Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln Car Bill of Sale Requirements
Complete requirements checklist for a car bill of sale in Lincoln, Nebraska. Includes exact fees, notarization rules, and where to file at the Lancaster County DMV.
Fees, notarization rules, and filing addresses on this page are reviewed against 49 CFR Part 580 — Odometer Disclosure Requirements and the Lancaster County DMV. Source documents are cross-checked each quarter so Lincoln buyers and sellers always see the current Nebraska car bill of sale standard, not stale third-party summaries.
Title Transfer Fee
$10.00
Sales Tax Rate
7.25%
Notarization
Required
Required Fields — Lincoln Car Bill of Sale
All of the following must appear on a valid car bill of sale in Lincoln, Nebraska:
- ✓Full legal name and current address of seller
- ✓Full legal name and current address of buyer
- ✓Agreed sale price (in numerals and words)
- ✓Date of sale
- ✓Car year, make, model, and body style
- ✓17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
- ✓Odometer reading at time of sale (federal disclosure required for most motor vehicles under 10 years old)
- ✓Signature of seller (must be notarized)
- ✓Signature of buyer (must be notarized)
Notarization in Lincoln: Required
Nebraska requires both buyer and seller to sign the car bill of sale in front of a licensed notary public. Nebraska requires notarization of the title assignment. Find a notary at a bank, credit union, UPS Store, or via online notarization (Proof, Notarize.com).
Nebraska Car transfer fees and requirements
In Nebraska, the title transfer fee is $10 and registration costs Based on vehicle value and weight; varies. Car sales are subject to 5.5% motor vehicle tax plus local option taxes. Notarization is required for car bill of sale documents in Nebraska. Nebraska does not require emission testing for private-party car sales.
- Notarized title required for transfer
- Motor vehicle tax paid at county treasurer office
- Title transfer within 30 days of purchase
Nebraska sales tax on car purchases
Nebraska has a 5.5% state sales tax rate. 5.5% state plus local option taxes up to 2%. Private-party car sales in Nebraska are subject to sales tax. Motor vehicle tax applies to all sales. The title transfer fee is $10.
Car market data and safety information
The most common car makes in private-party sales are Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Nissan. Average private-party car prices range from $5,000–$25,000. The average NCAP safety rating for recent car models is 4.2 out of 5 stars. Cars average 3.1 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Airbags (Takata), Power Train, Fuel System.
Safety checkpoints for buying a used car
Before completing a car bill of sale in Nebraska, verify these safety items:
- Verify airbag recall status (Takata recall affected 67M+ vehicles)
- Check tire age — tires over 6 years old degrade regardless of tread depth
- Confirm brake pad thickness and rotor condition
- Test all seatbelts for proper retraction and latching
- Verify ABS warning light cycles off after ignition self-test
- Confirm child-seat LATCH anchor accessibility and integrity
- Test headlight aim and high-beam function on both low and high settings
- Inspect windshield for cracks in the driver sight line that could fail state inspection
Car insurance and depreciation in Nebraska
Liability insurance required in 49 states (New Hampshire is the exception). Average annual premium: $1,600–$2,200. Cars lose approximately 20% of value in the first year and 60% over five years. Japanese brands retain value best. Peak season for private car sales is spring (march–may) when tax refunds boost demand, with an average of 21 days on market.
Car registration and titling
Cars are classified as "Passenger vehicle" for registration purposes. Standard passenger cars weigh 2,500–4,500 lbs; no special weight-class registration required. Federal odometer disclosure is required for cars under 20 years old.
Car title transfer rules
Standard passenger vehicle title transfer requires a signed title, bill of sale, and odometer disclosure statement. Both buyer and seller must sign the title assignment. A clean certificate of title signed by the registered owner is the primary transfer document. Some states issue electronic titles that must be converted to paper before a private sale.
Odometer disclosure for car sales
Federal law (49 CFR 580) requires an odometer disclosure for passenger cars less than 20 years old at the time of transfer. The seller must certify the reading is accurate or indicate if the odometer has been tampered with or exceeds its mechanical limits.
- Applicable law: 49 CFR Part 580 — Odometer Disclosure Requirements
Required disclosures for car sales in Nebraska
When selling a car in Nebraska, the following disclosures apply:
- Salvage or rebuilt title status must be disclosed to the buyer before sale.
- Lemon law buyback history must be disclosed in states that track branded titles.
- Emission compliance status may affect registration in states with inspection programs.
Nebraska bill of sale statistics
BillOfSaleNow has generated 482 bill of sale documents for Nebraska transactions, with 13 generated this month alone. The most popular vehicle type is car.
Where to File — Lincoln Title Office
Office
Lancaster County DMV
Address
625 N 46th St, Lincoln, NE 68503
Phone
(402) 441-7645
Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Additional requirements in Lancaster County:
- Title assignment must be notarized
- Title transfer at Lancaster County Treasurer within 30 days
- Sales tax at title transfer
- Seller must sign title
What to Bring to the NE DMV
- 1Completed, signed car bill of sale (notarized)
- 2Car title signed over by seller on the back
- 3Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license or passport)
- 4Payment for title transfer fee: $10.00
- 5Payment for sales tax (7.25% of sale price)
- 6Odometer disclosure statement (if not included on title)
FAQ — Car Bill of Sale Requirements in Lincoln
- What are the required fields on a car bill of sale in Lincoln?
- A valid car bill of sale in Lincoln, Nebraska must include both parties' full legal names and addresses, sale date, agreed sale price, VIN, year, make, model, and signatures of buyer and seller. Notarization is required in Nebraska.
- What is the title transfer fee for a car in Lincoln?
- The title transfer fee in Lancaster County is $10.00. The car sales tax rate is 7.25%. Nebraska state rate 5.5% + Lincoln city 1.75%
- Is notarization required for a car bill of sale in Lincoln?
- Yes. Nebraska requires notarization of the title assignment.
- Where do I file a car title transfer in Lincoln?
- File the title transfer at the Lancaster County DMV, 625 N 46th St, Lincoln, NE 68503. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM. Phone: (402) 441-7645.