A motor vehicle bill of sale is a legal document that records the sale of a car, motorcycle, or another vehicle between a seller and a buyer by transferring ownership of a vehicle from one person to another.
Once the new owner possesses the vehicle, they must register it at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in their state. Depending on the jurisdiction, the DMV may require the owner to present a bill of sale so they can obtain a title.
A bill of sale is especially important when you buy the vehicle privately instead of through a dealership.
By State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
What It Includes
Here are the elements you must include in a motor vehicle bill of sale form:
- Parties’ information: Include the buyer’s and seller’s names, addresses, emails, phone numbers, and signatures.
- Date of the sale: Detail when you’re conducting the sale.
- Vehicle description: Describe the vehicle, including its condition, vehicle identification number (VIN), model, make, year, body style, and color.
- Purchase price: Write the purchase price the buyer will pay, indicating whether it includes sales taxes. Please state the reduced price if the vehicle is a partial gift.
- Payment method: Record the buyer’s payment method, whether PayPal, cash, credit card, money order, cashier’s check, personal check, or another method.
- Warranty information: Report any vehicle warranties, including contracts that protect against issues with the vehicle’s mechanical components and other exterior or interior parts. Don’t include expired warranties.
Private Party Sale of a Car
A private party sale is when a buyer purchases a car from an individual instead of a dealer. The buyer and seller should ensure that the title is transferred correctly by completing the title transfer section on the back of the title. They should also accompany the title with a bill of sale to create a receipt and provide proof of the transaction.
IMPORTANT
Most states don’t require private sellers to ensure the vehicle will pass an inspection. Therefore, the buyer should have the car inspected by an independent party before purchasing. The buyer and seller should confirm the presence of any “as-is” statements and understand their terms before signing.
Benefits of Using Private-Party Car-Selling Websites
Some benefits of using private-party car-selling websites include the following:
- Ability to reach a wider audience
- Avoidance of dealer fees
- Low or no fees associated with listings
- Ability to sell or buy a vehicle online from the comfort of home
- More room for negotiation in prices
- Direct connections with buyers can lead to an expedited sales process
Popular Private-Party Car-Selling Websites
- CarMax: CarMax gives sellers an offer that’s valid for seven days. Sellers can list their cars on websites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace and show that they have the CarMax offer. This offer acts as leverage, encouraging buyers to make higher offers. If the seller doesn’t receive a better offer, they can accept CarMax’s offer.
- Autotrader: Autotrader lets sellers list their vehicles for a small fee and reach a national audience of potential buyers. Sellers can take advantage of additional features like pricing tools and vehicle history reports.
- Hemmings: Hemmings focuses on collectible, vintage, unique, and rare car sales. Its niche market exposure lets sellers find the right buyers with ease.
- Cars.com: Cars.com lets sellers list their vehicles to a broad audience. They can pay for additional advertising fees to expand the reach of their listing.
Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Sample
Odometer Disclosure Statement
Odometer Disclosure Statement
Federal law requires a vehicle bill of sale to include a statement verifying the vehicle’s mileage if the vehicle is under 10 years old and equal to or less than 16,000 pounds and those older than 10 years.
Other Types of Vehicle Bill of Sale
Boat Bill of Sale
Lets you transfer ownership of a boat and document information about the watercraft.
Motorcycle Bill of Sale
Facilitates motorcycle transactions and allows you to transfer ownership from the seller to the buyer.
ATV Bill of Sale
Captures the essential ATV details and officially transfers the ATV to the buyer.
Bicycle Bill of Sale
Provides a record of the bicycle's specifics and legally passes ownership from the seller to the buyer.
Dirt Bike Bill of Sale
Details the dirt bike's information and finalizes the transfer of the vehicle from seller to purchaser.
Mobile Home Bill of Sale
Logs important data about the mobile home and confirms the transfer of ownership between the parties.
Golf Cart Bill of Sale
Documents key specifications of the golf cart and legally shifts ownership from one party to another.
Jet Ski Bill of Sale
Outlines critical information about the jet ski and completes the sale by transferring ownership.
Scooter Bill of Sale
Contains important facts about the scooter while formalizing its handover from seller to buyer.
UTV Bill of Sale
Lists relevant details about the UTV and executes the transfer of title and ownership.
Snowmobile Bill of Sale
Records the snowmobile’s specifications and facilitates the official transfer of ownership.
RV Bill of Sale
Provides a comprehensive record of the RV and facilitates the official change of ownership.
Semi-Truck Bill of Sale
Contains vital information about the semi-truck and legally transfers its ownership to the buyer.
Tractor Bill of Sale
Ensures all necessary tractor details are documented while completing the transfer of ownership.
