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California · Paperwork

California bill of sale — requirements and free generator

California treats the bill of sale as backup paperwork, not the transfer instrument. Ownership moves when the seller signs over the pink slip (the Certificate of Title) and the buyer submits the transfer — the buyer has 10 days to report the change to the DMV (Vehicle Code § 5902), and the seller has 5 calendar days to file a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (Vehicle Code § 5900), which takes about two minutes online. The DMV still publishes an official Bill of Sale, Form REG 135, and it is worth signing two copies: the DMV can ask for it when title paperwork is incomplete, and it is your only receipt showing the price and the as-is terms. Two California quirks catch private sellers: the seller — not the buyer — must provide a valid smog certification at delivery (Vehicle Code § 24007(b)(2)), and the DMV collects use tax from the buyer at registration, at the combined rate for the buyer’s home address.

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

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

The signed-over title transfers ownership; the DMV bill of sale (REG 135) is optional backup for both parties.

Official state form: REG 135 — for DMV title/registration paperwork, use the official form; keep this generated document as your signed record of the deal.

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MOTOR VEHICLE BILL OF SALE

State of California

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.

California requirements for a private sale

  • ✓Sign the title over to the buyer, including the odometer disclosure printed on California titles (federal rule for model year 2011 and newer, 49 CFR Part 580).
  • ✓Seller: file the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138) with the DMV within 5 calendar days of the sale — online filing is instant (Veh. Code § 5900).
  • ✓Buyer: report the transfer to the DMV within 10 days of the sale date and pay the transfer fee plus use tax (Veh. Code § 5902).
  • ✓Seller must provide a smog certification no older than 90 days for most gasoline vehicles more than four model years old (Veh. Code § 24007(b)(2)) — check the DMV smog exemptions before listing.
  • ✓If the title has no room for a needed signature or is being reassigned, California uses the secure REG 262 (Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment) form — it cannot be downloaded; order it from the DMV.
  • ✓Bill of Sale (REG 135) is optional but recommended: it documents price, date, and as-is terms for both parties.

Notarization: not required

California does not notarize the bill of sale or the title — signatures alone are valid. If you want extra protection on a high-value sale, notarizing REG 135 is allowed, just never required by the DMV.

Official form

Official form: Bill of Sale (REG 135), a free one-page PDF from the California DMV. It covers vehicle description, price, and both signatures, and doubles as a gift declaration when you write $0.

Worked example: selling a car in California

Say you sell a 2019 Toyota Camry in Los Angeles for $14,500 on July 15, 2026. You hand over the smog certificate (run within the last 90 days), sign the title with the odometer reading, and both of you sign two copies of REG 135. That evening you file the Release of Liability online — from that moment, parking tickets are the buyer’s problem. The buyer reports the transfer to the DMV within 10 days and pays use tax at the counter: at Los Angeles’ combined 9.5% rate that is $1,377.50, plus the $15 transfer fee. If the buyer lived in a 7.25%-rate area instead, the same car would owe $1,051.25 — California taxes the buyer’s address, not the sale location.

California bill of sale FAQ

Is a bill of sale required to sell a car in California?

No — the signed-over title transfers ownership, and the DMV normally does not ask for a bill of sale. It becomes required in specific gaps: when the title is missing needed information or the DMV requests proof of the price. REG 135 is the official form, and keeping a signed copy protects both sides for free.

Who pays sales tax on a private car sale in California, and how much?

The buyer pays use tax when registering the transfer — the DMV collects it on behalf of the CDTFA. The rate is the combined sales-tax rate at the buyer’s home address, from 7.25% statewide base up to roughly 10.75% in the highest districts. Transfers between close relatives and genuine gifts can be exempt; the DMV applies the exemption at the counter.

Do I need a smog check to sell my car in California?

Usually yes, and it is the seller’s legal duty: Vehicle Code § 24007(b)(2) requires the seller to deliver a valid smog certification, good for 90 days, for most gasoline vehicles more than four model years old. Diesel, electric, and certain older or newer vehicles are exempt — confirm your vehicle’s status on the DMV or Bureau of Automotive Repair site before pricing the sale.

What is the DMV Release of Liability and what happens if I skip it?

It is the seller’s 5-day notice to the DMV (Veh. Code § 5900, Form REG 138 or online) that the vehicle changed hands. Skip it and the car stays linked to you: toll violations, parking tickets, and even liability questions after a crash can land on the registered owner of record. File it the day of the sale — it is free.

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