Paperwork
Free bill of sale generator — car, boat, trailer, or anything you sell
Fill out the form, watch the document build itself, then print or save it as a PDF. Pick your state to see whether a bill of sale is required, whether it needs a notary, and whether your DMV publishes an official form.
This is general information, not legal advice. For vehicles, the title transfer is the legal instrument — the bill of sale is supporting proof.
Pick a state to see whether a bill of sale is required, whether it needs a notary, and whether your state publishes its own official form.
Everything runs in your browser — names, addresses, and prices are never saved on Brixaz servers. This is general information, not legal advice.
Live preview — updates as you type
MOTOR VEHICLE BILL OF SALE
State of ______________________
1. The Parties. This Bill of Sale is made effective as of ______________________ (the “Sale Date”) by and between ______________________, with a mailing address of ________________________________________ (the “Seller”), and ______________________, with a mailing address of ________________________________________(the “Buyer”).
2. The Property.The Seller agrees to sell, transfer, and deliver to the Buyer the following described property (the “Property”):
- Year: ________
- Make: ______________________
- Model: ______________________
- Color: ____________
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): ______________________
- Odometer Reading: ____________ miles
3. Consideration. The Buyer agrees to pay the Seller the total sum of $____________ USD, receipt of which is acknowledged by the Seller as full payment for the Property.
4. Ownership. The Seller certifies that the Seller is the legal owner of the Property, that the Property is sold free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, and claims, and that the Seller has full right and authority to sell and transfer it.
5. Odometer Disclosure Statement
Federal law (49 U.S.C. § 32705) requires that you state the mileage upon transfer of ownership. Failure to complete an odometer statement, or providing a false statement, may result in fines and/or imprisonment. I, ______________________, certify to the best of my knowledge that the odometer reading of ____________ miles:
- ☑ reflects the ACTUAL mileage of the vehicle;
- ☐ exceeds the odometer’s mechanical limits;
- ☐ is NOT the actual mileage — WARNING: ODOMETER DISCREPANCY.
6. Condition. The Buyer accepts the Property in its present condition, “AS-IS, WHERE-IS”, with all faults. The Seller makes no warranties, express or implied, including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, except the warranty of ownership stated above.
Seller’s Signature
Printed Name: ______________________
Date: ____________________
Buyer’s Signature
Printed Name: ______________________
Date: ____________________
Generated with the free Brixaz bill of sale generator (brixaz.com/tools/bill-of-sale). General information, not legal advice. For vehicles, the certificate of title transfers ownership — this document is supporting proof of the sale.
How the bill of sale generator works
The generator builds a clean, printable bill of sale from your answers, entirely in your browser — nothing you type is sent to or stored on Brixaz servers. Choose the sale type (motor vehicle, motorcycle, boat, trailer, or general item) and the document adapts: vehicles get a federal odometer disclosure block, boats get hull ID and registration lines, and general items get a plain description with an optional serial number. Selecting a state does two things: it shows that state’s requirements next to the form, and it automatically adds a notary acknowledgment block when the state requires or conditionally requires one. The “Print / save as PDF” button uses your browser’s print dialog, so you can produce a paper copy or a PDF without installing anything.
Before you close the deal, it is worth checking your price against the local market with the listing price checker — and if you are selling furniture or electronics rather than a vehicle, the used furniture value calculator gives you a fair asking range in seconds.
How to write a bill of sale
A bill of sale is a signed receipt that records who sold what to whom, for how much, and on what date. To write one, identify the seller and buyer with addresses, describe the item precisely (VIN, HIN, or serial number), state the price or note a gift, add an as-is clause, and have both parties sign and date it.
- • Full legal names and mailing addresses of both parties
- • Precise description: year, make, model, and VIN / HIN / serial
- • Sale price in US dollars — or a statement that it is a gift
- • Sale date and an ownership / free-of-liens certification
- • Odometer disclosure for most vehicles (federal law)
- • Signatures of seller and buyer — plus a notary block where required
Worked example: selling a used car in Texas
Say you are selling a 2018 Honda Civic to a neighbor for $9,800. Here is what you would enter, and what the generator produces:
| Field | What you enter |
|---|---|
| State / sale type | Texas · Motor vehicle |
| Vehicle | 2018 Honda Civic LX, silver, VIN 19XFC2F59JE000000 |
| Odometer | 61,400 miles — actual mileage |
| Price / date | $9,800 · July 10, 2026 |
| Clauses | As-is included · notary block not needed in Texas |
| Result | A one-page Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale with the federal odometer disclosure, signed by both parties in two copies |
The bill of sale documents the deal, but it does not finish it: in Texas the buyer takes the signed-over title and Form 130-U to the county tax office, and the seller files a vehicle transfer notification with TxDMV to cut off liability. Every state has its own version of that last step — check your row in the table below.
Bill of sale requirements by state (2026)
The table below covers private vehicle sales — the most regulated case. Rows marked “check your DMV” are states where we could not confirm a statewide rule against an official source in July 2026; the agency link is the right place to verify. Notarization here refers to the bill of sale itself — a few states (for example Ohio and Louisiana) instead or additionally require the title assignment to be signed before a notary.
| State | Bill of sale | Notarized? | Official form | Notes / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with Alabama DOR Motor Vehicle Division. |
| Alaska | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with Alaska DMV. |
| Arizona | Recommended | Not required | Title Transfer Bill of Sale (38-1306) | Arizona titles are electronic (eTitle) and notarization is no longer required for standard title transfers. MVD publishes a Title Transfer Bill of Sale (Form 38-1306). |
| Arkansas | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with Arkansas DFA Motor Vehicle. |
| California | Recommended | Not required | REG 135 | The signed-over title transfers ownership; the DMV bill of sale (REG 135) is optional backup for both parties. |
| Colorado | Required in some cases | Not required | DR 2173 | Required when the sale price is not written on the title. The secure Form DR 2173 also satisfies the federal odometer disclosure. |
| Connecticut | Required | Not required | H-31 | A Bill of Sale (Form H-31) is required along with proof of ownership to register a privately purchased vehicle. |
| Delaware | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with Delaware DMV. |
| District of Columbia | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with DC DMV. |
| Florida | Required | Not required | HSMV 82050 | Florida law requires the seller to file the Notice of Sale/Bill of Sale (HSMV 82050) — it ends the seller’s liability for the vehicle after the sale. The title itself transfers ownership. |
| Georgia | Required in some cases | Not required | T-7 | A bill of sale (Form T-7) is required for 1985-or-older vehicles that do not need a title; otherwise it is supporting proof. |
| Hawaii | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Hawaii registration is handled by county motor-vehicle offices — requirements vary by county. |
| Idaho | Required | Not required | ITD 3738 | Form ITD 3738 documents the sale and the price for title transfer and sales tax. |
| Illinois | Recommended | Not required | — | No statewide bill-of-sale mandate: the assigned title plus tax Form RUT-50 (due within 30 days) handle the transfer, and a bill of sale is the standard proof of the price reported on the RUT-50. |
| Indiana | Required in some cases | Not required | State Form 44237 | A bill of sale (State Form 44237) is accepted as proof of ownership only in limited circumstances; normally the title does the work. |
| Iowa | Required in some cases | Not required | — | Required when the title has no transfer/sale-date section. A damage disclosure is also required for most vehicles 7 model years or newer. |
| Kansas | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with Kansas Division of Vehicles. |
| Kentucky | Recommended | Not required | — | The seller signs the back of the Kentucky title in the presence of a notary; the bill of sale is supporting proof of the price and terms. |
| Louisiana | Required | Required | — | Louisiana requires a notarized bill of sale (act of sale) for private vehicle sales, unless the price is written into the notarized title assignment. |
| Maine | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with Maine BMV. |
| Maryland | Required in some cases | In some cases | VR-181 | A notarized bill of sale (Form VR-181) is needed when the vehicle is under 7 years old and sells for $500 or more below book value. |
| Massachusetts | Required in some cases | Not required | — | Required when the previous title has no space for the sale price — the RMV then wants a bill of sale showing the price. |
| Michigan | Recommended | Not required | — | No bill of sale is required, but MCL 257.240 makes the seller keep a record of the sale (buyer, price, date) for 18 months — a signed bill of sale satisfies it. Title transfer within 15 days; 6% use tax on price or retail value, whichever is greater. |
| Minnesota | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with Minnesota DVS. |
| Mississippi | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with Mississippi DOR. |
| Missouri | Required | Not required | Form 1957 / Form 5049 | The seller must report the sale to the DOR within 30 days using a Notice of Sale (Form 5049) or Bill of Sale (Form 1957). |
| Montana | Recommended | Not required | MV-24 | Montana removed its notarization requirement for individual title transfers effective October 2025 (HB 165). Form MV-24 is the official bill of sale. |
| Nebraska | Required | In some cases | DMV Bill of Sale | A bill of sale or Department of Revenue Form 6 is required. Notarization is optional, but the county treasurer can require a notarized bill of sale if a transaction looks suspect. |
| Nevada | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with Nevada DMV. |
| New Hampshire | Required in some cases | Not required | TDMV 22A | Form TDMV 22A serves as the bill of sale for title-exempt (older) vehicles and is needed to register them; no notarization required. |
| New Jersey | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with New Jersey MVC. |
| New Mexico | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with New Mexico MVD. |
| New York | Required | Not required | MV-912 | Bring the bill of sale (Form MV-912) plus the sales-tax Statement of Transaction (DTF-802) when you title and register a private purchase. |
| North Carolina | Recommended | Not required | — | North Carolina title assignments are signed before a notary; the bill of sale is supporting proof of the price and terms. |
| North Dakota | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with North Dakota DOT. |
| Ohio | Recommended | Not required | — | No bill of sale is required, but the title assignment must be signed before a notary or deputy clerk — do not sign the title early. |
| Oklahoma | Required in some cases | In some cases | Form 718 (Electronic Title Bill of Sale) | Paper title assignments are notarized, and electronic titles (standard since July 1, 2025) transfer through a notarized electronic-title bill of sale. |
| Oregon | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with Oregon DMV. |
| Pennsylvania | Recommended | Not required | — | Pennsylvania titles transfer before a notary or an authorized PennDOT agent — the bill of sale is supporting proof only. |
| Rhode Island | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with Rhode Island DMV. |
| South Carolina | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with SCDMV. |
| South Dakota | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with South Dakota Motor Vehicle Division. |
| Tennessee | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with Tennessee DOR Vehicle Services. |
| Texas | Recommended | Not required | — | A bill of sale is recommended proof; Form 130-U (title application) filed at the county tax office is what transfers the title. |
| Utah | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with Utah DMV. |
| Vermont | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with Vermont DMV. |
| Virginia | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with Virginia DMV. |
| Washington | Required | Not required | TD-420-065 | The Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale (TD-420-065) is part of the title-transfer packet and documents the price for use tax (enter $0 for gifts). |
| West Virginia | Required in some cases | In some cases | DMV-7-TR | Form DMV-7-TR must be notarized by buyer and seller when the price is under 50% of NADA Clean Loan Book value — otherwise the DMV taxes the book value. |
| Wisconsin | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with Wisconsin DMV. |
| Wyoming | Check your DMV | Not required | — | Confirm with WYDOT. |
Last updated: July 2026. Compiled from state DMV/titling-agency pages (linked per row) and the federal odometer rule. Rules change — always confirm with the linked agency before your DMV visit. Boats and trailers are often titled through a different agency (e.g., Fish & Wildlife or DNR); check your state.
Selling a vehicle? The title — and the odometer — matter most
A bill of sale is the receipt; the certificate of title is the ownership document. Federal law (49 U.S.C. § 32705 and 49 CFR Part 580) also requires the seller to disclose the odometer reading at every transfer: since 2021, vehicles of model year 2011 and newer need the disclosure for their first 20 years, while model year 2010 and older are exempt, per NHTSA. That is why the generator prints an odometer disclosure block on every car and motorcycle bill of sale — put the reading on the title too if your state provides a space. After the sale, most states let (or require) the seller to file a notice of sale, which stops parking tickets and toll bills from landing on you.
Still looking for the buyer? Browse active demand in the vehicles section or list anything else on the sell used stuff hub — posting on Brixaz is free, with $0 fees and no commissions.
Bill of sale FAQ
Is a handwritten bill of sale legal?
Yes. A handwritten bill of sale is just as valid as a typed one in every US state, as long as it identifies the seller and buyer, describes the item (with VIN or serial number), states the price and date, and is signed. Some states additionally require their own official form for vehicle title work.
Does a bill of sale need to be notarized?
Usually not. Louisiana requires a notarized bill of sale for private vehicle sales; Maryland, West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Nebraska require or can require notarization in specific situations. Everywhere else it is optional — though notarizing adds proof if the deal is ever disputed. Some states notarize the title instead.
Should both the buyer and the seller keep a copy?
Yes — print two copies and have both parties sign each one. The buyer often needs the original for title, registration, or sales tax. The seller keeps a signed copy as proof of the sale date, the price, and the as-is terms if the buyer later claims a problem.
Is a car sold “as-is” really as-is?
Generally yes for private sales. The FTC Used Car Rule covers dealers, not private sellers, and courts treat private sales as as-is by default in most states. But an as-is clause never protects a seller who lies: hiding known defects, rolling back an odometer, or misstating the title is still fraud.
Does a bill of sale transfer ownership of a vehicle?
No. For cars, trucks, motorcycles, and most boats, the certificate of title is the legal ownership document — the bill of sale is supporting proof of the price, date, and terms. Sign the title over correctly (before a notary where your state requires it) and treat the bill of sale as your receipt.
What if the vehicle or item is a gift?
Use the gift option: the document then states the transfer is made for no monetary consideration. Many states still want a tax or gift form for vehicles — for example, New York uses the DTF-802 statement and Washington asks for $0 on its bill of sale — so check your DMV before the title visit.
State-by-state bill of sale guides
Deeper guides with each state’s statute, official DMV form, notarization rule, sales-tax example, and the generator preset to that state.
Next step
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