An Indiana bill of sale form documents the official sale of personal property in the state of Indiana and can be used as proof of ownership. There are different types of bills of sale, including those used specifically for selling vehicles, boats, and firearms. Some Indiana bills of sale will require a notary public stamp before they can be signed and made legally binding.
Types of Bill of Sale
Indiana Bill of Sale Requirements
Bills of sale are not required in vehicle and vessel transfer transactions in Indiana, though the state’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), which handles the paperwork for both, offers an official form, Form 44237, if needed. The document is used in some title transfers, such as when there is no title available and one cannot be obtained. In such a situation, a bill of sale is required.
Language Requirements
The BMV does not print forms in Spanish or any other language, including bills of sale. However, you may request an interpreter through the BMV to assist with the processing of forms. Since a bill of sale is not required by the state, it can be written in any language of your choosing as long as the parties understand the document clearly. However, when it is required in a transaction, it must be submitted in English.
Number of Copies
When a bill of sale is required by the state in order to facilitate a transaction, a copy must be submitted to the BMV, and a courtesy copy should be provided to both the seller and the buyer. When the bill of sale is not considered requisite, a copy for each party is sufficient.
Indiana Vehicle Bill of Sale Requirements
Motor vehicle bills of sale in Indiana, when needed in a transaction, must be notarized. If you choose not to use the state-provided form, you may draft your own. Regardless of your preference, all vehicle bills of sale should contain the following:
- The names, contact information, and signatures and the buyer and seller
- The vehicle identification number or VIN
- The make, model, and year of the vehicle
- The selling price
- The purchase date
- The notary’s signature and stamp, if there is no title
After Purchasing a Vehicle
In addition to drafting a bill of sale, there are several other steps involved in registering and titling your vehicle or vessel in Indiana. Here is a detailed list:
Dealership Sales
For buyers:
- When you purchase a vehicle from a dealer in Indiana, the dealership will likely handle you registration and titling paperwork for you. They will also collect the registration and titling fees and taxes as part of the process.
- If the dealer asks you to register and title the vehicle yourself, they will provide you with a manufacturer’s certificate of origin to prove ownership.
Private Sales
For sellers:
- You must fill out the seller-designated area of the certificate of title, located on the back. You must provide the sales date and purchase price, as well as the odometer reading. If you cannot locate or obtain the title, a Bill of Sale, or Form 44237 is required. You must also include an Odometer Disclosure Statement, or Form 43230, and a Mechanic’s Lien Bill of Sale, or Form 23104, if necessary.
For buyers:
- An emissions test is not required prior to registration and titling your vehicle, but you will need to get one every 2 years after the process is completed. If you never had an Indiana title on your vehicle, you will need to have a VIN inspection completed at any BMV branch for free, or by any local police officer for a fee of up to $5. If you use a police officer, you must have him or her complete an Affidavit of Police Officer/Physical Inspection of an Indiana Resident’s Vehicle/Watercraft, or Form 39530.
- All vehicles in the state must be titled prior to registration or as part of the registration process. You can title your vehicle in person at your local BMV branch or by mail. You will need the Application For Certificate Of Title for a Vehicle or Form 00205, the original certificate of title or a Bill of Sale indicating ownership, the odometer statement completed by the seller on the back of the title, or an Odometer Disclosure Statement or Form 43230, a Physical Inspection of a Vehicle or Watercraft or Form 39530, if applicable, proof of your address and Social Security number, payment of the 7% sales tax or a Certificate of Gross Retail or Use Tax Paid or Form ST-108, or, if you are exempt from sales tax, a Certificate of Gross Retail or Use Tax Exemption or Form ST-108E.
- You may register your vehicle online if it was purchased in the last 45 days, you have an Indiana title, and your Application for Certificate of Title for a Vehicle, or Form 00205, has already been submitted to the BMV. You can then go to the MyBMV online registration portal and enter your title information and driver’s license number. You will then be instructed on how to pay your registration fees online.
- If you purchased your vehicle over 45 days prior, you will need to register your vehicle in person at your local BMV branch. You must bring the original title if you have not yet titled the vehicle in your name, along with an Application for Certificate of Title for a Vehicle, or Form 00205, proof of Indiana car insurance, and payment for all registration fees and taxes. A Bill of Sale, or Form 44237, is required to register vehicles that do not have an existing title. You will receive your plates and stickers after all paperwork is filed and all fees are paid.
- Registration fees depend on the vehicle’s type, age, and price, as well as the county in which you reside. Conditional fees include the license plate transfer fee, the duplicate registration certificate fee, and the license plate or sticker fee, all of which are $9.50, and the late vehicle registration fee of $15. You must also pay an excise tax upon registration along with a surtax or wheel tax depending upon which county or city you live in.
Indiana Gun Bill of Sale
In Indiana, you are not required to register or apply for a permit for a handgun or shotgun. That means that a firearm bill of sale is not required, though it is still a good idea to have one for your records. Make sure your gun bill of sale has the following:
- The buyer’s and seller’s names, contact information, and signatures
- The make, model, caliber, and serial number
- The purchase price
- The sales date
Free Indiana Bill of Sale Forms
