Motor Vehicle (DMV) Bill of Sale Form
A Vehicle Bill of Sale is a legal document that records the sale of a car between a buyer and seller. It details the vehicle's description, sale price, and transfer of ownership. Often required for DMV registration and title transfer, it also protects both parties in case of ownership disputes.
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Car Bill of Sale
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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
- 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.
Car Bills of Sale by State
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.
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.
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.
It must explicitly state that the ownership of the vehicle is to be transferred from the buyer to the seller 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 |
What Papers Do You Need to Sell a Car?
Before you sell your car, you need to prepare the right paperwork. Here are some of the documents that are typically required:
| Document | Why You Need It |
|---|---|
| Vehicle title | This proves you own the car. You usually need to sign it over to the buyer. |
| Bill of Sale | This shows that the car was sold. It includes the sale price, date, and buyer and seller details. |
| Vehicle history report | Many buyers ask for this. It shows past accidents or other important records. |
| DMV paperwork | Your state DMV may require extra forms to transfer ownership. Rules can change by state. |
| Warranty or as-is form | This explains whether the car is sold as-is or with any promises from the seller. |
Having these documents ready before you sell can speed up the process. Requirements can vary across states, so make sure you check with your local DMV exactly which documents you need.
Other Types of Bills of Sale
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.
A Vehicle Bill of Sale is often a 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.
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
- 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.
This is a good idea in the event that the new owner commits any traffic violations.
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.
In general, a Bill of Sale can be kept almost indefinitely as a record to prove the validity of a transaction.
If you draft your document using our customizable template, you can access your finished and signed document from your private dashboard at any time.
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