Seller financing — What You Need to Know
The seller extends credit to the buyer and accepts installment payments over time, rather than receiving the full purchase price at closing. The seller holds a security interest in the vehicle until the loan is paid.
Seller guidance
Seller financing is a regulated credit transaction under the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and Regulation Z (12 CFR Part 1026). You must provide the buyer with a written disclosure of APR, finance charge, total amount financed, payment schedule, and total of payments before the contract is signed. Perfect your security interest by recording yourself as a lienholder on the title with the DMV.
Buyer guidance
You are entitled to a written TILA disclosure before signing. Review the APR and total cost carefully — seller financing often carries higher rates than traditional lenders. The seller retains a lien on the vehicle until you pay in full; failure to make payments can result in repossession under the terms of your agreement and your state's repossession laws.
Legal note
TILA (15 U.S.C. § 1638) and Regulation Z require written disclosures for any credit transaction. A separate promissory note and security agreement should accompany the bill of sale. The seller must file a UCC-1 financing statement or record the lien on the title to perfect the security interest under UCC Article 9. State usury laws cap the maximum interest rate for private installment sales.
Seller financing checklist
- Prepare a written promissory note specifying principal, APR, payment schedule, and total cost
- Provide TILA disclosure box (APR, finance charge, amount financed, total payments) at signing
- Record the seller's lien on the vehicle title at the DMV
- Include default and repossession terms in the financing agreement
- File a UCC-1 financing statement if relying on UCC Article 9 (varies by state for titled vehicles)
UTV Safety & Recall Information
Data sourced from NHTSA safety ratings and recall databases
Average Safety Rating
0 / 5
Avg. Price Range
$5,000–$25,000
Odometer Disclosure
Not required
Safety checkpoints for utv buyers
- Verify ROPS (Roll-Over Protective Structure) is intact and unmodified
- Check seat belt function for all seating positions
- Inspect half doors and nets for proper latching
- Test differential lock and selectable drive modes
- Confirm headlights, taillights, and brake lights all function
- Verify parking brake holds the vehicle on a 15-degree slope
- Check that windshield (if equipped) is rated and unmodified
- Test horn and warning beeper function
Common recall categories
SteeringFuel SystemFire HazardSuspensionSeat Belts
On average, each utv model has approximately 2.8 recalls. Always check your specific vehicle at NHTSA.gov/recalls before completing a sale.
Local Requirements — Deschutes County
DMV / Title Office
Oregon DMV – Bend Office
Address
63050 NE 18th St, Bend, OR 97701
Office Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
https://www.oregon.gov/odot/dmv
Transfer Fees & Taxes — Bend
Base Registration Fee
$122.00
Oregon has no sales tax but charges a 0.5% vehicle privilege/use tax on new vehicles. No tax on used private-party sales.
Notarization: NOT REQUIRED
Oregon does not require notarization for private vehicle sales.
Bend Transfer Checklist
- No sales tax on used private-party vehicle sales in Oregon
- Title transfer at an Oregon DMV office within 30 days
- DEQ emissions test may be required depending on the county
- Seller must sign the title assignment
County Information — Deschutes County
County Clerk / Recorder
Deschutes County Clerk
Private party vehicle sales in Deschutes County may be exempt from sales tax — verify with the county clerk before completing your transaction.
Bend Seller financing utv generator — when to file
Oregon requires title transfer within 30 days of the sale date on the bill of sale. For seller financing transactions specifically, file at Oregon DMV – Bend Office (63050 NE 18th St, Bend, OR 97701) during normal hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. Miss the 30-day window and Oregon 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 Bend bill of sale, your government-issued ID, and payment for the $77.00 title transfer fee plus 0.50% 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 Oregon DMV – Bend Office; the seller keeps a duplicate to prove the date of transfer if a future liability question arises before the title fully retitles.