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How to Fill Out a Bill of Sale in Texas

A step-by-step guide to every field on a Texas vehicle bill of sale — with a free filled-in example you can download instantly.

In Texas the bill of sale is the supporting actor, not the star: the document that actually moves the title is Form 130-U, the Application for Texas Title and/or Registration, filed at the county tax assessor-collector within 30 days ($25 late fee after that). So fill out your bill of sale knowing exactly what job it does — it is the price record. Texas calculates the 6.25% motor vehicle sales tax on the HIGHER of the price you write and the Standard Presumptive Value (SPV), the state's book value for the vehicle. Writing $500 for a $9,000 truck doesn't lower the tax; the SPV catches it. Complete the parties, the vehicle description, the VIN as printed on the title, the odometer, the true price, and both signatures — then staple it mentally to the signed-over title and the 130-U, because the three documents travel to the county office together.

Notarization:Not required
Title deadline:30 days
Sales tax:6.25%
Official form:Form 130-U
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Vehicle Bill of Sale · Texas
Texas Requirements: Transfer title within 30 days. 6.25% sales tax.

Seller Information

Buyer Information

Vehicle Details

Sale Information

Condition & Warranty

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Step-by-Step: Every Field Explained

1

Seller Information

  • Full legal name
  • Current mailing address
  • City, state, ZIP code
  • Phone number (optional but recommended)
Tip: Write the name exactly as the ownership record shows it — the Texas DMV compares the two before processing anything.
2

Buyer Information

  • Full legal name
  • Current mailing address
  • City, state, ZIP code
  • Phone number (optional)
Tip: Write the buyer's name for the record it becomes — future registration, insurance, and resale all inherit this line.
3

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
Tip: Check every character of the VIN against both the dashboard plate and the ownership document; close enough isn't a concept the registry recognizes.
4

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: buyer owes 6.25% Texas sales tax on the sale price at registration
Tip: the Texas DMV calculates the 6.25% sales tax from the amount on this line and checks it against the vehicle's value; declare it straight.
5

Seller Signature

  • Seller's signature (must match title)
  • Printed name
  • Date signed
Tip: No notarization applies in Texas: sign in each other's presence where possible and file your copies long-term.
6

Buyer Signature

  • Buyer's signature
  • Printed name
  • Date signed
Tip: Sign in duplicate: one complete original per party. Photos and scans are backups, not substitutes.

Get a Pre-Filled Texas Example

Use the generator above to create a filled-in Texas bill of sale example in under 60 seconds. All fields are pre-configured for Texas requirements — notarization not required, TX sales tax at 6.25%, and 30-day transfer deadline noted.

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Other Forms Required in Texas

Along with the bill of sale, you may need these additional documents for a Texas vehicle transfer:

  • Form 130-U (Application for Texas Title and/or Registration)
  • Vehicle Transfer Notification (VTR-346)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a bill of sale legally required for a private car sale in Texas?
Not strictly required — Form 130-U and the signed title complete the transfer — but the bill of sale is your price evidence and sale-date proof. If the buyer delays filing and racks up fees, your signed, dated bill of sale shows when the vehicle left your hands.
What is SPV and why does it matter when I fill in the price?
Standard Presumptive Value — the state's book value. Texas taxes the higher of your written price and the SPV, so underwriting the price is pointless. Check the SPV at txdmv.gov before agreeing on a number if the vehicle's condition justifies a below-book price.
Where does the paperwork go after both parties sign?
To the buyer's county tax assessor-collector, not the TxDMV directly: signed-over title, Form 130-U, and the bill of sale, within 30 days of the sale to avoid the $25 late penalty plus 5% tax penalty.
Does Texas require the bill of sale to be notarized?
No. Both signatures are sufficient. Texas reserves notarization for other title situations (like a Statement of Fact for corrections) — a routine private sale needs none.

Texas Bill of Sale Hub

All requirements, tax rates, deadlines, and forms for Texas.

View Texas guide →
Official Form

Form 130-U

Serves as Texas's combined title application and bill of sale. Establishes the sale price for the 6.25% motor vehicle sales tax (or Standard Presumptive Value, whichever is higher).

Form 130-U guide →

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