Private Car Sale Checklist

Follow this checklist to complete a private vehicle sale and document the transaction correctly.

Before the Sale

Why use a checklist for private sales?

It ensures you collect the right paperwork and protect yourself after the sale.

Is a bill of sale part of the checklist?

Yes. It documents the buyer, seller, price, and sale date.

How long does the process take?

Most sellers complete the bill of sale in about 3 minutes.

Create a bill of sale and keep your sale documentation organized.

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.

$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.

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.

$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.