BillOfSaleNow

Arizona vs Illinois: Truck Bill of Sale Comparison (2026)

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Reviewed against state DMV requirementsLast reviewed: May 20266 min readEditorial policy
Comparing a private-party truck sale in Arizona vs Illinois. Each row pulls the published rule from the state DMV: form number, sales tax, title fee, transfer deadline, notarization, lien release, odometer disclosure, VIN inspection, and titling agency. The buyer files the title transfer in the state where they will register the truck — match the bill of sale to that state.

Side-by-side: Arizona vs Illinois truck sale

FeatureArizonaIllinois
Official bill of sale formGeneric bill of sale acceptedGeneric bill of sale accepted
Sales / use tax rate5.6% (private-party exempt) · Arizona procedure6.25% sales/use tax · Illinois procedure
Title fee (buyer pays)$4$150
Title transfer deadline15 days from sale20 days from sale
Notarization requirementNot requiredNot required
Lien release processTitle (lien section)VSD 790
Odometer disclosure cutoffRequired for trucks newer than 2011Required for trucks newer than 2011
VIN inspection (out-of-state)Required (out-of-state vehicles)Not required
Titling agencyArizona MVDIllinois SOS

When to choose Arizona vs Illinois

Arizona exempts private-party truck sales from state sales tax, so the buyer keeps more cash at the title window. Arizona requires title transfer within 15 days; Illinois allows 20. Tight 15-day deadlines push back-dated late fees onto buyers who delay. Neither state publishes a single mandatory bill of sale form — both accept a typed or generated document containing the buyer, seller, truck, sale price, odometer reading, and signatures. For a truck sale comparison, the buyer-side cost stack is dominated by sales/use tax, title fee, and any inspection or notary trip. Sellers should match the bill of sale format to the buyer's titling state because the buyer files the title transfer, not the seller.

Cross-state transfer: Arizona to Illinois

If the truck moves from Arizona to Illinois after the sale, the buyer registers and titles in Illinois — not Arizona. The seller's bill of sale should still match Arizona sale-side conventions (because the sale happened there), but the buyer takes that bill of sale plus the endorsed Arizona title to Illinois SOS within 20 days of arrival. Illinois will assess 6.25% sales or use tax on the purchase price when the new title is issued. The federal odometer disclosure rules apply regardless of which state owns the title at sale time; trucks newer than 2011 need a written odometer reading on the bill of sale or title. If a lien existed on the Arizona title, the Arizona lienholder must release it (Title (lien section)) before Illinois SOS will issue a clean title to the buyer.

Generate a state-specific truck bill of sale

Pick the buyer's titling state — the form ships pre-filled with the right odometer block, signature lines, and state-specific fields.

Frequently asked questions — Arizona vs Illinois

Is the truck bill of sale form different in Arizona vs Illinois?

Neither Arizona nor Illinois mandates a specific bill of sale form. Both accept any typed or generated document that includes the buyer, seller, truck description, sale price, odometer reading, and signatures.

Which state has lower sales tax on a private-party truck sale, Arizona or Illinois?

Arizona exempts private-party truck sales from state sales tax. Illinois charges 6.25% sales/use tax on the purchase price. The buyer pays this at Illinois SOS when titling.

What is the title transfer deadline for a truck in Arizona vs Illinois?

Arizona requires the buyer to title the truck within 15 days of sale. Illinois allows 20 days. Missing the deadline triggers late fees and back-dated registration penalties in both states.

Do I need to notarize the truck bill of sale in Arizona or Illinois?

Neither Arizona nor Illinois requires notarization of the truck bill of sale. A signed document with both parties' full names, addresses, and the date is sufficient.

If I sell a truck in Arizona and the buyer registers it in Illinois, which state's rules apply?

The buyer titles and registers the truck in Illinois — Illinois's rules govern the title transfer. The seller's bill of sale should still reflect Arizona sale-side conventions because the sale closed there. Illinois SOS will assess 6.25% sales/use tax on the purchase price when the new title is issued, regardless of where the sale occurred.

Sources: Arizona MVD · Illinois SOS · Last verified 2026-05-07 / 2026-05-07

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