Brixaz

Pennsylvania · Paperwork

Pennsylvania bill of sale — requirements and free generator

Pennsylvania flips the usual script: the bill of sale needs nothing special, but the title cannot legally change hands across a kitchen table. Under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1111, the seller’s assignment on the certificate of title must be sworn before a notary public or verified by an authorized agent — in practice, buyer and seller go together to a tag shop, notary office, AAA branch, or dealer, and the whole transfer happens at that counter. The same visit handles the money: the agent processes Form MV-4ST (Vehicle Sales and Use Tax Return/Application for Registration), a form PennDOT only distributes through authorized agents, and collects sales tax of 6% — 7% for Allegheny County residents, 8% in the City of Philadelphia — on the purchase price or fair market value. The buyer then has the statutory 20 days to apply for the new title, though the agent normally submits everything on the spot. A separate bill of sale is optional but smart: it is the only paper that records the as-is terms.

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

Pennsylvania: bill of sale — recommended · notarization: not required

Pennsylvania titles transfer before a notary or an authorized PennDOT agent — the bill of sale is supporting proof only.

Selling this car? Reach local buyers free

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 Pennsylvania

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.

Pennsylvania requirements for a private sale

  • ✓Seller signs the title assignment in the presence of a notary public or an authorized PennDOT agent — do not sign the title in advance (75 Pa.C.S. § 1111; PennDOT fact sheet).
  • ✓Both parties appear with photo ID at the agent/notary; the seller lists the buyer’s name and address and discloses the odometer reading on the title where applicable.
  • ✓The agent completes Form MV-4ST (Vehicle Sales and Use Tax Return/Application for Registration) — available only through authorized PennDOT agents, not as a download.
  • ✓Buyer pays sales tax at the counter: 6% of the purchase price or fair market value, 7% for Allegheny County residents, 8% for City of Philadelphia residents.
  • ✓Buyer must apply for the new title within 20 days of the assignment (75 Pa.C.S. § 1111(b)) — automatic when the agent submits the paperwork the same day.
  • ✓A bill of sale is not a PennDOT requirement, but it is your record of the price, date, and as-is terms — sign two copies before the notary visit.

Notarization: not required

The bill of sale itself never needs a notary in Pennsylvania — it is the title assignment that must be sworn before a notary or verified by an authorized PennDOT agent (75 Pa.C.S. § 1111). Plan the sale around that appointment; the notary will not backdate a transfer.

Official form

No official PennDOT bill of sale form exists. The transfer paperwork is the notarized title assignment plus Form MV-4ST, which only authorized agents can issue. Use the generator above for the bill of sale itself — any complete, signed document is valid.

Worked example: selling a car in Pennsylvania

Say you sell a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee in Pittsburgh for $11,000 on July 18, 2026. You meet the buyer at a tag shop on Liberty Avenue with the title (unsigned!), your driver’s licenses, and two signed copies of the bill of sale. In front of the agent you complete the assignment — buyer’s details, 96,700-mile odometer reading — and swear the signature. The agent runs Form MV-4ST and collects 7% Allegheny County sales tax from the buyer: $770 on the $11,000 price, plus the title fee, and issues temporary registration on the spot. The same deal in Philadelphia would owe $880 (8%); in Erie or Harrisburg, $660 (6%). If the $11,000 were far below the Jeep’s market value, the Department of Revenue could reassess tax on fair market value — one more reason to keep a bill of sale documenting the condition that justified the price.

Pennsylvania bill of sale FAQ

Do the buyer and seller both have to be present to transfer a title in Pennsylvania?

As a rule, yes — the seller must sign the title before a notary or authorized PennDOT agent, and the buyer signs the application processed at the same counter, so one appointment with both parties is the clean path. If one side genuinely cannot appear, ask the agent about a properly executed power of attorney before the meeting, not after.

Does Pennsylvania have an official bill of sale form?

No. PennDOT’s transfer documents are the title itself and Form MV-4ST, which you cannot download — only authorized agents issue it. A separate bill of sale is optional; write your own (or use this generator) with VIN, price, date, odometer reading, and both signatures, and keep a copy on each side.

How much is sales tax on a private car sale in Pennsylvania, and who collects it?

The buyer pays 6% of the purchase price or fair market value — 7% if the buyer lives in Allegheny County, 8% in the City of Philadelphia. The notary or authorized agent collects it with Form MV-4ST during the title transfer, so there is no separate trip to a tax office. If the reported price looks far below market, the Department of Revenue can bill the difference later.

Can I sign my Pennsylvania title before meeting the buyer?

No — a Pennsylvania title signed outside the presence of a notary or authorized agent is a defective assignment, and agents routinely reject pre-signed titles. That can force a duplicate-title application and weeks of delay. Bring the title untouched and sign only when the notary or agent tells you to.

Sources

Next step

Selling in Pennsylvania? Reach local buyers free

Post your car, boat, trailer, or anything else on Brixaz — free listings, no commissions, local pickup.

All statesPost your car free

Nearby states: New York · Ohio · North Carolina · Notice to vacate letter

Post