Project Vehicle vehicle bill of sale
Selling a project vehicle heavy equipment in Maryland? Project or non-running vehicle sale — generate the right bill of sale for your transaction.
When selling a project vehicle heavy equipment through a private party sale in Maryland, a bill of sale protects both the buyer and seller by documenting the transaction details and the vehicle's condition at the time of sale.
Non-running vehicles should be sold with bill of sale clauses explicitly stating "sold as non-running" or "sold for parts only." Some states require a salvage or parts-only title designation for vehicles that are not roadworthy. Clearly documenting that the vehicle does not run protects the seller from buyer claims of misrepresentation.
The bill of sale must state that the vehicle is sold in non-running condition, specify whether it is sold for parts or restoration purposes, and list any major missing components such as engine, transmission, or catalytic converter.
A project vehicle sold for parts or restoration may require extensive investment to become roadworthy. Verify that the title status allows future registration if you intend to rebuild and drive the vehicle.
In Maryland, the title transfer fee is $100 and registration costs $135 - $187 for 2-year registration. Heavy Equipment sales are subject to 6% excise tax on the purchase price or fair market value. Notarization is required for heavy equipment bill of sale documents in Maryland. Emission testing is required in Maryland — verify the heavy equipment passes before completing the sale.
Maryland has a 6% state sales tax rate. Flat 6% excise tax on purchase price or fair market value. Private-party heavy equipment sales in Maryland are subject to sales tax. Excise tax applies to all vehicle sales. The title transfer fee is $100.
The most common heavy equipment makes in private-party sales are Caterpillar, John Deere, Komatsu, Volvo, Case. Average private-party heavy equipment prices range from $10,000–$300,000. Heavy equipments average 0.7 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Hydraulic System, Electrical, ROPS/FOPS.
Before completing a heavy equipment bill of sale in Maryland, verify these safety items:
Equipment floater or inland marine policy required. Costs vary widely: $500–$5,000/year depending on value and use. Caterpillar and Komatsu machines hold value well — 50–60% retention after 5,000 hours. Peak season for private heavy equipment sales is spring when construction season begins, with an average of 60 days on market.
Heavy Equipments are classified as "Construction equipment (not registered for road use; transported on flatbed/lowboy)" for registration purposes. Heavy equipment is valued by engine hours, not mileage. Machines over 80,000 lbs require special transport permits. Federal odometer disclosure does not apply to heavy equipments.
Heavy equipment (excavators, bulldozers, loaders, etc.) transfers rely on a bill of sale and serial number documentation. Most states do not title heavy equipment that is not driven on public roads. Heavy equipment is generally not titled by states. A bill of sale is the primary transfer document. Equipment with a road-travel capability (e.g., motor graders) may require registration in some states.
When selling a heavy equipment in Maryland, the following disclosures apply:
When selling a project vehicle heavy equipment in Maryland, the bill of sale should clearly document the vehicle condition. Equipment floater or inland marine policy required. Costs vary widely: $500–$5,000/year depending on value and use. Average heavy equipment prices range from $10,000–$300,000 — project vehicle vehicles typically fall in the lower range.
BillOfSaleNow has generated 1,464 bill of sale documents for Maryland transactions, with 40 generated this month alone. The most popular vehicle type is car.
Generate a Maryland heavy equipment bill of sale with condition details included.
Create Maryland Heavy Equipment Bill of SaleMaryland requires a bill of sale for all private party vehicle sales. A project vehicle heavy equipment may have additional disclosure requirements around condition, mileage, or title status.
Include buyer and seller details, vehicle identifiers (VIN, year, make, model), sale price, date, signatures, and a clear description of the vehicle condition as project vehicle.
Yes. A properly completed bill of sale is a legal document in Maryland. For project vehicle vehicles, disclosing the condition protects both buyer and seller.
Maryland charges a $100 title transfer fee. Registration costs $135 - $187 for 2-year registration. Sales tax: 6% excise tax on the purchase price or fair market value. Notarization is required.
Average private-party heavy equipment prices range from $10,000–$300,000. Project Vehicle vehicles typically fall in the lower range. The most common makes are Caterpillar, John Deere, Komatsu, Volvo, Case.
Verify ROPS/FOPS (Rollover/Falling Object Protective Structure) certification Check engine hours — the primary value indicator for heavy equipment
45% faster sale
Vehicles whose listings include a history report spend ~45% less time on site before selling, and report-viewers are 5x more likely to become a lead.
Source: Experian / AutoCheck
$4,000 avg loss
NHTSA estimates 450,000+ vehicles per year are sold with rolled-back odometers — the average victim loses about $4,000 in downstream repair costs.
Source: NHTSA
17.5M private sales/yr
About 17.5 million private-party vehicle transactions happen in the U.S. each year — roughly 47% of the used market.
Source: Cox Automotive 2024
1 in 3 buyers
Roughly 1 in 3 used-car buyers say they suspect private sellers are hiding mechanical problems — documentation closes that trust gap.
Source: JW Surety Bonds (n=3,000)
$60–$85 mobile notary
Mobile notary visit minimums run $60–$85 — higher on weekends, plus per-mile travel fees. State-formatted documents skip the trip.
Source: Thumbtack / NNA