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Home Personal & Family Documents Bill of Sale Vehicle California

California Vehicle Bill of Sale Template

Use our California Vehicle Bill of Sale to record the sale of a vehicle and protect both buyer and seller.

Updated February 27, 2023 | Legally reviewed by Brooke Davis

A California vehicle bill of sale is a document that represents proof of title transfer of a motor vehicle. It is used in a transaction between a seller and a buyer when the buyer pays an agreed-upon price for the seller’s vehicle.

A vehicle bill of sale in California protects against any legal disputes that develop over ownership issues and also is evidence for the financial records of the buyer and seller.

Table of Contents
  • California Vehicle Registration
  • How to Write a Bill of Sale for a Car in California
  • Free California Vehicle Bill of Sale Template

California Vehicle Registration

California vehicle owners are required to register their vehicles with the California Department of Motor Vehicles. A buyer must register with the California DMV within 10 days of purchasing a new or used vehicle. If an individual is a new California resident, they have 20 days after establishing their California residency to register their vehicle at the DMV.

Registrations must be renewed once a year.

Where to Register Your Vehicle

California residents must register their vehicles either in person at a California DMV office or by sending their documents to the DMV by mail.

Registration renewals can be done either in person at a California DMV or by requesting registration renewal on the California DMV’s website.

Documents Required by the DMV Office

The documents are required when you register your vehicle:

  • Application for Title or Registration (Form REG 343)
  • Bill of Sale (Form REG 135)
  • California driver’s license
  • Proof of vehicle insurance
  • Registration fees
  • Signed certificate of title
  • Statement of Facts (Form REG 256) – required to identify certain aspects and the condition of the vehicle.
  • Smog and emissions inspection

If the vehicle is less than 10 years old, you will also need to provide a record of the odometer mileage.

Note that if someone else is representing you, then you need to give them power of attorney.

A seller has five days after a sale to submit a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (Form REG 138).

How to Write a Bill of Sale for a Car in California

A California vehicle bill of sale provides evidence of the transaction. Here are steps to write a vehicle bill of sale in California.

Step 1 – Follow Our Template for Your California Vehicle Bill of Sale

Use our template to help you create a California vehicle bill of sale.

Step 2 – Vehicle Information

The first section will describe information about the vehicle, including the following:

  • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
  • Year the vehicle was manufactured
  • License plate number
  • Seller’s name
  • Buyer’s name
  • Date of sale/transfer
  • Price of sale/transfer
  • If the transfer was a gift, the type of relationship (e.g., parent, spouse) and the value of the gift

Step 3 – Seller’s Information

This next section should list the seller’s information, including the following:

  • Full name
  • Mailing address (address, city, state, zip code)
  • Signature

Step 4 – Buyer’s Information

This last section should list the buyer’s information, including the following:

  • Full name
  • Mailing address (address, city, state, zip code)

Only the seller needs to sign the bill of sale in California, not the buyer. If the seller’s name does not appear on the title, the Bill of Sale must contain the signatures of the seller and the person whose name is on the title.

Free California Vehicle Bill of Sale Template

Download and create your own free California vehicle bill of sale.

california vehicle bill of sale

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Related Personal Property Documents

  • Boat Bill of Sale: Records the sale or transfer of a motorboat, sailboat, yacht, or other recreational water vehicles.
  • Trailer Bill of Sale: Records the sale or change in ownership of a trailer.
  • Firearm Bill of Sale: Documents the sale of a handgun, rifle, or shotgun between a seller and a buyer.
california vehicle bill of sale

Free California Vehicle Bill of Sale Form

Create Your California Vehicle Bill of Sale in Minutes!

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California Vehicle Bill of Sale Template

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