$BillOfSale.app

Free Bill of Sale for Car — PDF Generator & Template

Standard vehicle bill of sale for cars, trucks, and SUVs. Includes VIN, mileage, and odometer disclosure.

Seller Information

Buyer Information

Car Details

Sale Information

Condition & Warranty

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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 We check these requirements against official state sources, but details can go out of date.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 If you notice anything wrong or outdated, email support@billofsale.app.

About the Car Bill of Sale

A car bill of sale is the most common type of vehicle transfer document in the United States. It records the sale of a passenger car between private parties, replacing the informal receipt with a signed record of the price, date, vehicle and parties. Whether your state's DMV asks for one at title transfer varies — check your state page. Our template includes odometer disclosure — required by federal law for vehicles of model year 2011 or newer.

When to Use This Form

Use a car bill of sale any time you buy or sell a passenger car, truck, or SUV in a private party transaction. Even in states that do not legally require it, having a signed bill of sale protects both parties from post-sale disputes about price, condition, or odometer readings.

Legal Tip

Federal law requires an odometer disclosure statement for vehicles of model year 2011 or newer. Falsifying mileage is a federal crime. Our form includes this disclosure built in.

Fields Included in This Form

  • Year (required)
  • Make (required)
  • Model (required)
  • VIN (required)
  • Color (required)
  • Mileage (required)
  • License Plate (optional)
  • Odometer reading is accurate to the best of my knowledge (optional)
  • Lien Holder (if applicable) (optional)

After you sell: plates and notices in states we checked

  • Idaho: the seller has five days after delivery to file a release of liability, and ITD charges $3.50 for it.
  • Colorado: the plates are yours, not the car's, so keep them. The sale report is due within 5 days, through the release-of-liability tool on myDMV.
  • Oregon: send DMV a notice of sale inside 10 days (ORS 803.112) naming the buyer; the DMV2U site takes it online.
  • Nevada: the law makes the seller keep the plates.
  • New Mexico: the plate belongs to the seller. Pull it before the buyer drives off, then move it to a same-class vehicle or return it to the MVD within 30 days.
  • Kansas: once the title is signed over, the plate comes off. Filing Form TR-216, the Seller's Notification of Sale, creates a record that the car was sold.

The tax is not always on your price

In several states the buyer's tax can rest on something other than the number on the bill of sale:

  • Massachusetts: 6.25% of whichever is larger, the sale price or the clean trade-in (book) value.
  • Rhode Island: 7% of the larger of the NADA Clean Retail value or the price, for cars up to 7 years old.
  • New Mexico: a 4% excise, charged on the price, or on 80% of the N.A.D.A. average trade-in value if that is higher.
  • West Virginia: a price under half the NADA Clean Loan value needs a notarized bill of sale, otherwise tax is figured on book value. Privately bought cars two years old or newer are taxed on book value no matter what.
  • Arkansas: for a used car, nothing under $4,000, 3.5% from $4,000 to just under $10,000, and 6.5% from $10,000 up.
  • Oklahoma: the excise is $20 for the first $1,500 of value and 3.25% above that, based on what you actually paid.
  • No state tax at all on a private sale in Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire and Oregon (local taxes can still apply in Alaska).

How long the buyer has to title the car

  • Massachusetts: 10 days. New Hampshire: 20 days for the title application. Nebraska and Oregon: 30 days.
  • South Carolina: 45 days to register. Colorado and Kansas: 60 days.
  • Tennessee, Vermont and West Virginia set no fixed number of days, but the car must be titled and registered before it is driven on public roads.

Frequently Asked Questions

What information do I need for a car bill of sale?
You need: seller and buyer full legal names and addresses, the vehicle's year/make/model/color, full VIN, exact odometer reading, sale price, payment method, date of sale, and both signatures. Some states also require additional information.
Can I write a car bill of sale by hand?
In most states, yes. A few states point to their own form instead: South Dakota law calls for a bill of sale approved and supplied by the Department of Revenue (Form 1025), and a vehicle with an Oklahoma electronic title is sold on the notarized Form 718. Check your state page. However, a typed or printed form is cleaner, harder to alter, and is less likely to raise questions at the DMV.
What does "as-is" mean on a car bill of sale?
"As-is" means the buyer accepts the vehicle in its current condition without any warranty from the seller. This is standard for private-party sales. Sellers should still disclose any known major defects to avoid fraud claims.
How long do I have to transfer the title after buying a car?
Title transfer deadlines vary by state — from 2 business days (Wisconsin, if the vehicle will be operated) to 60 days, and some states set no fixed day count. Missing the deadline can result in late fees or penalties.