A District of Columbia vehicle bill of sale is a legal document serving as evidence of the transaction between the seller and buyer of a vehicle. It is essentially proof of the purchase and can be used in the case of a dispute over the ownership of the vehicle.
Owners have 60 days to register vehicles in the District of Columbia, and a bill of sale is required.
District of Columbia Vehicle Registration
Vehicles must be registered within 60 days in the District of Columbia, and the owner must be a resident of Washington, D.C. If you are moving from out-of-state, you should apply for a driver’s license before registering your vehicle.
Where to Register Your Vehicle
A vehicle is registered in Washington, D.C. by visiting the nearest Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) branch. You can find a list of all the DC DMV facilities on the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles website.
Documents Required by the DMV Office
In order to register your vehicle with the Department of Motor Vehicles you need to have the following documents:
- Bill of sale
- Current title or certificate of origin
- Odometer disclosure statement
- Proof of DMV inspection.
- Proof of vehicle insurance
- Registration fees
- Valid Washington, D.C. photo ID
If someone is registering your vehicle for you, make sure you have given them power of attorney for this purpose.
How to Write a Bill of Sale for a Car in the District of Columbia
To register your vehicle, you need to have a bill of sale. A bill of sale provides evidence of the transfer of vehicle ownership.
Follow these steps to write your District of Columbia vehicle bill of sale.
Step 1 – Refer to our free template to include everything needed.
This template will help you develop your vehicle bill of sale in the District of Columbia.
Step 2 – Vehicle Information
The first section calls for information about the vehicle. This should provide the following information:
- Make
- Model
- Year
- Style
- Color
- Vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Odometer reading
- Seller registration number
- Whether or not you have filed an application previously for the title of the vehicle
Step 3 – Seller’s and Buyer’s Details
This section provides the seller’s and buyer’s details, including the following:
- Seller’s full name
- Seller’s street address, city, and state
- Buyer’s full name
- Buyer’s street address, city, and state
- Price of the transfer
- Whether the transfer was a gift and the relationship between the buyer and seller
Step 4 – Seller Certification and Signature
The last section is the seller’s certification of the veracity of the statements in the bill of sale and their signature and date. Note that the buyer does not have to sign the vehicle bill of sale.
Free District of Columbia Vehicle Bill of Sale Template
Utilize our District of Columbia vehicle bill of sale template to build your own vehicle bill of sale.
FAQs
Do I need a bill of sale to register a car in the District of Columbia?
Yes, a bill of sale is needed to register a car in the District of Columbia.
Does a bill of sale need to be notarized in the District of Columbia?
A bill of sale does not need to be notarized in the District of Columbia.