Bill of Sale Template
A bill of sale template is a pre-formatted document that captures the key details of a private vehicle sale — buyer and seller information, vehicle description, sale price, and signatures. Most state DMVs use the bill of sale to verify the sale date and calculate sales tax at title transfer.
Editing a blank template by hand is error-prone. Missing fields or incorrect VINs can delay title transfer at the DMV. BillOfSaleNow generates a completed, printable form in 3 minutes using your vehicle details — no editing required.
Required Fields for a Valid Bill of Sale
Every state-accepted bill of sale must include these elements.
- 1
Seller full name and address
Must match the name on the vehicle title exactly. Discrepancies cause DMV rejections.
- 2
Buyer full name and address
The buyer’s name will appear on the new title. Record it exactly as it appears on their ID.
- 3
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
17-character VIN stamped on the dashboard (driver’s side) and driver-door jamb. Verify it matches the title before signing.
- 4
Year, make, model, and color
Record the full vehicle description as it appears on the title — not from memory or the listing.
- 5
Odometer reading
Federal law (49 CFR Part 580) requires odometer disclosure for most vehicles under 20 model years old. It protects the buyer from odometer fraud and is required by most DMVs.
- 6
Sale price (written in numbers and words)
Writing the price in both formats prevents disputes. The DMV uses this figure to calculate the buyer’s sales tax obligation.
- 7
As-is disclosure
Including “sold as-is, no warranty expressed or implied” removes implied warranty liability from the seller. Most states accept this language when written into the bill of sale.
- 8
Both parties’ signatures and sale date
The sale date is critical — it is the date your liability for the vehicle ends. Each party keeps a signed original.
State-Specific Requirements
Most states accept any signed bill of sale that includes the fields above. A few states have additional requirements:
- Notarization required in Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
- State-issued form required in some counties in a handful of states — check your state DMV website to confirm.
- Emissions disclosure required in California and a few other states — include the smog certificate number if applicable.
BillOfSaleNow generates a state-specific form that includes the correct fields and disclosures for your state automatically.
Skip the blank template — generate a completed form
Enter your vehicle details and get a state-compliant, printable PDF bill of sale in 3 minutes. No account required for the basic form.