Indiana State Form 44237 — Bill of Sale

About State Form 44237

Official name: Indiana State Form 44237 — Bill of Sale

Issued by: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles

Purpose: Documents a private vehicle sale in Indiana. For an ordinary titled sale the seller writes the odometer reading, sale date, and price on the title; the BMV relies on a bill of sale only when the title lacks the date or price, or for vehicles that do not require a title.

When required: Needed only in limited cases: as proof of ownership for vehicles that do not require a title (and a few other listed situations), or to show the sale date or price when the title lacks them. The buyer applies for the title within 45 days of purchase (Ind. Code 9-17-2-14.7); an administrative penalty is charged after that. A bill of sale does not need to be notarized.

What State Form 44237 is

State Form 44237 is the Indiana BMV's Bill of Sale for a vehicle or watercraft. The edition we read is R6 / 12-24, and it names IC 9-17-2-4 as its legal authority. Fill it in with blue or black ink, or type it and print it.

For an ordinary titled sale it is optional. The title already has spaces for the date, price and odometer reading, and the BMV uses a bill of sale only in the cases below.

What it asks for

• The vehicle or hull identification number, year, make and model.
• For a watercraft only: overall length, state of principal operation, registration number and date of issuance, and the propulsion type (air thrust, manual, propeller, sail, water jet or other).
• The purchase price and the date of sale.
• Up to two sellers and two purchasers: signatures, printed names (or a company name), dates and addresses.

What each side swears to

• The seller transfers all rights in the vehicle for the payment and certifies it has no liens that are the seller's responsibility.
• Both sides swear or affirm the information is correct, and the form warns that a false statement may be perjury.
• For a boat, the bill of sale can serve as a temporary certificate of number for up to 45 days after the sale date.
• The form has no notary section, and the BMV says a bill of sale does not need to be notarized.

When the BMV accepts a bill of sale

• As proof of ownership, only when: the vehicle does not have to be titled; the prior owner did not have to title it; it is a sheriff's bill of sale; it is a utility trailer bought before January 1, 1990, a pop-up trailer bought before July 1, 2016, or an off-road vehicle acquired before January 1, 2010; it was an abandoned vehicle sold at auction by a city, town or county; or it was bought from the federal government (on Standard Form 97).
• In those cases the bill of sale must show the buyer's name, the year, make, model and VIN, and the seller's signature and address. The application also needs a Physical Inspection of a Vehicle or Watercraft (State Form 39530).
• As a supporting paper, it can supply the sale date or price when the title lacks them. It cannot override what is written on the title; to fix a mistake on a title, use State Form 55582.

Deadline, tax and plates

• Apply for the title within 45 days of the purchase. After that, an administrative penalty is charged.
• A private buyer pays Indiana's 7% sales tax on the purchase price at a BMV branch when applying for the title.
• A vehicle from another state needs a VIN inspection. It is free at a branch or a certified service provider; a police officer may charge up to $5.
• The seller removes the plate. The BMV does not need it back, and it can go on another vehicle the seller owns.

What to Include in an Indiana Bill of Sale

A complete bill of sale usually includes:

• Seller name, address
• Buyer name, address
• Year, make, model
• VIN
• Odometer reading
• Sale price
• Date of sale
• Both signatures