When should I use the bill of sale only page?
Use this page when your truck sale in Minnesota fits a bill of sale only scenario. It walks you through the specific disclosures and details that apply to this type of transaction.
Bill of sale only — Minnesota
Complete your Minnesota truck bill of sale for a bill of sale only transaction. Enter buyer and seller details, vehicle information, and generate a signed PDF in minutes.
If you are selling a vehicle that was never titled (common for pre-1975 vehicles in some states), a bill of sale is the primary ownership document. The buyer must present the bill of sale to the DMV to apply for an original title. Ensure the bill of sale contains full VIN, make, model, year, and both party signatures with dates.
If you are selling a vehicle that was never titled (common for pre-1975 vehicles in some states), a bill of sale is the primary ownership document. The buyer must present the bill of sale to the DMV to apply for an original title. Ensure the bill of sale contains full VIN, make, model, year, and both party signatures with dates.
A bill of sale alone does not guarantee you can register the vehicle. Check with your state DMV to confirm the process for obtaining an original title using a bill of sale. You may need a VIN inspection, a surety bond, or a court order depending on the vehicle's history and your state's rules.
Vehicles manufactured before 1975 were not required to be federally titled, and some never entered a state title system. States have varying procedures for issuing an original title for un-titled vehicles (e.g., California: Reg 343 form; Texas: Form VTR-141). The NMVTIS may not have records for older un-titled vehicles, so ownership chain documentation is critical.
In Minnesota, the title transfer fee is $8.25 and registration costs $10 - $65+ based on vehicle value and age. Truck sales are subject to 6.5% motor vehicle sales tax (not general sales tax). Minnesota does not require notarization for private-party truck transfers. Minnesota does not require emission testing for private-party truck sales.
Minnesota has a 6.5% state sales tax rate. 6.5% motor vehicle sales tax (separate from general 6.875% rate). Private-party truck sales in Minnesota are subject to sales tax. Motor vehicle sales tax applies to all vehicle sales. The title transfer fee is $8.
The most common truck makes in private-party sales are Ford, Chevrolet, RAM, Toyota, GMC. Average private-party truck prices range from $8,000–$55,000. The average NCAP safety rating for recent truck models is 4 out of 5 stars. Trucks average 3.8 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Power Train, Fuel System, Steering.
Before completing a truck bill of sale in Minnesota, verify these safety items:
Full-size trucks cost 10–20% more to insure than sedans. Lifted trucks or diesel modifications may increase premiums further. Trucks hold value better than cars — full-size pickups retain 60–70% of value after 5 years. Diesel models retain the most. Peak season for private truck sales is late spring through summer when construction and outdoor activity demand rises, with an average of 18 days on market.
Trucks are classified as "Light truck (under 8,500 lbs) or Medium truck (8,500–26,000 lbs)" for registration purposes. Trucks under 16,000 lbs GVWR follow passenger rules. Over 16,000 lbs GVWR triggers commercial vehicle requirements and federal odometer exemption. Federal odometer disclosure is required for trucks under 20 years old.
For bill of sale only truck transactions in Minnesota, the buyer must pay 6.5% motor vehicle sales tax (not general sales tax) and a $8.25 title transfer fee. Notarization is not required. Odometer disclosure is required.
When completing a bill of sale only truck sale in Minnesota, always verify the vehicle against NHTSA recall databases. The most common truck recall categories are Power Train, Fuel System, Steering. Check recalls at NHTSA.gov/recalls before signing the bill of sale.
Use the main Minnesota truck bill of sale flow when you are ready to generate the completed document.
Open Minnesota Truck bill of sale17.5M 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
Use this page when your truck sale in Minnesota fits a bill of sale only scenario. It walks you through the specific disclosures and details that apply to this type of transaction.
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 bill of sale only transaction specifically.
Include the buyer and seller details, vehicle identifiers, sale price, date, signatures, and any notes specific to the bill of sale only transaction.
Minnesota charges a $8.25 title transfer fee. Registration costs $10 - $65+ based on vehicle value and age. Sales tax: 6.5% motor vehicle sales tax (not general sales tax). Notarization is not required for most transfers.
The most popular truck makes in private-party sales are Ford, Chevrolet, RAM, Toyota, GMC. Average private-party prices range from $8,000–$55,000.
Minnesota has a 6.5% state sales tax rate. Motor vehicle sales tax applies to all vehicle sales
Free • 3 min • Printable PDF
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