Vehicle Bill of Sale — Free Template & What It Should Include

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

A bill of sale is the receipt for a private-party vehicle transaction. It documents who sold what to whom, on what date, for how much money, and with what disclosures. Most states accept any bill of sale that contains the basic information; a few have specific state forms. Either way, having one is non-negotiable — it's the document that proves you bought the car when the title transfer hits the DMV.

What the bill of sale must contain

Buyer's full legal name and address. Match the buyer's driver's license or state ID exactly.
Seller's full legal name and address. Match the seller's title and ID.
Date of sale. The day funds and signed title were exchanged.
Purchase price. The actual amount paid, in U.S. dollars.
Vehicle description. Year, make, model, body type, color, and VIN (17 characters).
Odometer reading. The mileage at the time of sale, captured directly from the dashboard.
"As-is" disclosure. Most private sales are "as-is, where-is" — the seller makes no warranty about the vehicle's condition. State this explicitly to prevent disputes later.
Both signatures. Buyer and seller sign and print their names. Date the signatures.

The four fields generic forms often miss

Beyond the basic items above, include four additional fields that generic templates frequently leave off:

Lien status. Whether the title has any active liens, and the buyer's acknowledgement that the title is being transferred clean of liens.
Title-brand disclosure. The seller affirms that the vehicle does or does not carry a salvage, rebuilt, flood, or other title brand.
Smog/inspection status. Whether a state-required smog or safety inspection has been completed within the legally required window.
Form of payment. "Cashier's check #12345 from First National Bank" is much more useful than a vague "paid in full."

When to notarize

A handful of states require a notarized bill of sale for every private-party vehicle transaction (Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Wyoming). In every other state, notarization is optional but adds a layer of protection: a notary public watches both parties sign, verifies the signers' identities, and stamps the document. Notary services cost $5-$25 at most banks, mailboxes-etc. shops, and government offices.

Print-friendly template

Below is a complete template you can copy or print. Fill in the details with both parties present, sign, and provide a copy to each party. The buyer will need their copy when they go to the DMV for title transfer; the seller should keep their copy permanently as proof that liability for the vehicle ended on that date.

VEHICLE BILL OF SALE

This Bill of Sale is made on _________________________ (date).

SELLER
Name:        ______________________________________
Address:     ______________________________________
Driver's License #:  ______________________________

BUYER
Name:        ______________________________________
Address:     ______________________________________
Driver's License #:  ______________________________

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION
Year:        __________   Make: ________________
Model:       __________________________________
Body Type:   __________________________________
Color:       __________________________________
VIN (17 characters): __________________________
Odometer Reading at Sale: _______________ miles
   (   ) Actual mileage    (   ) Exempt — over 20 model years
   (   ) Mileage in excess of mechanical limits

PURCHASE PRICE & PAYMENT
Total purchase price: $_________________________
Form of payment: ______________________________
Date of full payment: _________________________

DISCLOSURES
1. The Seller affirms that, to the best of their knowledge,
   the vehicle is being sold free of all liens and
   encumbrances except as disclosed below: ___________________
2. The vehicle title is:    (   ) Clean    (   ) Salvage
   (   ) Rebuilt    (   ) Flood    (   ) Other: ____________
3. The vehicle is sold in "AS-IS, WHERE-IS" condition. The
   Seller makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding
   the condition or merchantability of the vehicle.

SIGNATURES
Seller Signature:   _____________________________ Date: _________
Buyer Signature:    _____________________________ Date: _________

(Notary acknowledgement, where required, attached.)

Common mistakes

Listing a lower price to reduce sales tax. Many states use either the actual sale price or the book value, whichever is higher. Lying on the bill of sale wastes effort.
Not capturing the odometer reading. Federal law requires odometer disclosure on vehicles less than 20 model years old; a missing reading invalidates the disclosure.
Single-copy bill of sale. Both parties need their own signed copy. Make two originals at signing rather than photocopying afterward.
Forgetting to release liability. The bill of sale isn't a substitute for the seller's release of liability filed with the DMV.