How to Write a Bill of Sale for a Car

A bill of sale is a written receipt for a vehicle sale. It records who sold the car, who bought it, what was sold, the price, the date and the terms. Some states require one to register the car; everywhere else, it is cheap protection for both buyer and seller if questions come up later about tickets, taxes or the condition of the car.

This guide covers what to include, provides a copy-ready template and lists the state-specific details to check before you sign.

• Your state requires it. Several states require a bill of sale for title transfer or registration, and some require it to be notarized. Your state's DMV website will say.
• The title has no room for the price. The bill of sale documents the sale price, which the DMV may use to calculate sales tax.
• You want proof of the sale date and time. Useful for the seller if the buyer gets a ticket before registering the car.
• You are selling "as is." A signed as-is statement makes the terms clear.
• Special situations, such as selling a car without a title in states that allow it for older vehicles, or selling a car with a lien being paid off.

Even when it is optional, a bill of sale is worth the five minutes it takes.

The parties

• Seller's full legal name, address and phone
• Buyer's full legal name, address and phone
• If there are co-owners on the title, list everyone who is selling

The vehicle

• Year, make, model and trim
• Body style and color
• VIN (17 characters on cars from 1981 onward). Copy it from the title and confirm it matches the dashboard plate and the door-jamb sticker. Our VIN decoder is a quick way to catch a typo, since a mistyped VIN usually fails the check digit or decodes to the wrong car.
• Odometer reading at the time of sale, without tenths
• Title number and state, if you have it
• License plate number, if the plates are going with the car

The sale

• Sale date (and time, if you want precision for liability)
• Sale price in numbers and words
• Payment method (cash, cashier's check, bank transfer)
• If the car is a gift or family transfer, say so; some states treat these differently for tax
• Any trade or other consideration, described

The terms

• An "as is" statement if the car is sold without a warranty
• Anything else agreed: items included (second key, winter tires), repairs the seller agreed to make, or a deposit already paid

Signatures

• Seller and buyer signatures and printed names
• Date of signing
• Notary section, if your state requires one

Fill in the brackets, print two copies, and both sign each.

VEHICLE BILL OF SALE

Seller: [Full name], [Street address], [City, State, ZIP], [Phone]

Buyer: [Full name], [Street address], [City, State, ZIP], [Phone]

Vehicle: [Year] [Make] [Model] [Trim], [Body style], [Color]

VIN: [17-character VIN]

Odometer reading: [miles] miles. To the best of the seller's knowledge, this reading is: [actual mileage / exceeds mechanical limits / not the actual mileage].

Title number and state: [Title #], [State]

Sale price: $[amount] ([amount in words] dollars), paid by [payment method] on [date].

Terms: The seller sells the vehicle described above to the buyer for the sale price. The seller states that they are the legal owner, that they have the right to sell the vehicle, and that it is free of all liens and encumbrances except: [none / describe]. The vehicle is sold as is, with no warranty, express or implied. The buyer has had the opportunity to inspect the vehicle. [Other terms, e.g. "Includes two keys and a set of winter tires."]

Seller signature: ____________ Printed name: ____________ Date: ________

Buyer signature: ____________ Printed name: ____________ Date: ________

This template is a general starting point, not legal advice. State rules differ, so check your DMV's requirements and use its form where one exists.

Most private sales are as is: the buyer accepts the car in its current condition, and the seller makes no promises about future performance. Writing it into the bill of sale makes the agreement clear.

Some limits to know:

• As is does not cover fraud. A seller who knowingly lies about a material fact, such as hiding a flood title or rolling back the odometer, may still be liable.
• Dealers have different rules. Dealers must display the FTC's Buyers Guide on used cars and state whether a car is sold as is or with a warranty; see the FTC's Used Car Rule (opens in a new tab). Private sellers are not covered by that rule, but some states have their own private-sale rules.
• Disclose known problems in writing if you are the seller. A line such as "Seller has disclosed that the A/C does not blow cold" protects both sides.

Federal law requires the seller to disclose the odometer reading on most vehicle transfers, and to state whether it is accurate. Usually this goes on the title itself. Including it on the bill of sale too does not replace the title section, but it adds a second record. See NHTSA's odometer fraud page (opens in a new tab) for the rules and how to report tampering.

Some states require the bill of sale, the title signature, or both to be notarized. If yours does:

• Do not sign in advance. Sign in front of the notary.
• Bring photo ID for both parties.
• Banks, shipping stores and some DMV offices offer notary services, sometimes free for account holders.

Seller:

• Keep a signed copy, and photos of the signed title (front and back) and the buyer's ID.
• File your state's release of liability or notice of transfer, if it has one.
• Remove your plates if your state requires it, and cancel insurance after the transfer is filed.

Buyer:

• Keep the original or a signed copy with the title.
• Take both to the DMV within your state's deadline to title and register the car and pay sales tax.
• Add the car and the bill of sale to your free garage so the purchase is the first entry in its history.

For the full set of documents, see what paperwork you need to sell a car.