Free New Jersey Vehicle Bill of Sale
A New Jersey vehicle bill of sale documents a private-party motor vehicle transfer for the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). The official form OS/SS-7 captures buyer, seller, vehicle, and price details — and pairs with the assigned title at retitling. Because NJ charges a flat 6.625% sales tax at the MVC counter (not to the seller), the price you write on the bill of sale is the number tax will be calculated against. Lowballing it triggers a Book Value review and possible fraud penalties.
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New Jersey Vehicle Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
New Jersey charges a flat 6.625% Sales and Use Tax on the purchase price of motor vehicles. Localities cannot add to it, so the rate is the same statewide. Tax is paid to NJ MVC at titling, not to the seller.
Exemption: Gifts and transfers between immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild) are exempt from the 6.625% sales tax when accompanied by a notarized GU-11 affidavit. Inheritance and court-ordered transfers are also exempt with proper documentation.
Inspection Requirements
New vehicles are exempt from inspection for the first 5 model years. After that, biennial inspection is mandatory: emissions testing in the seven northern enhanced-inspection counties (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Union) and basic inspection elsewhere. Failed inspections must be repaired and re-tested within 30 days or registration is suspended.
Registration
Registration for this vehicle type is handled by NJ MVC — not the same agency that handles cars in New Jersey. Plan for separate filings.
New Jersey Vehicle Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Complete OS/SS-7 with full names, NJ addresses, VIN, year/make/model, exact sale price, and date
- Seller signs the title in pen — never pencil, never erasable ink — and fills in the odometer reading
- If there was a lien, attach the notarized lien release before submitting
- Buyer brings title, OS/SS-7, NJ driver license, proof of NJ insurance, and payment for 6.625% sales tax + $60 title fee + registration to any NJ MVC agency within 10 working days
- For family gifts: attach completed and notarized GU-11 affidavit to claim sales tax exemption
- Schedule inspection within 14 days of registration if the vehicle is older than 5 model years
Common Pitfalls
- Writing "$1" or "gift" on the bill of sale without a notarized GU-11 — MVC will assess tax on Book Value and may flag the transfer for fraud review
- Missing the 10-working-day titling window — late title transfer triggers a $25 penalty plus possible registration suspension
- Erasures or cross-outs on the title — NJ voids any altered title and the seller must order a duplicate ($60, 2-week delay) before the buyer can retitle
- Skipping the lien-release notarization — NJ rejects unnotarized lien releases at the counter, full stop
- Buyer not carrying NJ insurance at registration — MVC will not issue plates without a valid NJ insurance ID card
Pro Tip
New Jersey wraps a flat 6.625% sales tax, a notarized lien-release rule, and a strict 10-working-day titling window around every private vehicle sale. Use OS/SS-7 for the bill of sale, file GU-11 (notarized) if you are gifting within the family, and walk into MVC with title, ID, NJ insurance, and full payment ready. Cut a corner and the transfer either bounces or gets taxed at Book Value.