How to Fill Out a Bill of Sale in California
A step-by-step guide to every field on a California vehicle bill of sale — with a free filled-in example you can download instantly.
California's DMV publishes an official bill of sale — the REG 135 — and its anatomy tells you how to fill it out: one page, eight fields, and deliberately no notary block, because California doesn't notarize vehicle bills of sale. What the state cares about instead is two clocks running at once. The buyer has 10 days to transfer the title; the seller has just 5 days to file the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138) — online in minutes — so parking tickets and toll violations after the sale land on the buyer, not you. Fill the form in the order the DMV reads it: parties, vehicle (year, make, model, color), VIN copied character-by-character from the dashboard plate, odometer, price, date, then both signatures. The price you write feeds the 7.25%-plus-district use tax the buyer pays at registration, so write the real number.
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State rules change. We check these requirements against official state sources, but details can go out of date. Confirm with your state's motor vehicle agency before you rely on them. If you notice anything wrong or outdated, email support@billofsale.app.
Step-by-Step: Every Field Explained
Seller Information
- Full legal name
- Current mailing address
- City, state, ZIP code
- Phone number (optional but recommended)
Buyer Information
- Full legal name
- Current mailing address
- City, state, ZIP code
- Phone number (optional)
Vehicle Description
- Vehicle year (4-digit)
- Make (manufacturer — e.g., Ford, Toyota)
- Model (e.g., F-150, Camry)
- Body style (e.g., sedan, pickup, SUV)
- Color
- VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) — 17 characters, found on the dashboard or door jamb
- Odometer reading at time of sale
Sale Details
- Sale price in US dollars (write out both numerals and words — e.g., "$8,500 — Eight thousand five hundred dollars")
- Payment method (cash, check, electronic transfer)
- Date of sale (month / day / year)
- Note: the buyer pays California tax at registration (7.25% sales tax)
Seller Signature
- Seller's signature (must match title)
- Printed name
- Date signed
Buyer Signature
- Buyer's signature
- Printed name
- Date signed
Get a Pre-Filled California Example
Use the generator above to create a filled-in California bill of sale example in under 60 seconds. Fields are set up for California — no notary section, CA sales tax at 7.25%, and 10-day title transfer deadline noted.
Other Forms Required in California
Along with the bill of sale, you may need these additional documents for a California vehicle transfer:
- REG 262 (Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form) — only when the title cannot carry the odometer disclosure
- REG 138 (Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability)
- Smog Certificate
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use REG 135 or write my own bill of sale in California?
Why is there no notary line on the California bill of sale?
What is the most important deadline after filling out the form?
Does the sale price on the form affect taxes?
California Bill of Sale Hub
All requirements, tax rates, deadlines, and forms for California.
View California guide →REG 135
Documents the private sale of a vehicle in California. Needed when the seller is not the owner named on the title (signed by both), and it can stand in for the registered owner's release signature on the title; in an ordinary sale the purchase price is entered on the title itself.
REG 135 guide →