• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Legal Templates

Legal Templates
  • Business Forms

    Business & Contracts

    All of our legal contracts and documents are drafted and regularly updated by licensed attorneys. Save your hard-earned money and time with Legal Templates.

    Top Business Forms

    Business Formation
    • Business Plan
    • LLC Operating Agreement
    • Articles of Incorporation
    • Corporate Bylaws
    • Buy-Sell Agreement
    Business Operations
    • Business Contract
    • Partnership Agreement
    • Non-Disclosure Agreement
    • Release of Liability
    • Letter of Intent
    Sales and Payments
    • Purchase Agreement
    • Sales Agreement
    • Invoice
    • Purchase Order
    • Business Purchase
    Employment and HR
    • Employment Contract
    • Employment Offer
    • Employment Verification
    • Freelance Contract
    • Non-Compete Agreement
    View All Business Forms
  • Real Estate Forms

    Real Estate

    All of our legal contracts and documents are drafted and regularly updated by licensed attorneys. Save your hard-earned money and time with Legal Templates.

    Top Real Estate Forms

    Landlords
    • Lease Agreement
    • Property Management
    • Eviction Notice
    • Late Rent Notice
    • Lease Termination
    Tenants
    • Room Rental
    • Sublease Agreement
    • Roommate Agreement
    • Notice to Vacate
    • Early Lease Termination
    Home Ownership
    • Real Estate Purchase Agreement
    • Mortgage Deed
    • Quitclaim Deed
    • Deed of Trust
    • Moving Checklist
    View all Real Estate Forms
  • Personal & Family Forms

    Personal and Family

    All of our legal contracts and documents are drafted and regularly updated by licensed attorneys. Save your hard-earned money and time with Legal Templates.

    Top Personal and Family Forms

    Estate Planning
    • Power of Attorney
    • Last Will & Testament
    • Living Will
    • Advance Directive
    • DNR Form
    Personal Finance
    • Bill of Sale
    • Loan Agreement
    • Purchase Agreement
    • Promissory Note
    • Sales Agreement
    Family Matters
    • Parenting Plan
    • Child Travel Consent
    • Divorce Agreement
    • Separation Agreement
    • Prenuptial Agreement
    Affidavits
    • General Affidavit
    • Gift Affidavit
    • Affidavit of Identity
    • Affidavit of Residence
    • Affidavit of Death
    View All Personal Forms
  • Support
    Resources
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Personal and Family
    • Financial
    • Estate Planning
    Support
    • About Us
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • All Legal Documents

    Monday - Friday | 9AM - 7PM EDT

    (855) 335-9779

  • Sign In
  • :email

Home Personal & Family Documents Bill of Sale Maryland

Free Maryland Bill of Sale

Use our Maryland Bill of Sale to record the sale of any item and protect both buyer and seller.

Updated October 29, 2020

Maryland bill of sale forms are used to record the transfer of ownership and sale of personal property such as a vehicle, boat, firearm, or other item in the state of Maryland. Both the buyer and seller should keep a copy of any bill of sale as proof the transaction occurred. If you plan to use a Maryland vehicle bill of sale, you will need to get the document notarized before it can be considered legally binding.

Table of Contents

  1. Maryland Vehicle Bill of Sale
  2. Maryland Boat Bill of Sale
  3. Maryland Gun Bill of Sale

1. Maryland Vehicle Bill of Sale

Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) requires a bill of sale to register and title any vehicle that is less than 7 years old and the sale price was less than the National Automobile Dealers Association book value.

A bill of sale is a legal document that proves a vehicle or other item was sold and ownership has transferred. Those who don’t have access to the association’s book value listings can confirm a vehicle’s book value by calling the MVA at (400) 768-7000.

The MVA provides a downloadable form that must be used if the vehicle is fewer than 7 years old and the sale price is below book value. MVA will also accept a customized bill of sale for a car that is older than 7 years and sold at or above book value at the time of registration.

If a vehicle is sold for book value or more and is older than 7, an individual only needs to write in the purchase price, sale date, and the odometer reading under the “Assignment of Ownership” section on the Maryland Certificate of Title to change ownership. Additionally, if the sale price of the vehicle is within $500 of the retail value listed in the National Publication of Used Car Values, MVA will accept the purchase price as completed on the title.

Advantages of Having a Bill of Sale

Even if Maryland did not require a bill of sale, it is good practice to create and keep one. A bill of sale provides buyers and sellers with a record of the vehicle transaction and proves ownership changed.

For example, if the seller racked up a large number of tickets, got into an accident, or used the vehicle during the commission of a crime prior to the sale, it protects new owner. The same is true for the seller. If the new owner fails to properly register and title the vehicle, the seller can prove he/she no longer owns the vehicle by showing the bill of sale. Additionally, a bill of sale can be referenced to ensure proper taxes were paid.

Finally, Maryland only regulates licensed dealer sales, so keeping a record of a sale is especially important in private vehicle sales. Therefore, the MVA recommends buyers and sellers keep transfer of ownership papers and other documents for their own records.

Details to Include in a Customized Bill of Sale

Maryland requires a personalized bill of sale contain:

  • A description of the vehicle, including the year, make, model, vehicle style, and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
  • Printed names and signatures of the buyer and seller
  • Date of the sale
  • Total cost of the vehicle
  • Odometer reading, except when the reading is not the actual mileage or the mileage is over mechanical limits.

If the vehicle is being sold for less than book value, the document must include a reason for the price reduction. Also, a bill of sale must be notarized and include the notary’s printed name, signature, and commission expiration of the notary.

Language Requirements

Maryland only accepts documents in English. Any document, including a bill of sale, must be translated into English. As a public service, the MVA provides a list of interpreters and translation providers.

Excise Tax

Maryland charges an excise tax of 6% of the vehicle’s book value or 6% of the purchase price on the notarized bill of sale for any vehicle that is fewer than 7 years old. The state’s minimum excise tax is $38.40.

Registering and Titling a Vehicle

Individuals can register and title vehicles by visiting a MVA branch office location mailing the documents to the department’s Mail In Title Unit, or visit an MVA licensed tag and title service.

In addition to payment for applicable taxes and fees, Maryland requires individuals to submit an Application for Certificate of Title, a Maryland Certificate of proof of ownership, an Odometer Disclosure Statement, and proof of purchase, such as a bill of sale signed by the buyer and seller. MVA’s bill of sale must be completed and notarized if the vehicle is fewer than 7 years old, the purchase price is at least $500 below book value, and the new owner wants to base the excise tax on the selling price instead of the book value.

Also, if a vehicle is from a state that doesn’t issue a title, Maryland will accept the vehicle’s registration and bill of sale as proof of ownership. If someone other than the new owner is signing for the title, a power of attorney form is required.

Those who register vehicles in person leave with their license plates, registration cards, and expiration stickers. Otherwise, these documents are mailed to individuals. Without exception, all titles are mailed.

3. Maryland Boat Bill of Sale

Maryland requires all commercial and recreational vessels to be registered if it has any type of primary or auxiliary propulsion, and it is used in the state most of the calendar year. The vessel is considered “in use” whenever it is in the water or if it is “kept in any structure in readiness for use.”

To register a vessel, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Licensing and Registration Services requires the original title and completed DNR form B-240 to be submitted to its office.

Additionally, an original certified/notarized boat bill of sale must be submitted if a vessel is used or currently titled in another state and the original title doesn’t include the purchaser’s name, seller’s signature and date, and sale price and the vessel is:

  • New
  • Used
  • Currently titled in another state
  • Greater than 12’ in length and purchased via the Internet and shipped with a manufacturer’s certificate of origin (MCO) that contains no signature or a preprinted signature

A certified bill of sale contains the following statement: “I declare and affirm under penalty of perjury that the facts in this bill of sale are true and correct.”

Information to Include in a Vessel Bill of Sale

A personalized documents must contain:

  • Vessel hull identification number and manufacturer
  • Motor serial number and manufacturer
  • A description of the vessel, including length, horsepower, model, and year
  • Vessel registration number or USCG Documentation Number
  • Sale date
  • Gross sales price, including motor, vessel, and accessories
  • Vessel type
  • Hull material, propulsion, and fuel type
  • Full names, mailing addresses, and signatures of the buyer and seller

Additionally, if the vessel was not previously numbered or documented, the previous owner’s name, the date the vessel was acquired, and the reason why are required.

4. Maryland Gun Bill of Sale

gun firearm icon 1In Maryland, all firearms and assault weapons must be bought from a licensed dealer or law enforcement agency, both of which require background checks. Weapons cannot be sold to a person that a private seller knows cannot lawfully possess a gun, such as any person under the age of 21.

Additionally, anyone who wants to buy, rent, or transfer a firearm from a firearm dealer, private seller, or via gift must complete a Maryland State Police Application and Affidavit to Purchase a Regulated Firearm (MSP 77R).

Though Maryland does not legally require a firearm bill of sale, it is a smart idea to have one and keep it as a receipt of the purchase and transfer of ownership. It protects both the buyer and seller from liability. If the new owner uses the gun to commit a burglary, for example, the seller can use the bill of sale to prove that the gun was transferred and provide authorities with the new owner’s contact information.

Creating a Firearm Bill of Sale

A firearm bill of sale should include the following information:

  • Names and contact information of the buyer and seller
  • A description of the firearm, including the make, model, caliber, and any identifying numbers, such as serial numbers
  • Payment terms
  • Sale date
  • Warranties or disclosures, if applicable
Official Maryland Vehicle Bill of Sale

Free Maryland Bill of Sale Form

Create Your Bill of Sale in Minutes!

Legal Documents

  • All Legal Forms
  • Business Forms
  • Real Estate Forms
  • Personal and Family Forms

Popular Forms

  • Lease Agreements
  • Power of Attorney Forms
  • Eviction Notice
  • Living Will
  • Non-Disclosure Agreement

Resources

  • Legal Resources
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Personal & Family
  • Estate Planning
  • Financial
  • Covid-19 Resources

Company

  • Pricing
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Partner With Us
  • Legal Dictionary

Users

  • Account
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
McAfee - Together is power.
Trustpilot
BBB Accredited Business

(855) 335-9779, Monday-Friday, 9AM - 7PM EDT

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Copyright 2022 Legal Templates LLC. Legal Templates LLC is not a lawyer, or a law firm and does not engage in the practice of law. Legal Templates cannot and does not provide legal advice or legal representation. All information, software and services provided on the site are for informational purposes and self-help only and are not intended to be a substitute for a lawyer or professional legal advice. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use.

Thank you for downloading one of our free legal templates!

Would you leave us a review?

We hope you've found what you need and are able to avoid the time, costs, and stress associated with dealing with a lawyer.

A review would mean the world to us (it only takes about 15 seconds).

Please check your download folder for MS Word or open tabs for PDF so you can access your FREE Legal Template Sample

Thanks again, and good luck!

Leave My Review