$BillOfSale.app
BOS
The BillOfSale.app Team
Published October 14, 2026

Handwritten Bill of Sale: Is It Legal and What to Write

Is a handwritten bill of sale legal?

In most states, yes. DMVs care about what the bill of sale says, not whether it was typed. Virginia says a bill of sale can be a handwritten statement signed by the seller and buyer, and California accepts any bill of sale that identifies the vehicle. Write it in ink, include the names, date, price, year, make, model and VIN, and have both people sign. Two limits: the federal odometer disclosure belongs on the title, not on a homemade paper, and a few states want their own form or a notary.

  • Content beats format. DMVs check the names, price, date, vehicle details and signatures, not the handwriting.
  • The title carries the mileage. A homemade paper cannot replace the odometer section on the title.
  • Check for a state form. West Virginia, North Dakota and Louisiana bring in a notary; a few states name their own form.
Prefer it typed? Make a free bill of sale PDF

What DMVs say about handwritten bills of sale

Most motor vehicle agencies describe a bill of sale by what it contains, not by who printed it. Here is what five of them say on their own pages:

  • Virginia: the DMV says the bill of sale can be a handwritten statement signed by the seller and the purchaser.
  • California: any bill of sale that identifies the vehicle is acceptable, and it does not need a notary or a witness. Form REG 135 is there if you want it, but it is not required.
  • Colorado:give the buyer a bill of sale on Form DR 2173 "or a written equivalent" with the price, date, VIN, year, make, model, names and signatures. It is required when the price is not on the title.
  • Nebraska:sellers must complete a bill of sale at the time of sale, but they are not required to use the DMV's form.
  • Florida:form HSMV 82050 "may be used" as the bill of sale. It is one option, not the only one.

So a neat, complete, signed page in your own handwriting is a real bill of sale in these states. What makes it fail is missing information, not the pen.

What to write on a handwritten bill of sale

Florida and Colorado list the same core items, and California's REG 135 adds ID numbers. Put all of these on the page:

  1. A title at the top: "Bill of Sale" (or "Vehicle Bill of Sale").
  2. The date of sale. Colorado's 36-hour drive-home rule also asks for the time.
  3. The seller's full legal name and address.
  4. The buyer's full legal name and address.
  5. The vehicle: year, make, model, body style if you know it, and the full VIN.
  6. The price in numbers. For a gift, write "gift" and how you are related.
  7. The mileage at the time of sale, as a record (see the odometer section below).
  8. "Sold as-is, with no warranty" if that is the deal.
  9. Signatures and printed names of both people, with the date next to each.

Example wording

Bill of Sale. On October 14, 2026, I, Jane Doe, of 12 Elm St, Richmond, VA, sold to John Roe, of 40 Oak Ave, Norfolk, VA, a 2015 Honda Civic, VIN 19XFB2F50FE000000, odometer 98,450 miles, for $6,500 paid in full by cashier's check. The car is sold as-is, with no warranty. Seller signature / printed name / date. Buyer signature / printed name / date.

The names, VIN and amounts above are made up. Use your own.

The one job a handwritten paper cannot do: the odometer statement

Federal rules (49 CFR 580.5) say the seller who holds the title makes the mileage statement on the title itself, not on a separate paper. When a separate reassignment form is allowed, 49 CFR 580.4 says the state must issue it on secure paper that resists copying and shows any changes. A sheet you write yourself cannot meet that standard.

  • Colorado says a bill of sale can carry the odometer statement only on the secure DR 2173, which is sold by approved vendors.
  • Washington hands out its separate odometer form only in the office, on tamper-proof paper. It cannot be downloaded.
  • Vehicles of model year 2010 and older are exempt. Model year 2011 and newer stay covered until 20 years have passed. Vehicles over 16,000 lb and trailers are exempt too.

The practical answer: write the mileage on your bill of sale as a record, and fill in the odometer section on the title as well.

When a notary or a state form comes in

Most states do not ask for a notary on the bill of sale. These are the main exceptions we confirmed:

  • West Virginia:the DMV-7-TR bill of sale is printed "notary is required." A notarized bill of sale matters when the price is under 50% of the NADA clean loan value. Without one, tax is charged on the full NADA value. Bills of sale need copies of both people's driver's licenses.
  • North Dakota:the SFN 2888 seller's certificate and bill of sale, which includes a line for why a title cannot be furnished, is signed before a notary.
  • Louisiana: the title is assigned before a notary. If the bill of sale, invoice or title is notarized, the file is acceptable.
  • Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky:the notary is on the title, not the bill of sale. Pennsylvania requires the seller's signature on the title to be notarized or verified. In Kentucky the seller signs the back of the title in front of a notary.
  • Maryland: since October 1, 2026, a notarized bill of sale is no longer required for vehicles under 7 years old sold by a private party.
  • Texas: notarization of bills of sale, title assignments and odometer statements has not been required since April 1, 1990.

Tips that keep a handwritten bill of sale from causing trouble

  • No cross-outs.Georgia's T-7 says any correction or alteration voids the form. If you make a mistake, start a fresh page.
  • The price must match the title. West Virginia rejects a title with an altered or conflicting price backed by a second bill of sale. In Florida, a written-over price on the title must be backed by a bill of sale signed by both people.
  • Make two originals. Both signed, one for each side. A photo on your phone is a good extra copy.
  • Write legibly in ink.Georgia's form asks for print or type. A clerk who cannot read the VIN cannot use the paper.
  • Keep payment proof. Maryland lists a canceled check or bank statement as support for a low sale price.

If you would rather not write it out, our free bill of sale generator asks for the same fields and prints a typed PDF you both sign. For the full step-by-step, see how to write a bill of sale, and for the notary rules in every state, see the notarized bill of sale guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a handwritten bill of sale legal?
In most states, yes. DMVs care about what the bill of sale says, not whether it was typed. Virginia says a bill of sale can be a handwritten statement signed by the seller and buyer, and California accepts any bill of sale that identifies the vehicle. Write it in ink, include the names, date, price, year, make, model and VIN, and have both people sign. Two limits: the federal odometer disclosure belongs on the title, not on a homemade paper, and a few states want their own form or a notary.
How do you handwrite a bill of sale?
Use a clean sheet and blue or black ink. Write a title such as "Bill of Sale", then the seller's and buyer's full names and addresses, the date, the price (or "gift"), and the year, make, model and VIN of the vehicle. Add "sold as-is" if there is no warranty. Both people sign and print their names. Make two originals so each side keeps one. Avoid cross-outs: Georgia's official form says any correction or alteration voids it.
Is a bill of sale usually notarized?
Usually not. California says its bill of sale does not need a notary or a witness, and Texas stopped requiring notarized bills of sale in 1990. The exceptions are real, though. West Virginia's DMV-7-TR form must be notarized, North Dakota's SFN 2888 is signed before a notary, and Louisiana wants a notarized title or bill of sale. Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky notarize the title instead of the bill of sale.
Can a handwritten bill of sale replace the odometer statement?
No. Federal rules put the seller's mileage statement on the title itself. A separate reassignment paper must be issued by the state on secure, anti-counterfeit paper. Write the mileage on your bill of sale too, but fill in the odometer section on the title. Vehicles of model year 2010 and older are exempt from the federal disclosure.
What is a bill of sale in Texas?
For an ordinary sale of a titled car, the Texas DMV does not ask for one. It asks for the signed title with the date of sale and odometer reading, plus Form 130-U with the price. The Texas title manual accepts a bill of sale in listed cases, such as vehicles that were never titled, vehicles from states that do not issue titles, and transfers by operation of law. It is also accepted as evidence for a bonded title. A written record still protects the seller.
Does Maryland still require a notarized bill of sale?
Not for every private sale anymore. Since October 1, 2026, the Maryland MVA no longer requires a notarized bill of sale for vehicles less than 7 years old sold by a private party. If the price you report is more than $500 below the NADA value, you may be taxed on the NADA value unless you document the lower price, for example with a bill of sale and a canceled check or bank statement.

Sources

Each official page below was read on October 13, 2026. Rules change, so check your state's agency before you rely on them.

Ready to generate your bill of sale?

Free for all 50 states. Go Pro to remove the watermark and download unlimited clean PDFs.

See pricingGenerate free →

Already subscribed? Sign in to access your Pro account.

Related Articles

How to Write a Bill of Sale→Notarized Bill of Sale Guide→Odometer Disclosure Statement: What It Is & What to Write→DMV Bill of Sale: What Your State Actually Wants→