Table of Contents
- Download an Arizona Vehicle / Car Bill of Sale Template – PDF
- Arizona Bill of Sale Requirements
- Arizona Boat Bill of Sale
- Arizona Gun Bill of Sale
1. Download an Arizona Vehicle / Car Bill of Sale Template – PDF
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2. Arizona Bill of Sale Requirements
Arizona law does not require a vehicle bill of sale, which is a legal contract that serves as proof that vehicle ownership has been transferred in a private sale. Instead, sellers must submit a sold notice, which notifies the state of the change in ownership and protects a person from liability, and give the buyer the notarized vehicle title. When an individual buys a vehicle from a dealership and the vehicle record is an electronic Dealer Reassignment Title, a representative from the dealership must submit a state-provided bill of sale from the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). However, Arizona accepts a bill of sale as proof of ownership for abandoned vehicles.
Abandoned Vehicles
Arizona accepts a sold notice or bill of sale as a form of proof of ownership when a vehicle is abandoned. When a vehicle is lost, stolen, unclaimed, or removed from a public highway or property, it is considered abandoned.
As a courtesy, Arizona provides a sample bill of sale that can be completed and submitted to avoid being fined an abandoned vehicle fee. The registered owner is charged a $500 fee for vehicles abandoned on private property and a $600 fee for vehicles left on federal and state properties.
Individuals do not have to use the provided bill of sale form. Instead, individuals can submit personalized documents.
Benefits of Creating a Bill of Sale
Though a bill of sale is not a legal requirement in Arizona, it is a good idea for an individual to create and keep one. Typically, a bill of sale includes pertinent information, such as the name, address, and phone number of the buyer and seller, when and where the purchase occurred, and the amount that was paid for the vehicle. In the case of a seller, maintaining this type of document protects the individual if the vehicle gets junked, is not promptly registered and titled, or it is discovered that it has outstanding parking violations. It also protects the buyer if it is later discovered that the vehicle was stolen or had recently been in an accident.
Though Arizona offers a downloadable bill of sale form, this version only requires the seller’s signature. Creating a customized form that includes both the signatures of the buyer and seller adds validity to the document, showing both parties willingly entered into such an agreement.
Details to Include in a Customized Bill of Sale
Buyers and sellers who opt to create their own bills of sale should include this information:
- The names, addresses, phone numbers, and signatures of both the buyer and seller
- The vehicle selling price and the date the final payment was made
- A description of the vehicle, including the make, model, year, and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
- The date and location of the vehicle sale
- An odometer reading
Both the buyer and seller should each have a copy as a receipt of the ownership transfer. Though the document does not need to be notarized, doing so gives it credibility.
Language Requirements
In addition to offering driver service forms in English and Spanish, the Arizona MVD accepts bills of sale in both languages.
Required Steps After Purchase
A sold notice must be submitted to ServiceArizona, a service provider that partners with the state, within 10 days of transferring, selling, or ending a lease agreement for a vehicle. The sold notice protects the individual from liability for accidents, tickets, and other violations. The seller must fill out the back of the Certificate of Title and give it to the buyer for the vehicle’s ownership to be transferred.
Then an individual must get the vehicle inspected and obtain an emissions compliance form to operate a vehicle legally in Arizona. After all appropriate documents are obtained, the vehicle must be registered with Arizona’s Motor Vehicle Division.
After a vehicle is transferred or sold, the registration is no longer valid. To transfer the title and register the vehicle, a buyer must visit an Arizona MVD location or an authorized third party. The buyer must be able to drive the vehicle to finish this transaction. Buyers that purchased vehicles in private sales must get a Restricted Use Three-Day Permit. Those who bought vehicles from licensed dealers must get temporary registration plates.
Titling and Registering Out-of-State Vehicles
Vehicles that were previously titled and registered in another state must be surrendered when individuals apply for titles and registrations in Arizona. If an out-of-state lienholder holds the title of the vehicle and the lender does not contract with an electronic lien and title service provider in Arizona, the new resident receives only an Arizona registration. A title is issued when the lien is paid off.
An out-of-state vehicle may not need to be inspected in Arizona if the owner provides a valid title or registration.
5. Arizona Boat Bill of Sale
Regardless of size, type, or construction, all motorboats, including inflatable rafts, sail boats, and canoes that have electric motors, must be registered in Arizona. The only exceptions are U.S. Coast Guard-documented watercraft and those watercraft solely used as lifeboats. Arizona requires a bill of sale to register new and used watercraft. The state provides a bill of sale that can be used or individuals can submit their own customized forms that include:
- The names, as well as the contact information of the buyer and seller
- Hull ID number
- Length (size) of the watercraft
- The manufacturer
- Purchase price, as well as the sales tax paid
- Date of transfer
Registering a New Boat
To register a new boat, submit the following documents to Arizona Game and Fish Department:
- A completed Application for Arizona Watercraft Certificate of Number
- A bill of sale
- Manufacturer’s statement of origin
- All applicable registration fees
Registering a Used Boat
To register used or previously owned watercraft, submit the following documents:
- A registration signed on the back by the previous owner
- A bill of sale
- A completed application form 1532, which can be obtained from the Arizona Game and Fish Department
- Applicable transfer and registration fees
6. Arizona Gun Bill of Sale
A bill of sale is not required to sell or transfer a firearm in Arizona. Federal laws require licensed firearm dealers to conduct background checks through the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations, though Arizona doesn’t require background checks prior to transferring firearms.
Since federal laws don’t require dealers to perform background checks if a firearm purchaser shows a state permit to purchase or possess a firearm, concealed weapon permit holders in Arizona are exempt from the federal background check requirement when buying a firearm. In Arizona, private sales or those transactions that don’t occur with a licensed dealer don’t require background checks on individuals that are transferring firearms.
Advantages of a Firearm Bill of Sale
Though a bill of sale is not a legal requirement in Arizona, creating and maintaining one has its benefits. Since it acts a receipt of ownership transfer, it can protect both the buyer and seller from unforeseen liability. For instance, if it was discovered that the firearm was used in the commission of a crime, the bill of sale can prove who owned it at the time.
The document should include:
- Buyer’s and seller’s full names and addresses
- Date and location of the transfer
- The firearm’s description, including the make, model, and caliber
- Serial number or other number identifying the firearm
- The sale price
Disclosures and mechanical defects are other important details that should be included in a bill of sale. Also, it is advised that buyers and sellers keep copies of their identifications for their own protections.
