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Texas · Paperwork

Texas bill of sale — requirements and free generator

Texas has no official bill of sale form and never asks for a notary on one — but a private sale here runs through paperwork most states skip. The document that actually moves the title is the Application for Texas Title and/or Registration (Form 130-U), which the buyer files at the county tax office within 30 days of the sale (Transportation Code § 501.145); TxDMV tells sellers to put the sales price on it. Tax is where Texas gets specific: the county collects 6.25% motor vehicle sales tax on the price or on 80% of the vehicle’s Standard Presumptive Value — whichever is greater (Tax Code § 152.0412) — so a suspiciously low price does not lower the tax bill. Your own bill of sale still earns its keep: it is the seller’s proof of the date and price, and it backs up the Vehicle Transfer Notification (§ 501.147) that cuts off your liability for tolls and tickets.

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

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

A bill of sale is recommended proof; Form 130-U (title application) filed at the county tax office is what transfers the title.

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MOTOR VEHICLE BILL OF SALE

State of Texas

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.

Texas requirements for a private sale

  • ✓Sign the title over with the date of sale and odometer reading; the buyer needs the title plus a completed Form 130-U showing the sales price (TxDMV).
  • ✓Buyer: title the vehicle at the county tax office within 30 days of the sale (Transp. Code § 501.145) — late transfers trigger delinquent penalties.
  • ✓Buyer: pay 6.25% motor vehicle sales tax on the greater of the price paid or 80% of the Standard Presumptive Value (Tax Code § 152.0412); tax paid 1–30 days late adds a 5% penalty, over 30 days adds 10% (Texas Comptroller).
  • ✓Paid well under SPV? A certified appraisal from a licensed dealer or insurance adjuster, obtained within 20 working days of purchase, can replace the SPV figure.
  • ✓Seller: file the free Vehicle Transfer Notification with TxDMV within 30 days (Transp. Code § 501.147) so tolls and tickets stop pointing at you.
  • ✓No notarization is required for the bill of sale, the title assignment, or Form 130-U.

Notarization: not required

Nothing in a Texas private sale needs a notary — Texas title assignments are signed directly by seller and buyer. If a buyer insists on notarizing the bill of sale, it is harmless, just legally unnecessary.

Official form

No official statewide bill of sale form exists. Form 130-U (the title application) records the sales price for tax, and several county tax offices publish their own local bill-of-sale templates — the generator above produces one that works in any Texas county.

Worked example: selling a car in Texas

Say you sell a 2016 Ford F-150 in Houston for $16,000 on July 20, 2026. You sign the title with the odometer reading, both parties sign the bill of sale, and you give the buyer a filled-out Form 130-U showing $16,000. Suppose the truck’s Standard Presumptive Value is $19,000: 80% of that is $15,200, which is less than the $16,000 actually paid — so the Harris County tax office computes 6.25% on $16,000, or $1,000 in sales tax, when the buyer titles it within 30 days. If the truck had sold for $12,000 instead, tax would be charged on $15,200 (80% of SPV) — $950 — unless the buyer brought a certified appraisal. Meanwhile you file the Vehicle Transfer Notification on the TxDMV site the same week, so the toll tag cameras on the Sam Houston Tollway become the buyer’s problem, not yours.

Texas bill of sale FAQ

Does Texas have an official bill of sale form?

No. TxDMV does not publish one — the state relies on the signed title and Form 130-U, which carries the sales price. Any written bill of sale that identifies both parties, the vehicle (VIN), the price, and the date is valid, and some county tax offices offer their own templates as a courtesy.

What is Standard Presumptive Value, and can I pay tax on what I actually paid?

SPV is TxDMV’s estimate of a used vehicle’s private-party value from Texas sales data. If your price is at least 80% of SPV, tax is simply 6.25% of your price. Below that, the county taxes 80% of SPV instead (Tax Code § 152.0412) — unless you get a certified appraisal from a licensed dealer or insurance adjuster within 20 working days of the purchase.

What happens if the buyer never transfers the title in Texas?

Until the county records the transfer, the vehicle stays registered to you — which is why the Vehicle Transfer Notification exists. File it with TxDMV (free, online) within 30 days of the sale and Transportation Code § 501.147 shields you from tickets and toll violations committed by the buyer. Keep your signed bill of sale as the backup evidence of the sale date.

How long does the buyer have to title a car bought from a private seller in Texas?

30 days from the date of sale (Transportation Code § 501.145). Missing it costs twice: TxDMV assesses delinquent transfer penalties, and the Comptroller adds 5% to the unpaid sales tax after the due date and 10% once it is more than 30 days late. Active-duty military get an extended window — check with the county tax office.

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