BillOfSaleNow

Odometer exempt — Arkansas

Arkansas Car bill of sale for odometer exempt

Complete your Arkansas car bill of sale for a odometer exempt transaction. Enter buyer and seller details, vehicle information, and generate a signed PDF in minutes.

ArkansasCarOdometer exempt
BN
Reviewed against state DMV requirementsLast reviewed: March 20266 min readEditorial policy

What to know about odometer exempt sales in Arkansas

Under 49 CFR § 580.17, vehicles that are 10 or more model years old are exempt from federal odometer disclosure. You still must not knowingly falsify mileage. Even if federally exempt, some states have their own mileage disclosure requirements — document the known odometer reading in the bill of sale regardless.

What to include in your bill of sale

  • Full legal names and addresses for both buyer and seller.
  • Car make, model, year, VIN, and current mileage.
  • Agreed sale price, payment method, and transaction date.
  • Any odometer exempt-specific disclosures required in Arkansas.

Seller guidance

Under 49 CFR § 580.17, vehicles that are 10 or more model years old are exempt from federal odometer disclosure. You still must not knowingly falsify mileage. Even if federally exempt, some states have their own mileage disclosure requirements — document the known odometer reading in the bill of sale regardless.

Buyer guidance

While the seller may not be legally required to provide a federal odometer statement, you should still request the actual mileage and note it in the bill of sale. High-mileage vehicles command lower prices, so confirming the reading protects you from misrepresentation claims later.

Legal considerations

49 CFR § 580.17 exempts vehicles 10 or more model years old from the odometer disclosure requirement of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act (49 U.S.C. § 32705). Gross-weight exemption applies to vehicles with a GVWR exceeding 16,000 lbs. Despite the federal exemption, knowingly falsifying mileage on any document is still fraud under 49 U.S.C. § 32709.

Arkansas Car transfer fees and requirements

In Arkansas, the title transfer fee is $10 and registration costs $17 - $30 depending on vehicle weight. Car sales are subject to 6.5% state sales tax plus local taxes. Arkansas does not require notarization for private-party car transfers. Arkansas does not require emission testing for private-party car sales.

  • Bill of sale must include sale price for tax assessment
  • Title transfer required within 30 days
  • Safety inspection required for out-of-state vehicles

Arkansas sales tax on car purchases

Arkansas has a 6.5% state sales tax rate. 6.5% state plus local taxes up to 5.125%. Private-party car sales in Arkansas are subject to sales tax. Sales tax applies to private party vehicle purchases. 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 Arkansas, 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 Arkansas

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.

Arkansas requirements for odometer exempt car sales

For odometer exempt car transactions in Arkansas, the buyer must pay 6.5% state sales tax plus local taxes and a $10 title transfer fee. Notarization is not required. Odometer disclosure is required.

  • Bill of sale must include sale price for tax assessment
  • Title transfer required within 30 days
  • Safety inspection required for out-of-state vehicles

Safety tips for odometer exempt car transactions

When completing a odometer exempt car sale in Arkansas, always verify the vehicle against NHTSA recall databases. The most common car recall categories are Airbags (Takata), Power Train, Fuel System. Check recalls at NHTSA.gov/recalls before signing the bill of sale.

Checklist for odometer exempt car sale in Arkansas

  1. Confirm the vehicle qualifies for the federal exemption (10+ model years old or GVWR >16,000 lbs)
  2. Check your state's mileage disclosure rules — some exceed the federal minimum
  3. Record the actual known mileage in the bill of sale voluntarily
  4. Note on the bill of sale that odometer disclosure is exempt under 49 CFR § 580.17
  5. Retain a copy of the bill of sale showing the exempt-disclosure notation

Need the printable workflow?

Use the main Arkansas car bill of sale flow when you are ready to generate the completed document.

Open Arkansas Car bill of sale

The Private Vehicle Sale Market

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

Frequently asked questions

When should I use the odometer exempt page?

Use this page when your car sale in Arkansas fits a odometer exempt scenario. It walks you through the specific disclosures and details that apply to this type of transaction.

Why does the odometer exempt scenario have its own page?

Different sale scenarios — such as private party, dealer, or gifted transfers — have different documentation requirements. This page focuses on what buyers and sellers need for a odometer exempt transaction specifically.

What should be included in this bill of sale?

Include the buyer and seller details, vehicle identifiers, sale price, date, signatures, and any notes specific to the odometer exempt transaction.

What are the Arkansas fees for a odometer exempt car transfer?

Arkansas charges a $10 title transfer fee. Registration costs $17 - $30 depending on vehicle weight. Sales tax: 6.5% state sales tax plus local taxes. Notarization is not required for most transfers.

What car makes are most commonly sold in Arkansas?

The most popular car makes in private-party sales are Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Nissan. Average private-party prices range from $5,000–$25,000.

Do I pay sales tax on a odometer exempt car sale in Arkansas?

Arkansas has a 6.5% state sales tax rate. Sales tax applies to private party vehicle purchases

Arkansas car bill of sale by city

Create Arkansas Car Bill of Sale

Free • 3 min • Printable PDF

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