Free Maryland As-Is Bill of Sale
Maryland's lemon law (MD Code, Transportation § 14-1501) covers only new vehicles purchased from dealers — private as-is sales receive no lemon law protection. Under Maryland UCC (Md. Code, Com. Law § 2-316), conspicuous as-is language is required to exclude implied warranties. The #1 risk in a Maryland private sale is failing to disclose a rebuilt or salvage title — Maryland Transportation Article § 11-113.2 mandates this disclosure regardless of the as-is nature of the transaction, and concealment exposes the seller to criminal liability.
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Maryland As-Is Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
Maryland imposes a 6% excise tax on the fair market value (FMV) of the vehicle, not necessarily the sale price. If the as-is sale price is below book value, the MVA may assess the excise tax on the higher FMV in some cases.
Inspection Requirements
Maryland eliminated its mandatory emissions inspection program in 2020. There is no statewide emissions or safety inspection required for private vehicle sales or for registration transfer.
Maryland As-Is Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Write 'AS IS — NO WARRANTIES EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED' in bold uppercase on the bill of sale to satisfy Md. Code, Com. Law § 2-316 conspicuousness requirement.
- Disclose rebuilt or salvage title status in writing on the bill of sale — Transportation Article § 11-113.2 requires this disclosure and it is non-negotiable regardless of the as-is clause.
- Do NOT use Form VR-103 (Gift Certification) for an as-is sale — VR-103 is exclusively for gift transfers and using it for a paid sale is fraudulent.
- Disclose all other known material defects in writing; Maryland common law fraud claims can pierce the as-is clause when the seller had actual knowledge of a hidden problem.
- Sign the Maryland certificate of title over to the buyer and complete the odometer disclosure for vehicles under 10 years old.
- Inform the buyer that Maryland's 6% excise tax may be assessed on the vehicle's fair market value, not just the as-is sale price, at the MVA.
- Retain a signed copy of the bill of sale for your records for at least 3 years.
Common Pitfalls
- Using Form VR-103 (Gift Certification) for an as-is paid sale — this form is for gifts only and using it to avoid excise tax on a real sale constitutes tax fraud.
- Not disclosing a rebuilt or salvage title — Transportation Article § 11-113.2 is a mandatory disclosure law that operates independently of the as-is clause; concealment is a criminal offense in Maryland.
- Assuming the 6% excise tax is calculated on the as-is sale price — Maryland MVA may assess the excise tax on the vehicle's FMV if the stated sale price appears to be below market, which surprises buyers in below-market as-is transactions.
- Writing 'as is' in lowercase or in the body of the text without visual distinction — Md. Code, Com. Law § 2-316 requires conspicuous language; a buried disclaimer may be held unenforceable.
Pro Tip
Maryland's mandatory rebuilt/salvage title disclosure law (Transportation Article § 11-113.2) is the seller's critical compliance obligation — it exists completely apart from the as-is clause and cannot be disclaimed. Combined with the correct use of a standard bill of sale (not VR-103), accurate excise tax disclosure, and a conspicuous as-is disclaimer, Maryland private sellers can complete a legally protected transaction.