Private sale — What You Need to Know
A transaction between two private individuals without dealer involvement. Both parties negotiate directly and the seller transfers the title after payment.
Seller guidance
You are responsible for disclosing known defects, providing an accurate odometer statement, and delivering a clean title. Once the bill of sale is signed and funds received, remove the vehicle from your insurance and notify your DMV of the transfer.
Buyer guidance
Run a title search or VIN history report (NMVTIS, CARFAX) before handing over funds. Confirm the seller is the titled owner and the title is free of liens. Take possession of the signed title on the day of sale.
Legal note (Kansas-specific)
KS charges 7.3% state sales tax (plus local) on private vehicle sales. Title must be transferred at the county treasurer's office within 60 days.
Private sale checklist
- Verify the seller name matches the title exactly
- Confirm no open liens via your state DMV or NMVTIS
- Complete federal odometer disclosure (vehicles <10 years old)
- Sign and date the bill of sale with both parties present
- Transfer title and notify DMV within your state deadline
- Buyer pays 7.3% state sales tax plus local tax at county treasurer
- Transfer title within 60 days
Car Safety & Recall Information
Data sourced from NHTSA safety ratings and recall databases
Average Safety Rating
4.2 / 5
Avg. Price Range
$5,000–$25,000
Odometer Disclosure
Required
Safety checkpoints for car buyers
- Verify airbag recall status (Takata recall affected 67M+ vehicles)
- Check tire age — tires over 6 years old degrade regardless of tread depth
- Confirm brake pad thickness and rotor condition
- Test all seatbelts for proper retraction and latching
- Verify ABS warning light cycles off after ignition self-test
- Confirm child-seat LATCH anchor accessibility and integrity
- Test headlight aim and high-beam function on both low and high settings
- Inspect windshield for cracks in the driver sight line that could fail state inspection
Common recall categories
Airbags (Takata)Power TrainFuel SystemElectricalSteering
On average, each car model has approximately 3.1 recalls. Always check your specific vehicle at NHTSA.gov/recalls before completing a sale.
NHTSA recall watch for Borger car buyers
Before signing your private sale bill of sale in Borger, run a NHTSA recall check on the specific year and model. Recent-model cars with the most open recalls:
| Model + year | NHTSA recalls | Top categories |
|---|
| 2019 Volkswagen Jetta | 11 | Electrical System, Suspension, Unknown Or Other |
| 2024 Ford Mustang | 10 | Service Brakes, Fuel System, Electrical System |
| 2022 Ford Mustang | 9 | Electrical System, Steering, Air Bags |
| 2020 Ford Mustang | 8 | Back Over Prevention, Power Train, Forward Collision Avoidance |
| 2019 Nissan Altima | 7 | Fuel System, Back Over Prevention, Tires |
Run a NHTSA VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls before purchase — open recalls are the seller’s responsibility to disclose under federal law, and unresolved campaigns are a routine negotiating point on the private sale sale price.
Borger Private sale car generator — when to file
Kansas requires title transfer within 60 days of the sale date on the bill of sale. For private sale transactions specifically, file at Kansas DMV – Borger (Visit https://www.ksrevenue.gov/dov.html to find the nearest Borger office) during normal hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (verify hours with local office). Miss the 60-day window and Kansas typically charges a late-transfer penalty plus accrued use tax, and the seller can remain on the title for civil liability until the buyer completes retitling. Bring the signed title, the completed Borger bill of sale, your government-issued ID, and payment for the $10.00 title transfer fee plus 6.5% sales tax on the purchase price.
Generator reminder. Whether you keep your generator as a generator-produced document, both buyer and seller should leave the signing with an identical executed copy. The buyer needs the original to present at Kansas DMV – Borger; the seller keeps a duplicate to prove the date of transfer if a future liability question arises before the title fully retitles.