BillOfSaleNow

Do I Need a Bill of Sale to Register a Car?

Many DMV offices accept a bill of sale as supporting proof of purchase. It helps verify the transfer date and sale price.

Why DMV Offices Ask for It

Best Practice for Registration

Bring a signed bill of sale alongside the title to avoid delays when registering the vehicle.

How to create a bill of sale

  1. Write down buyer, seller, and vehicle details.
  2. Add the sale price and transfer date.
  3. Sign the bill of sale and keep copies.
  4. Use it alongside the title for DMV registration.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a bill of sale to register a car?

Many DMV offices accept a bill of sale as proof of purchase, especially for private sales.

What information should it include?

Buyer and seller names, VIN, sale price, sale date, and signatures.

Will it replace the title?

No. The title transfer is still required, but the bill of sale supports the transaction.

Create a DMV-Ready Bill of Sale

Generate a printable PDF that includes the details most DMVs expect to see.

Create Bill of Sale

Related resources

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