BillOfSaleNow

How to Sell an ATV Privately in Arkansas (2026)

BN
Reviewed against state DMV requirementsLast reviewed: May 20266 min readEditorial policy
Selling an ATV privately in Arkansas requires a written bill of sale documenting the frame VIN, engine displacement, and the agreed price. Arkansas does not title ATVs, so the bill of sale is the sole ownership record — treat it as a permanent document. Arkansas charges 6.5% sales/use tax.
Titling agencyNo DMV title — bill of sale is the ownership record
Sales / use tax6.5% (Sales tax applies to private party vehicle purchases)
Bill of sale notaryNot required
OHV permit requiredNo separate permit program
DMV title issued for ATVsNo — bill of sale only
Lien release formTC 96-182

How to Sell an ATV Privately in Arkansas — 8 Steps

  1. 1Locate the frame VIN — on ATVs the 17-character frame VIN is stamped on the frame near the engine, on the steering head, or on a stamped plate on the left side of the frame rail. Arkansas requires this on every bill of sale.
  2. 2Note the engine displacement and class — ATV engines are sized in cc (cubic centimeters); youth ATVs under 90cc fall under separate Arkansas youth-rider rules and may have different registration paths than adult ATVs 250cc+.
  3. 3Clear any liens — if the ATV was financed, request a payoff quote and lien release letter. Arkansas uses TC 96-182.
  4. 4Gather documentation — Arkansas does not title ATVs, so the bill of sale + maintenance records + manufacturer's owner's manual are your ownership package, and any OHV/trail permit stickers on the ATV.
  5. 5Price the ATV — check Kelley Blue Book Powersports, NADA Guides (ATVs), and recent Arkansas ATV Trader / Craigslist / Facebook Marketplace comps. Hours, condition, aftermarket parts (winch, plow, tires), and youth/adult class all affect value.
  6. 6Complete the bill of sale — frame VIN, year/make/model, engine displacement, hours (if tracked), sale price, sale date, and both parties' full legal names and addresses.
  7. 7Hand off the bill of sale and any registration documents — in Arkansas there is no DMV title to endorse. The bill of sale itself is the transfer instrument. Provide the buyer with two signed originals and keep one for your records.
  8. 8File any state-required ATV transfer notice with the local revenue/tax office, pay sales/use tax, and the buyer purchases a new OHV permit. Seller keeps a signed copy of the bill of sale.

Arkansas lien release procedure

  1. Obtain Form TC 96-182 from the Arkansas DFA Motor Vehicle Division or the lienholder.
  2. Lienholder completes and signs TC 96-182 releasing the lien.
  3. Submit TC 96-182 with the existing title and title application at your local revenue office.
  4. Pay the title fee and receive a clean title.

Important — Arkansas does not title ATVs

Arkansas does not issue DMV titles for ATVs. Ownership transfers entirely through the bill of sale, which functions as the permanent record of sale. Keep one signed original for your files (in case of dispute) and give two signed originals to the buyer. Photograph the VIN and the signed document — these records replace the title chain that exists in title states.

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Frequently Asked Questions — Arkansas

Do I need a bill of sale to sell an ATV in Arkansas?

Yes — and in Arkansas the bill of sale is even more important than in title states. Arkansas does not issue DMV titles for ATVs, so the signed bill of sale is the sole record of ownership. It must document the 17-character frame VIN, year/make/model, engine displacement, sale price, and both parties' signatures.

Does Arkansas title ATVs?

No. Arkansas does not issue motor vehicle titles for ATVs. Ownership transfers via the bill of sale alone — keep both copies (buyer + seller) indefinitely as the only proof of sale. Some buyers will also want a signed handover photo and a copy of the seller's ID.

What is the Arkansas ATV title transfer deadline?

Arkansas does not title ATVs, so there is no DMV transfer deadline. The buyer should still keep the bill of sale on hand as proof of ownership when riding on public land or selling the ATV later.

Is sales tax owed on a private ATV sale in Arkansas?

Arkansas charges 6.5% sales/use tax on private ATV sales. Sales tax applies to private party vehicle purchases The buyer typically pays the tax at the local revenue/tax office.

Do I need an OHV permit to ride a privately purchased ATV in Arkansas?

Arkansas does not run a separate OHV permit program. The buyer's title/registration plus the bill of sale is sufficient to operate the ATV on public OHV trails. Private-property use does not require additional permits.

Do I need a notary for a Arkansas ATV bill of sale?

Arkansas does not require notarization for a private ATV bill of sale. A signed bill of sale with both parties' information is sufficient as the ownership record.

Source: Arkansas DMV · Last verified 2026-05-07

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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