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Motor Vehicle (DMV) Bill of Sale Form

A Vehicle Bill of Sale is a legal document that records the sale of a car between a buyer and seller. It details the vehicle's description, sale price, and transfer of ownership. Often required for DMV registration and title transfer, it also protects both parties in case of ownership disputes.

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Car Bill of Sale

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Last Update December 11, 2025

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What Is a Vehicle Bill of Sale?How To Write a Bill of Sale for a CarVehicle Bill of Sale ExampleOther Types of Bills of Sale

What Is a Vehicle Bill of Sale?

A vehicle bill of sale is a legal document that is used to formalize the sale of an automobile between a buyer and a seller.

It creates a record of the vehicle being sold, the price it was sold for, and from whom and to whom the ownership will pass.

Vehicle bills of sale are essential forms when purchasing a car, especially when doing so from a private seller. It is often necessary when registering an automobile or transferring its title at your local DMV to prove that the vehicle is indeed legally yours.

These types of bill of sale also prove practical if a dispute occurs over the ownership of the vehicle between the buyer and seller.

The document clearly lays out the terms of their agreement, a description of the car at the time of sale, and the signatures of both parties to avoid ambiguity.

How To Write a Bill of Sale for a Car

Writing your own bill of sale for a car is a straightforward process that can be made even easier with the help of our online legal document making tools.

Alternatively, you can fill in a form that can be sourced from the DMV to record the sale or call upon an attorney to create a bespoke form.

However, In all cases, when creating your own vehicle bill of sale document you must include the following:

  • The name and address of the buyer
  • The name and address of the seller
  • The year, make, and model of the vehicle
  • A description of the car
  • The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of the vehicle
  • The price agreed between the buyer and seller
  • The date that the sale becomes effective
  • Any warranties that will be made on the vehicle
  • The signatures of the buyer and seller

The document must also contain special sections that carefully detail that the seller is legally entitled to make the sale.

There must also be a segment that explicitly states that the ownership of the vehicle is to be transferred from the buyer to the seller in order for the sale document to be fully valid.

Does a Car Bill of Sale Need to be Notarized?

In most states, you do not need to go to a notary public to complete your Car Bill of Sale.

Some states require you to notarize your Car Bill of Sale to be able to transfer the tile of your vehicle.

Check the table below to see if your state requires you to notarize your document.

State Statute
Louisiana § RS 32:705
Maryland § 13-809
Nebraska § 60-140
Montana § 61-3-208
West Virginia § 17A-3A-1

Vehicle Bill of Sale Example

Before starting a vehicle bill of sale it is sensible to review what a completed example looks like.

Our sample bill of sale below shows how your final document will be structured, how it should be worded, and what essential details you’ll need to include.

Start Your Vehicle Bill of Sale
PDFWORD

Other Types of Bills of Sale

Preview of your Car Bill of Sale

State of California     $_________
County of _________     _________


CAR BILL OF SALE
IN CONSIDERATION OF $_________, paid by personal check, receipt of which is acknowledged, I, _________ (hereinafter, the "Seller"), the undersigned, presently of _________ DO NOW SELL, TRANSFER AND DELIVER to _________ (hereinafter, the "Buyer"), presently of _________, the following described Motor Vehicle (hereinafter, the "Motor Vehicle"):
Make: _________
Model Name or Number: _________
Year: _________
Body Style: _________
Color: _________
Odometer Reading: _________
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): _________
License Plate Number: _________
ODOMETER DISCLOSURE

Federal and state regulations require you to state the odometer mileage of the Motor Vehicle on transfer of ownership. An inaccurate or untruthful statement may make you liable for damages to your transferee and for civil or criminal penalties.
I, _________, state that the odometer reading of the Motor Vehicle is _________ miles. I certify that to the best of my knowledge, the odometer reading reflects the actual mileage of the Motor Vehicle described above. Moreover, I certify that the Motor Vehicle's odometer was not altered, set back, or disconnected while in my possession, and that I have no knowledge of anyone else doing so.

Both Buyer and Seller acknowledge the above odometer statements:
By: ______________________________ Date: _____________
         _________
By: ______________________________ Date: _____________
         _________
THE SELLER NOTIFIES THE BUYER, AND THE BUYER HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES, THAT THE SELLER SELLS, TRANSFERS, AND DELIVERS THE Motor Vehicle IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION. THE BUYER ACCEPTS THE Motor Vehicle ON AN "AS IS" BASIS. THE SELLER EXPLICITLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING TO, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTY AS TO THE CONDITION OF THE Motor Vehicle. HOWEVER, THE SELLER'S ABOVE WARRANTY DISCLAIMER DOES NOT AFFECT THE TERMS OF ANY APPLICABLE WARRANTY FROM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE Motor Vehicle. THE SELLER MAKES NO OTHER REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY WITH RESPECT TO THE Motor Vehicle OR ITS CONDITION OR PERFORMANCE AND THERE ARE NO OTHER WARRANTIES IMPLIED.
The Buyer warrants to the Seller that the Buyer has fully examined and tested the Motor Vehicle, that the Buyer is purchasing the Motor Vehicle in reliance upon such examination and testing, and that the Buyer is fully satisfied with the Motor Vehicle. On the alternative, and at the very least, the Buyer warrants having inspected the Motor Vehicle. Moreover, the Buyer has accepted the Motor Vehicle in its existing condition.

The Seller declares and affirms under penalty of perjury that the facts in this Bill of Sale are true and correct.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Bill of Sale on _________.
By: ______________________________ Date: _____________
         _________
By: ______________________________ Date: _____________
         _________
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