This blank car bill of sale template for Massachusetts contains the following sections:
Seller Info
Name, address, phone, email
Buyer Info
Name, address, phone, email
Vehicle Details
Year, make, model, color, body
VIN & Odometer
17-digit VIN, current mileage
Sale Terms
Price, payment method, date
Disclosures
As-is status, known defects
Signatures
Buyer/seller lines with date
Notarization
Notary block if state requires
How to Fill Out This Template
1Print the blank template on US Letter paper
2Enter the car details exactly as they appear on the title
3Record the odometer reading at the time of sale
4Agree on the sale price and fill in the payment terms
5Both parties sign and date in the presence of each other
6File the completed form with your local Massachusetts DMV within the required timeframe
Tip: Our online generator pre-fills Massachusetts-specific requirements so you don’t miss any required fields.
Family transfer — What You Need to Know
The vehicle is transferred between immediate family members. Many states offer reduced or waived sales and use tax for qualifying family transfers.
Seller guidance
Identify whether your state's DMV has a specific family transfer exemption form or requires a relationship affidavit. Qualifying relationships vary by state but typically include spouses, parents, children, siblings, and grandparents. Keep the bill of sale simple and clearly state the relationship.
Buyer guidance
Even if no money changes hands, you will owe use tax on fair market value in some states unless you qualify for the family exemption. Bring your relationship documentation (marriage certificate, birth certificate) to the DMV when re-registering. The title transfer process is otherwise the same as a standard sale.
Legal note (Massachusetts-specific)
Massachusetts exempts intra-family vehicle transfers from the 6.25% sales/use tax, provided the transferee is a spouse, parent, child, brother, or sister and the transferor previously paid Massachusetts sales or use tax on the vehicle. Use Form MVU-26 (Affidavit in Support of a Claim for Exemption from Sales or Use Tax for a Motor Vehicle Transferred Within a Family). The MVU-26 exemption eliminates both the sales tax and the $25 gift fee. Grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and cousins do not qualify for MVU-26; those transfers must use MVU-24 and pay the $25 gift fee if no consideration is exchanged.
Family transfer checklist
Confirm qualifying family relationship under your state's DMV rules
Obtain the required family transfer exemption form or affidavit
Document fair market value on the bill of sale (for tax records)
Bring relationship proof (marriage certificate, birth certificate) to the DMV
Determine if IRS Form 709 is required if value exceeds the annual gift exclusion
Complete Form MVU-26 (Affidavit — Family Transfer) — eligible relationships: spouse, parent, child, brother, sister only
Bring proof of relationship (birth certificate or marriage certificate) to the RMV
Transfers to grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, or cousins do not qualify — use MVU-24 with $25 fee instead
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
Before signing your family transfer bill of sale in Summit, 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 family transfer sale price.
Summit Family transfer car template — when to file
Massachusetts requires title transfer within 10 days of the sale date on the bill of sale. For family transfer transactions specifically, file at Massachusetts DMV – Summit (Visit https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-registry-of-motor-vehicles to find the nearest Summit office) during normal hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (verify hours with local office). Miss the 10-day window and Massachusetts 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 Summit bill of sale, your government-issued ID, and payment for the $75.00 title transfer fee plus 6.25% sales tax on the purchase price.
Template reminder. Whether you keep your template as a blank template you fill in by hand, both buyer and seller should leave the signing with an identical executed copy. The buyer needs the original to present at Massachusetts DMV – Summit; the seller keeps a duplicate to prove the date of transfer if a future liability question arises before the title fully retitles.
Frequently asked questions
What family transfer documents do I need for a car sale in Summit, Massachusetts?
For a family transfer car transaction in Summit, you need: Confirm qualifying family relationship under your state's DMV rules; Obtain the required family transfer exemption form or affidavit; Document fair market value on the bill of sale (for tax records); Bring relationship proof (marriage certificate, birth certificate) to the DMV; Determine if IRS Form 709 is required if value exceeds the annual gift exclusion; Complete Form MVU-26 (Affidavit — Family Transfer) — eligible relationships: spouse, parent, child, brother, sister only; Bring proof of relationship (birth certificate or marriage certificate) to the RMV; Transfers to grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, or cousins do not qualify — use MVU-24 with $25 fee instead.
What is the sales tax on a car private sale in Summit, Massachusetts?
The Massachusetts state sales tax rate is 6.25%. Flat 6.25% statewide; no additional local vehicle taxes. Sales tax applies to private party vehicle purchases
Do I need to notarize a car bill of sale in Massachusetts?
Check with your local Massachusetts DMV office for notarization requirements. Requirements can vary by county.
What are common recalls for a car?
Common recall categories for cars include: Airbags (Takata), Power Train, Fuel System, Electrical, Steering. On average, each car model has approximately 3.1 recalls. Always check your specific vehicle at NHTSA.gov before completing a sale.
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