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Ohio · Paperwork

Ohio bill of sale — requirements and free generator

Ohio is a "notarize the title, not the bill of sale" state. No statute requires a bill of sale for a private vehicle sale — the certificate of title does the legal work — but Ohio Revised Code § 4505.06 makes the title application a sworn document, and the seller must sign the assignment on the back of the title in front of a notary public or a deputy clerk of courts. Sign it early at your kitchen table and the clerk can reject the transfer. The buyer then applies for a new title at any county Clerk of Courts title office, where Ohio collects sales tax on the purchase price of casual (private-party) sales: 5.75% state plus a county rate of 0.75%–2.25%. Apply more than 30 days after the assignment and R.C. 4505.09 tacks on a late fee. A signed bill of sale is still worth printing — it fixes the price the clerk will tax and gives the seller proof of the sale date.

Not legal advice — general information for Ohio. Last reviewed: July 2026.

Ohio: bill of sale — recommended · notarization: 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.

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MOTOR VEHICLE BILL OF SALE

State of Ohio

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.

Ohio requirements for a private sale

  • ✓No bill of sale is required for a private vehicle sale — the notarized title assignment transfers ownership (Ohio BMV, bmv.ohio.gov/titles-new.aspx).
  • ✓The seller signs the back of the Ohio title in the presence of a notary public or deputy clerk; the title application itself is a sworn statement under R.C. § 4505.06.
  • ✓The buyer applies for a new title at a county Clerk of Courts title office; a $5 late fee applies if the application comes more than 30 days after the assignment (R.C. § 4505.09).
  • ✓Sales tax is due on casual sales at titling: 5.75% state plus 0.75%–2.25% county, on the purchase price (Ohio Department of Taxation, tax.ohio.gov).
  • ✓Federal odometer disclosure is required for model year 2011 and newer vehicles — Ohio titles have a mileage field in the assignment.
  • ✓If there is a lien on the title, it must be discharged before the clerk will process the transfer.

Notarization: not required

The bill of sale itself never needs a notary in Ohio. The title assignment does: the seller must sign the back of the title before a notary public or a deputy clerk of courts. Never sign the title until you are standing in front of one.

Official form

Ohio publishes no official bill-of-sale form for private vehicle sales — the BMV points sellers to the notarized title assignment instead. A generator document like this one is exactly what Ohio buyers and sellers typically use as their receipt.

Worked example: selling a car in Ohio

Say you sell a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox for $8,900 in Columbus. You and the buyer meet at a notary (many Ohio banks and the clerk’s title office itself offer this), you sign the title assignment with the price and mileage filled in, and both of you sign two copies of the bill of sale. The buyer takes the title to the Franklin County Clerk of Courts title office, pays the $18 title fee (raised from $15 on January 1, 2026 under HB 96; some counties add $5), and pays sales tax on the $8,900 price at Franklin County’s 7.5% combined rate — about $667.50. If the buyer waits more than 30 days, R.C. § 4505.09 adds a $5 late fee. Your signed bill of sale copy is your proof of the sale date if a parking ticket or toll shows up later.

Ohio bill of sale FAQ

Does a bill of sale need to be notarized in Ohio?

No. Ohio never requires the bill of sale to be notarized — but the title assignment must be signed before a notary public or deputy clerk of courts. That is the step people get wrong: a pre-signed title can be rejected at the clerk’s title office.

How much is sales tax on a private car sale in Ohio?

Ohio taxes casual sales like dealer sales: 5.75% state plus your county’s rate of 0.75%–2.25% (so roughly 6.5%–8% total), calculated on the purchase price and collected by the county Clerk of Courts title office when the buyer applies for the title. The clerk can question a price that looks far below market value.

How long does the buyer have to transfer the title in Ohio?

The buyer should apply for a new certificate of title within 30 days of the assignment. Under R.C. § 4505.09, the clerk assesses a $5 late fee on applications filed after 30 days — small, but it also means weeks where the car is still associated with the seller’s name.

Do I need a bill of sale to sell a car in Ohio at all?

Legally no — the notarized title does the transfer. Practically yes: the bill of sale documents the exact price the clerk will tax, records the as-is terms, and gives the seller dated proof of when possession changed. For non-titled items (furniture, electronics, equipment) it is the only paper trail there is.

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