BillOfSaleNow

Maryland Bill of Sale Requirements

As of 2026, Maryland requires a signed bill of sale for private vehicle transfers. Maryland requires notarization — both parties must sign in front of a licensed notary public.

Required Fields

  1. 1Full legal names and addresses of buyer and seller
  2. 2VIN (17 characters)
  3. 3Year, make, model, and color of the vehicle
  4. 4Odometer reading in miles (required)
  5. 5Sale price in numerals and written form
  6. 6Sale date
  7. 7Signatures of both parties plus notary stamp (required in Maryland)

Maryland-Specific Requirements

Notarized bill of sale required for title transfer
Safety inspection required before registration
Emissions testing required in certain counties
MVA handles title and registration (not DMV)

⚠️ Maryland requires notarization for a valid bill of sale.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a bill of sale required in Maryland?

Maryland requires a bill of sale for private vehicle transfers. It must be submitted at the DMV along with the signed title to complete the transfer.

What must be on a Maryland vehicle bill of sale?

A Maryland vehicle bill of sale must include: buyer and seller full legal names and addresses, the VIN, year, make, model, odometer reading, sale price (written and numeric), sale date, and signatures of both parties — notarized.

Does Maryland require an emissions test for private sales?

Yes — Maryland requires an emissions or smog test before the buyer can register a vehicle. Check with the Maryland DMV for specific requirements in your county.

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Trusted by private vehicle sellers nationwide

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