Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Form
Selling a used car, truck, or SUV to a private buyer? Build the paperwork here: attach two photos of the vehicle, download the PDF, and type the VIN, odometer, and price straight into the document. AS-IS wording is built in.
Download a blank bill of sale, or build a custom one.
A motor vehicle bill of sale is a signed record of a private car or truck sale — the VIN, odometer reading, price, date, and both signatures on one page. The buyer uses it for title transfer and taxes; the seller keeps it as proof the vehicle changed hands.
Download a clean, fillable motor vehicle bill of sale. Type the details in any PDF viewer, or print it and write them by hand.
Not legal advice. This template is a general-purpose starting point only. Specific DMV and state requirements vary — I understand it is my responsibility to verify local requirements before finalizing a transfer.
One form for any private vehicle sale.
The odometer reading, VIN, and both signatures support the title-transfer paperwork you will file at the DMV.
Answers before you sign.
Do I need a bill of sale to sell my car?
It depends on your state. Roughly a dozen states — New York, Connecticut, Nebraska, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington among them — require one for a private sale or registration. Everywhere else the assigned title legally transfers ownership, and the bill of sale is the receipt that protects both parties. Our requirements-by-state page lists every state's rule.
Is a generic bill of sale legal in my state?
In most states, yes — any bill of sale that identifies the vehicle (VIN, year, make, model), the price, the date, and both parties is acceptable. A handful of states publish an official form and a few require it in specific situations, so check your state's row in our requirements table before you sign.
Does a car bill of sale need to be notarized?
Usually not. Louisiana requires a notarized bill of sale (or notarized title assignment), West Virginia's official form requires a notary, and Maryland requires one only when the form establishes the purchase price of a newer vehicle. Montana and Arizona both dropped their notary requirements in recent years. Everywhere else, plain signatures work.
What happens after we both sign?
Each party keeps a signed copy. The buyer takes the title and bill of sale to the DMV to transfer ownership and pay sales tax — usually within a deadline of 10 to 30 days. The seller should remove the plates where state law says to and file the notice of sale or release of liability that many states offer, which cuts off responsibility for tickets and tolls.
Not legal advice — title and registration rules are state law, and the source links in our state table are the authority.
