Kansas Bill of Sale forms are legal documents used most commonly to document the sale of vehicles, boats, firearms, or other personal property. For the transfer of ownership to officially take place, the required bill of sale must be filled out accurately and signed by both parties.
Some Kansas Bills of Sale will require notarization before the document is legally binding.
Types of Bill of Sale
Kansas Vehicle Bill of Sale Requirements
The Kansas Department of Revenue Division of Vehicles (KDRDV) requires a bill of sale, which is a legal document that shows the transfer of a vehicle between parties and the amount paid for it when titling antique vehicles. Kansas permits the transfer of ownership of antique vehicles, which are those vehicles that are 35 years old or more, with a bill of sale. Any other vehicle that is bought or sold by a Kansas resident must submit an assigned title to transfer ownership. Sometimes, bills of sale also are accepted when titling a vehicle bought in a private sale or when determining appropriate sales taxes.
Language Requirements
Kansas requires all vehicle documents to be submitted in English.
Notarization
When an individual is titling a vehicle with a lien, Kansas requires the notarization of the release of a lien, a lienholder consent from a state lienholder, and the lien holder’s section of the Request and Consent for Kansas Title to be Issued with Lien (TR-42).
In general, Kansas does not require bills of sale, title assignments, and applications to be notarized. However, it has the right to request notarization in “unusual circumstances,” such as if document information is incomplete or questionable.
Even though notarization is not required for all vehicle paperwork, doing so adds authority to a document. A notary is responsible for verifying the identities of the signers and ensuring they understand what they signed.
Sales Tax
In isolated sales, as well as damaged or wrecked vehicle sales, the buyer must pay the sales tax on the vehicle to the county treasurer when registering the vehicle. Sales, which are based on the purchasing price of the vehicle, must be made to the county in which the buyer lives. If the selling price is not listed on the vehicle title, a bill of sale must be provided.
Kansas’ director of taxation calculates the tax based on fair market value if the selling price of the vehicle is unknown or the price listed is not representative of the fair market value of the vehicle.
Registering and Titling Vehicles
In Kansas, individuals must apply for titles for all types of vehicles, including antique vehicles, within 60 days of the sale date by visiting their local county treasurer’s motor vehicle office. Whichever county the vehicle will be located or stored is the office the individual should visit. Penalties are imposed against owners who do not apply for titles within this timeframe. To get new vehicles titled, individuals must bring the following documents:
- A title or manufacturer’s certificate of origin, which is properly signed
- Sales tax receipt
- Proof of insurance
- A completed Title and Registration Manual Application (Form TR-212a)
- Odometer reading
- All applicable registration and title transfer fees
In addition to the above-mentioned documents, buyers who purchased vehicles from private sellers, which are referred to as “isolated or occasional” sales in Kansas, must bring a car bill of sale if the titles do not have a space to list the selling price. Kansas also requires a bill of sale for vehicles that were purchased from an out-of-state individual or business.
Buyer Responsibilities for Antique and Out-of-State Vehicles
Any antique vehicle that dates back to 1950 or newer that is sold or transferred through a bill of sale or vehicles that have titles from out of state, must get a Motor Vehicle Examination (MVE-1) from the Kansas Highway Patrol. An examination also can be conducted at a location designated by the patrol. The MVE-1 and the bill of sale must be submitted when an individual applies for titles.
The Benefits of a Bill of Sale
Kansas does not require a bill of sale for every type of vehicle transaction. However, buyers and sellers should create them and maintain them for their own records because they have their advantages.
It protects both parties from liability. For example, if the seller was involved in a hit-and-run accident prior to the sale, the buyer could show the bill of sale to law enforcement officials to prove he/she did not own the vehicle at the time of the crash. A bill of sale, which acts as a receipt, would show both parties’ names and the date of the purchase, relinquishing the seller from the responsibilities of any damages.
Bills of sales also shield sellers. If the new owner gets a number of parking or traffic tickets within a few weeks of the purchase, which would be before the vehicle was titled and registered legally, the seller can use the bill of sale to prove to authorities when the parties sold the vehicle and the ownership transferred. This would clear the seller of any wrongdoing.
For convenience, Kansas does provide a downloadable form. However, Kansas also accepts personalized documents.
Details to Include in a Bill of Sale
The more information that a bill of sale contains, the better. Individuals who opt to create their own bills of sale should include, at least, the following:
- Seller and purchaser information, including their full printed names, complete addresses, and phone numbers
- The vehicle’s make, model, year, and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
- Purchase price of the vehicle
- Date of the sale
- Signatures of both the buyer and seller and the date the document was signed
Kansas Boat Bill of Sale Requirements
Kansas does not title boats or watercraft. However, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks requires all sailing boats and motorboats to be registered and numbered.
Kansas requires a boat bill of sale when registering watercraft. The state provides a standard form, but also accepts personalized documents. Kansas does not require the document to be notarized.
A boat bill of sale should include:
- The full printed names, addresses, and phone numbers of the buyer and seller
- The boat’s make, year, length, hull ID#, and registration number
- The sale price
- The date of the sale
- Both parties’ signatures
Nonresidents who have boats registered in other states only need to register them in Kansas if they use their boats in its water for more than 60 consecutive days. Certificates of Number must be on in-state and out-of-state boats at all times.
Kansas Gun Bill of Sale Requirements
To obtain a concealed carry permit, an individual must complete an 8-hour training course and then submit an application to the local sheriff’s office. The applicant will be fingerprinted and undergo background checks. The state Attorney General’s Office determines whether a concealed carry license will be issued.
As for firearm purchases, Kansas does not require a gun bill of sale for transfers or sales. However, maintaining one is a good idea. If the weapon is used in a crime, a bill of sale can prove ownership was transferred.
A Personalized Firearm Bill of Sale
A firearm bill of sale should include:
- The full printed names and signatures of the buyer and seller
- The addresses and phone numbers of the buyer and seller
- A description of the weapon, including the caliber, make, model, as well as any numbers or marks that make it recognizable
- Images of the firearm
- The purchasing price and date
- The location of the sale
Buyers also should ask sellers to provide any disclosures about the weapons. If there are any, this information should be included in the document.
Free Kansas Bill of Sale Templates
