Below is a fictional example showing what a completed car bill of sale looks like for Forney, Texas:
Seller
Jane Forney
Buyer
Michael Forney
Vehicle
2019 Car
VIN
1HGBH41JXMN109186
Mileage
45,230 miles
Sale Price
$12,500.00
Date
April 8, 2026
Condition
As-Is, No Warranty
Key Sections Explained
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
The unique 17-character code assigned to every motor vehicle. Always verify this matches the title and the plate on the dashboard.
Odometer Disclosure
Federal law requires the seller to certify the mileage reading. Tampering with an odometer is a federal crime.
As-Is Clause
States the vehicle is sold without warranty. The buyer accepts all risk for future repairs unless otherwise noted.
Signatures & Date
Both parties must sign and date the document. Some states require signatures to be witnessed or notarized.
This is a sample only
Replace all names, vehicle details, and prices with your actual transaction information. Use our generator to create a legally compliant document for your real sale.
Financed vehicle — What You Need to Know
The buyer is financing the purchase through a lender. The lender will hold a security interest in the vehicle until the loan is paid in full, and the title will reflect the lienholder.
Seller guidance
If you are selling as a private party offering financing (seller financing), the transaction is governed by the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Regulation Z (12 CFR Part 1026). You must provide the buyer a written disclosure of APR, finance charge, amount financed, total payments, and payment schedule. Failure to comply can expose you to civil liability.
Buyer guidance
When financing through a bank or credit union, your lender will place a lien on the title. You will not receive a clear title until the loan is paid off. Under TILA, you have the right to a written disclosure of all loan terms before signing. Review the APR and total cost of financing carefully.
Legal note (Texas-specific)
TX vehicles with liens must have the loan paid before title can be transferred. The buyer can pay the seller's loan directly (two-party payoff), or the seller must provide a VTR-262 (lien release) from the lienholder. The county tax office will not issue a clean title with an active lien on record.
Financed vehicle checklist
Obtain pre-approval letter or lender commitment before finalizing sale price
Confirm lender's payoff instructions if seller has an existing lien
Record the new lienholder on the title at the DMV
Review TILA disclosure for APR, finance charge, and payment schedule
Retain a copy of the signed bill of sale and loan documents
Obtain VTR-262 from lienholder after payoff
Present VTR-262 to county tax assessor-collector with title
Pay $33 title fee
Receive clean title by mail
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 financed vehicle bill of sale in Forney, 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 financed vehicle sale price.
Forney Financed vehicle car example — when to file
Texas requires title transfer within 30 days of the sale date on the bill of sale. For financed vehicle transactions specifically, file at County Tax Assessor-Collector – Forney (Visit https://www.txdmv.gov for the nearest Forney, TX office) during normal hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. Texas TX does not require a notarized bill of sale; however, Form 14-317 (Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Gift Transfer) must be notarized. Miss the 30-day window and Texas 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 Forney bill of sale, your government-issued ID, and payment for the $33.00 title transfer fee plus 7.75% sales tax on the purchase price.
Example reminder. Whether you keep your example as a reference example, both buyer and seller should leave the signing with an identical executed copy. The buyer needs the original to present at County Tax Assessor-Collector – Forney; 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 financed vehicle documents do I need for a car sale in Forney, Texas?
For a financed vehicle car transaction in Forney, you need: Obtain pre-approval letter or lender commitment before finalizing sale price; Confirm lender's payoff instructions if seller has an existing lien; Record the new lienholder on the title at the DMV; Review TILA disclosure for APR, finance charge, and payment schedule; Retain a copy of the signed bill of sale and loan documents; Obtain VTR-262 from lienholder after payoff; Present VTR-262 to county tax assessor-collector with title; Pay $33 title fee; Receive clean title by mail.
What is the sales tax on a car private sale in Forney, Texas?
The combined sales tax rate in Forney is 7.75%. Texas state rate 6.25% + estimated local taxes (verify with your county)
Do I need to notarize a car bill of sale in Texas?
No, notarization is not required. Texas does not require notarization for private vehicle bills of sale. Buyer and seller signatures on the completed title assignment are sufficient.
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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