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New York · Paperwork

New York bill of sale — requirements and free generator

New York is a bill-of-sale-required state — and unusually, that holds even when the car is free. The DMV instructs that the seller “sign a Vehicle Bill of Sale (MV-912) (even if it is a gift),” and the buyer hands the original to the DMV at registration. Titles themselves are governed by the Uniform Vehicle Certificate of Title Act (Vehicle & Traffic Law Article 46), so the signed-over title plus the MV-912 travel together. The third document in every New York private sale is the tax form: the Statement of Transaction (DTF-802), completed by both parties. The DMV — not the seller — calculates and collects sales tax when the buyer registers, at the combined rate of the buyer’s home address (4% state plus local; 8.875% in New York City), and the DTF-802 is also how gifts and purchases from close family members claim their exemption. One more New York habit: plates belong to the seller — take them off and transfer or surrender them before you cancel the insurance.

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

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

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.

Official state form: MV-912 — 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 New York

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 York requirements for a private sale

  • ✓Both parties sign a bill of sale — DMV form MV-912 or equivalent — showing year and make, VIN (or HIN for boats), sale date, price, and both names; required even for gifts (write $0).
  • ✓Seller signs the title over to the buyer; for model year 2011 and newer vehicles, complete the odometer disclosure on the title assignment (federal rule, 49 CFR Part 580).
  • ✓Both parties complete the Statement of Transaction (DTF-802); the buyer brings it to the DMV, which calculates and collects the sales tax and issues a receipt.
  • ✓Sales tax is the combined state + local rate at the buyer’s address — 4% state plus county/city; New York City totals 8.875%. Gifts and purchases from a spouse, parent, child, stepparent, or stepchild claim exemption on the DTF-802 (Section 6 for below-market transfers).
  • ✓Vehicles of model year 1972 or older have no NY title: ownership is proven by the transferable registration plus a bill of sale — the MV-912 stops being optional backup and becomes the proof.
  • ✓Seller: remove the plates. Transfer them to another vehicle or surrender them to the DMV before canceling insurance, or the DMV can suspend your registration and license.

Notarization: not required

Neither the MV-912 nor the New York title assignment needs a notary — signatures of buyer and seller are enough. Notarizing is permitted if the parties want extra proof, but no DMV office will ask for it.

Official form

Official form: Vehicle Bill of Sale (MV-912), a free one-page PDF from the NY DMV. Pair it with the tax Statement of Transaction (DTF-802) from the Department of Taxation and Finance — the DMV wants both at the registration counter.

Worked example: selling a car in New York

Say you sell a 2018 Subaru Outback in Brooklyn for $12,000 on July 12, 2026. You and the buyer sign the MV-912 (keep a photocopy; the buyer needs the original), you sign the title over with the odometer reading of 88,450 miles, and you both complete the DTF-802 with the $12,000 price. At the DMV the buyer pays New York City’s combined 8.875% — $1,065 — plus title and registration fees; a buyer registering the same car in a 8% county upstate would pay $960 instead, because the rate follows the buyer’s address. You unbolt your plates before the buyer drives off, transfer them to your next car (or surrender them), and only then cancel the insurance — in that order, or the DMV suspends first and asks questions later.

New York bill of sale FAQ

Is a bill of sale required in New York even for a gifted car?

Yes. The DMV requires the seller to sign a bill of sale “even if it is a gift” — you write $0 as the price on the MV-912 and mark the transfer as a gift on the DTF-802. For gifts and sales to a spouse, parent, child, stepparent, or stepchild, the DTF-802 is also how the buyer claims the sales-tax exemption.

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

It depends on where the buyer lives, not where the deal happens: 4% state tax plus the local rate of the buyer’s county or city. New York City totals 8.875%; most upstate counties land near 8%. The DMV calculates it from the price on the DTF-802 and collects it at registration — if the price looks far below market value, the Tax Department can ask the seller to certify the details in Section 6.

How do I sell a car from 1972 or older that has no New York title?

New York never issued titles for model year 1972 and older vehicles — ownership rides on the transferable registration. Sign the transfer section of the registration and a bill of sale; together they are the buyer’s proof of ownership at the DMV. In that scenario the MV-912 is not a nice-to-have, it is the ownership chain, so complete every field.

What do I do with my license plates after selling a car in New York?

Take them with you — New York plates stay with the seller. Transfer the registration to your next vehicle or surrender the plates at a DMV office (keep the receipt), and cancel the insurance only after that. Canceling insurance while plates are still active triggers an automatic registration suspension and can suspend your license.

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