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 Boat Bill of Sale
The same state-issued form is offered on the BMV website for vessel sales transactions. Again, you have the option to create your own boat bill of sale instead. As stated above, all bills of sale should list the following:
- The names, contact information, and signature of the buyer and seller
- The hull identification number or HIN
- The make, model, and year of the vessel
- The selling price
- The purchase date
- The notary’s signature and stamp, if there is no title
The Indiana BMV does not carry a penalty of perjury on any of its forms but does take lying on such state-issued forms seriously. It is stated in Indiana Code, section 35-44.1-2-1, that “a person who… makes a false, material statement under oath or affirmation, knowing the statement to be false or not believing it to be true… commits perjury, a Level 6 felony.” The penalty for perjury is prison time of up to two and a half years and/or a $10,000 fine.
After Purchasing a Vessel
Dealership Sales
For sellers:
- When buying a vessel from a dealership, you must obtain a completed Form ST-108 from the dealer showing that sales tax was paid, or a Form ST-108E showing that you are exempt.
Private Sales
For sellers:
- A certificate of title is required to prove ownership of a vessel prior to selling. If you do not have the certificate of title to prove ownership of your vessel, you will need to fill out a Watercraft Ownership Affidavit, or Form 55100. However, if you own a vessel that was exempt from titling prior to July 1, 2016, you will not have to provide a certificate of title to the buyer. Instead, you must provide a Bill of Sale, or Form 44237. This includes vessels purchased prior to January 1, 1986, homemade vessels, or vessels valued under $3,000 when new.
For buyers:
- Both motorized and non-motorized vessels must be registered with the BMV, display decals, and pay applicable taxes and fees. Exemptions to registration include vessels that are registered in other states or countries that are only using Indiana waterways for less than 60 days, lifeboats, human-propelled craft, and vessels docked on Indiana’s portion of Lake Michigan for up to 180 days.
- All vessels that require registration require titling. Within 45 days of the purchase date you must apply for a certificate of title and registration or risk an administrative penalty. However, new Indiana residents will have 60 days to apply.
- To register and title your vessel, you must go to your local BMV and provide proof of ownership, such as the original certificate of title or a bill of sale, proof of residency and Social Security number, and proof that sales tax was paid such as a Certificate of Gross Retail or Use Tax Paid on the Purchase of a Motor Vehicle or Watercraft, or Form 48842, or proof that you are exempt such as a Certificate of Gross Retail or Use Tax Exemption for the Purchase of a Motor Vehicle or Watercraft, or Form 48841. The BMV will mail a certificate of registration, a registration number, and 2 decals within 14 days. Your registration should be renewed annually.
- Additional fees include a title fee of $15, a duplicate registration fee of $9.50, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources annual fee of $5, a 7% sales tax, and a watercraft excise tax that is dependent on your vessel’s class and age. Registration fees are dependent upon the length of your vessel. They are as follows:
- 13 feet or less: $15
- 13 feet up to 26 feet: $18
- 26 feet up to 40 feet: $21
- 40 feet or longer: $24
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
