9,530 users.

update icon

Last Update March 12th, 2024

create

Fill forms in a few steps

print icon

Save, print, & download

time icon

Done in 5 minutes

What is a Vehicle Bill of Sale

A vehicle bill of sale is a legal document that is used to formalize the sale of an automobile between a buyer and a seller. It creates a record of the vehicle being sold, the price it was sold for, and from whom and to whom the ownership will pass.

Vehicle bills of sale are essential forms when purchasing a car, especially when doing so from a private seller. It is often necessary when registering an automobile or transferring its title at your local DMV to prove that the vehicle is indeed legally yours.

These types of bill of sale also prove practical if a dispute occurs over the ownership of the vehicle between the buyer and seller. The document clearly lays out the terms of their agreement, a description of the car at the time of sale, and the signatures of both parties to avoid ambiguity.

How to Write a Bill of Sale for a Car

Writing your own bill of sale for a car is a straightforward process that can be made even easier with the help of our online legal document making tools. These can help you customize your form with the help of guided instructions, expert tips, and professional templates for any state.

Alternatively, you can fill in a form that can be sourced from the DMV to record the sale or call upon an attorney to create a bespoke form. However, In all cases, when creating your own vehicle bill of sale document you must include the following:

  • The name and address of the buyer

  • The name and address of the seller

  • The year, make, and model of the vehicle

  • A description of the car

  • The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of the vehicle

  • The price agreed between the buyer and seller

  • The date that the sale becomes effective

  • Any warranties that will be made on the vehicle

  • The signatures of the buyer and seller

The document must also contain special sections that carefully detail that the seller is legally entitled to make the sale. There must also be a segment that explicitly states that the ownership of the vehicle is to be transferred from the buyer to the seller in order for the sale document to be fully valid.

Does a Car Bill of Sale Need to be Notarized?

In most states, you do not need to go to a notary public to complete your Car Bill of Sale. 

There are 6 states that require you to notarize your Car Bill of Sale to be able to transfer the tile of your vehicle. 

Check the table below to see if your state requires you to notarize your document. 

State Statute
Louisiana § RS 32:705
Maryland § 13-809
Nebraska § 60-140
Montana § 61-3-208
West Virginia § 17A-3A-1

Vehicle Bill of Sale Example

Before starting a vehicle bill of sale it is sensible to review what a completed example looks like. Our sample bill of sale below shows how your final document will be structured, how it should be worded, and what essential details you’ll need to include.

view preview icon
Bill of Sale Car Sample

Car Bill of Sale FAQs

Vehicle bills of sale are relatively simple legal documents but it is important to understand them fully to avoid any mistakes or misunderstandings. If you’re still unsure of some of their uses or key details, simply read the answers to our FAQs below for more information.

Do I Need a Bill of Sale for My Car?

A vehicle bill of sale is often an essential necessity when transferring a used car between a seller and a buyer. Once completed it will help the buyer complete the paperwork to finalize full ownership of the vehicle with the DMV such as the transfer of title and completing vehicle registration under the new owner’s name.

How to Use a Vehicle Bill of Sale?

The vehicle bill of sale of a newly purchased used car is necessary in many states in order to complete the transfer of title between the buyer and the seller and to register the vehicle with the DMV.

However, the seller may also use the bill of sale to demonstrate that they no longer are the legal owner of the vehicle in the event that the new owner commits any traffic violations whilst in the possession of the car.

Who Keeps the Bill of Sale?

Both parties must keep a copy of the vehicle bill of sale once it has been completed and signed. This allows buyers to register their vehicle and transfer the title with the DMV and sellers to legally prove that they are no longer the owner of the vehicle.

How Long is a Bill of Sale Good for?

In general, a vehicle bill of sale can be kept almost indefinitely as a record to prove the validity of a transaction. Nevertheless, it usually safe to discard any old sale documents such as this a year after the transaction has been completed.

view preview icon
Bill of Sale Car Sample

You are only a few steps away from your own Car Bill of Sale!


Download our professional examples

Preview of your Car Bill of Sale

_________ County     $_________
State of _________     _________


CAR BILL OF SALE
IN CONSIDERATION OF $_________, paid by personal check, receipt of which is acknowledged, I, _________ (hereinafter, the "Seller"), the undersigned, presently of _________, _________, _________ _________ DO NOW SELL, TRANSFER AND DELIVER to _________ (hereinafter, the "Buyer"), presently of _________, _________, _________ _________, the following described motor vehicle (hereinafter, the "Motor Vehicle"):
Make: _________
Model Name or Number: _________
Year: _________
Body Style: _________
Color: _________
Odometer Reading: _________
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): _________
Engine Number: _________
License Plate Number: _________
ODOMETER DISCLOSURE

Federal and state regulations require you to state the odometer mileage of the Motor Vehicle on transfer of ownership. An inaccurate or untruthful statement may make you liable for damages to your transferee and for civil or criminal penalties.

I, _________, state that the odometer reading of the Motor Vehicle is _________ miles. I certify that to the best of my knowledge, the odometer reading reflects the actual mileage of the Motor Vehicle described above. Moreover, I certify that the Motor Vehicle's odometer was not altered, set back, or disconnected while in my possession, and that I have no knowledge of anyone else doing so.

Both Buyer and Seller acknowledge the above odometer statements:

By: ______________________________ Date: _____________
         _________
By: ______________________________ Date: _____________
         _________
THE SELLER NOTIFIES THE BUYER, AND THE BUYER HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES, THAT THE SELLER SELLS, TRANSFERS, AND DELIVERS THE VEHICLE IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION. THE BUYER ACCEPTS THE VEHICLE ON AN "AS IS" BASIS. THE SELLER EXPLICITLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING TO, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTY AS TO THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE SELLER'S ABOVE WARRANTY DISCLAIMER DOES NOT AFFECT THE TERMS OF ANY APPLICABLE WARRANTY FROM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE. THE SELLER MAKES NO OTHER REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY WITH RESPECT TO THE VEHICLE OR ITS CONDITION OR PERFORMANCE AND THERE ARE NO OTHER WARRANTIES IMPLIED.
The Buyer warrants to the Seller that the Buyer has fully examined and tested the Vehicle, that the Buyer is purchasing the Vehicle in reliance upon such examination and testing, and that the Buyer is fully satisfied with the Vehicle. On the alternative, and at the very least, the Buyer warrants having inspected the Vehicle. Moreover, the Buyer has accepted the Vehicle in its existing condition.

The Seller declares and affirms under penalty of perjury that the facts in this Bill of Sale are true and correct.
By: ______________________________ Date: _____________
         _________
By: ______________________________ Date: _____________
         _________
Try LawDistrict Now

Instant and complete access to our entire library of legal forms

Edit, download and print in PDF and Word format from any device

Save time and money on legal document creation

Lawdistrict.com offers several models of legal documents for different necessities. By responding to a set of questions through our online document editor you can easily complete and obtain your customized legal document. Please be advised: we are not a law firm and, therefore, cannot provide any official legal advice. If further legal assistance is required, we recommend that you contact an attorney or a law firm specializing in the matter. Our private services are provided for a fee, that in no event includes lawyer, attorney, notary public or registrar fees. The user takes sole responsibility for the use of the legal documents provided. By paying and using our private services you confirm that you acknowledge the above statements.

© Copyright 2024 www.lawdistrict.com All Rights Reserved.