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New Jersey · Paperwork

New Jersey bill of sale — requirements and free generator

New Jersey treats the bill of sale as a standard part of a private car sale, not an afterthought. The Motor Vehicle Commission’s own seller checklist says to give the buyer a bill of sale listing the buyer’s name and address, the date of sale, the odometer reading, and the sale price — alongside the signed-over title. There is a money reason to take that seriously: the buyer pays 6.625% sales tax on the purchase price when titling, and the NJ Division of Taxation runs a casual-sales program that mails questionnaires to private buyers after the fact. If the reported price looks low against N.A.D.A. value and you cannot document it, Taxation can assess the tax on the book value instead. The transfer itself happens in person at a motor vehicle agency — New Jersey does not allow ownership transfers by mail — and the buyer has 10 business days from the sale to do it before a $25 penalty kicks in. The standard title fee is $60, and no notary is involved in an ordinary sale.

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

New Jersey: bill of sale — required · notarization: not required

The MVC’s seller checklist says to give the buyer a bill of sale (name, address, sale date, odometer, price). Transfer in person at an agency within 10 business days ($25 penalty after); 6.625% sales tax is collected at titling.

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MOTOR VEHICLE BILL OF SALE

State of New Jersey

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.

New Jersey requirements for a private sale

  • ✓The MVC’s seller checklist says to provide the buyer with a bill of sale containing the buyer’s name and address, the date of sale, the odometer reading, and the sale price (nj.gov/mvc, "Transferring Vehicle Ownership").
  • ✓Ownership transfers happen only in person at a motor vehicle agency — this transaction cannot be handled through the mail — and the title must be transferred within 10 working days of the sale to avoid a $25 penalty.
  • ✓The buyer pays 6.625% sales tax on the purchase price at titling; only a genuine gift (written on the title’s purchase-price line) is exempt.
  • ✓The NJ Division of Taxation mails casual-sale notices to private buyers to certify the correct tax was paid; without acceptable proof of the price, tax can be assessed on the N.A.D.A. value instead (nj.gov/treasury/taxation).
  • ✓Standard title fee: $60 ($85 with one lien, $110 with two); the buyer also presents a driver’s license and proof of New Jersey insurance.
  • ✓Plates stay with the seller — transfer them to another vehicle you own or surrender them to an agency; they never go with the car.

Notarization: not required

A standard New Jersey private sale needs no notary — not the title, not the bill of sale. A notary enters only in special cases: someone signing under a power of attorney, or a vehicle coming from a non-title state, which needs a notarized statement from the seller with the year, make, VIN, sale date, and price.

Official form

New Jersey has no official statewide bill-of-sale form for vehicles. Instead, the MVC describes what the document must contain — buyer’s name and address, date of sale, odometer reading, and sale price — which is exactly what this generator produces, plus signatures and an as-is clause.

Worked example: selling a car in New Jersey

Say you sell a 2018 Honda CR-V EX in Newark for $14,000. You sign the title over, both of you sign two copies of the bill of sale, and you pull your plates off the car. The buyer goes to a motor vehicle agency within 10 business days, pays the $60 title fee and 6.625% sales tax — $927.50 on the $14,000 price. Six months later the Division of Taxation mails the buyer a casual-sale questionnaire because N.A.D.A. pegs that CR-V at $15,200. The buyer mails back a copy of the signed bill of sale showing $14,000 and the matter closes; with no paperwork, the tax could be refigured on $15,200 — about $80 more, plus the hassle.

New Jersey bill of sale FAQ

Is a bill of sale required to sell a car in New Jersey?

The MVC’s seller instructions tell you to provide one — with the buyer’s name and address, sale date, odometer reading, and price — alongside the assigned title. And because the Division of Taxation later asks private buyers to prove the purchase price, both parties want a signed copy.

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

6.625% of the purchase price, paid by the buyer at the motor vehicle agency when titling. If the price you report is well below N.A.D.A. value, expect a casual-sale notice from the Division of Taxation asking for proof — receipts, the bill of sale, or repair estimates if the car was rough.

What is the deadline to transfer a New Jersey title after buying?

Ten working days from the date of sale — after that the MVC charges a $25 penalty. The transfer only happens in person at a motor vehicle agency, so plan the visit: assigned title, bill of sale, driver’s license, proof of NJ insurance, and payment for the $60 title fee plus sales tax.

Does a New Jersey bill of sale need to be notarized?

No — not for a normal private sale between two people with a New Jersey title. The notarized-document cases are narrow: powers of attorney, and vehicles arriving from states that do not issue titles, where the MVC wants a notarized seller statement instead.

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