Mountain View, California Electric Vehicle Bill of Sale

What to include

• Buyer and seller names and addresses
• Electric Vehicle VIN and vehicle details
• Sale price and date
• Signatures from both parties

Next step

Create a compliant bill of sale and download the signed PDF immediately.

Electric Vehicle title transfer deadline in California

California gives the buyer 10 days from the sale date on the bill of sale to complete the electric vehicle title transfer at the California DMV – Mountain View in Mountain View. Miss the 10-day window and California charges a late-transfer penalty of typically $25-50 plus accrued use tax, and the seller can still appear on the title for civil liability if the buyer crashes the vehicle before retitling. Keep your signed bill of sale and the assigned title together and file as soon as you can, even if registration plates will be transferred later.

Notary requirement. CA does not require notarization of the bill of sale, but the title transfer (REG 262) must be signed by both parties.

VIN inspection. Out-of-state vehicles require a California VIN verification (REG 31) performed by a DMV employee, CHP officer, or licensed vehicle verifier.

File at the California DMV – Mountain View (595 Showers Dr, Mountain View, CA 94040). Bring the signed title, the completed Mountain View bill of sale, your ID, and payment for the $15.00 title transfer fee plus 9.125% sales tax on the purchase price.

Electric Vehicle mechanical pre-purchase checklist for Mountain View buyers

Before you sign the Mountain View bill of sale, walk through this inspection on theelectric vehicle. A pre-purchase inspection costs $100-200 and routinely uncovers $1,000+ in deferred maintenance — that is the figure you negotiate off the price or walk away from entirely. Use this list as your shortlist when you meet the seller or when a local mechanic looks the vehicle over.

Common mechanical issues to inspect

• Request a battery State of Health report — most OEMs and Tesla provide this at service
• Check 12V auxiliary battery age (often only 3–4 year service life on EVs)
• Inspect battery pack tray underside for road-debris damage or coolant weep
• Verify all charging modes (Level 1, Level 2, DC fast) function at full rate
• Test electric motor mounts for tear or sag (Tesla Model S/X common at 100K+)
• Check brake-rotor surface rust — light regen use causes pad-rotor mismatch

Safety checkpoints

• Check battery State of Health (SOH) — capacity degradation below 70% significantly reduces value
• Verify full charge range matches manufacturer specifications for the model year
• Test DC fast charging capability — some older EVs have degraded charge acceptance
• Check for any battery recall or warranty coverage status
• Confirm orange high-voltage cabling is intact and shielding is undamaged
• Verify regenerative braking smoothness and one-pedal-driving function

Title documentation notes. EVs are titled as passenger vehicles with federal odometer disclosure required on units under 20 model years old, identical to ICE cars. More than 30 states impose an additional EV registration surcharge ($50–$225/year) to offset lost fuel tax. Buyers should request the manufacturer battery warranty transfer (typically 8 years/100K miles) and verify it survives the title transfer — Tesla and most OEMs honor it automatically, but some require an in-network inspection.