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Free Car Bill of Sale TemplateFill in the form, check the preview, then print it or save it as a PDF. No sign-up, and nothing you type is uploaded.

United States · checked What the law says about a car bill of sale

Federal law: The seller states the mileage on the title when ownership of a motor vehicle changes. 49 CFR 580.5

Federal law: Exempt: model year 2010 and older, trailers, and vehicles over 16,000 lb GVWR. 49 CFR 580.17

Federal law: A VIN has 17 characters, never I, O or Q, with a check digit in position 9. 49 CFR 565.13

Uniform Commercial Code: Words like “as is” or “with all faults” exclude the implied warranties. UCC § 2-316 (Texas § 2.316)

US Department of Justice: NMVTIS shows title brands such as salvage or flood, total losses and recent odometer readings. NMVTIS

Summary, not legal advice. Full details below

Basics

Basics

Seller

Seller

Buyer

Buyer

What is sold

What is sold

Odometer

Odometer

Sale

Sale

Written for you as you type the price. Change it here, or click it on the page.

Terms

Terms

One block: change any word, or add your own terms at the end (for example, when the buyer will collect the vehicle). The boxes above add or remove the standard paragraphs. An empty box goes back to the standard text.

Signatures

Signatures (optional)

Seller

Buyer

Most people print two copies and both sign each one in ink. You can also sign here on a phone. Signatures are never saved: they disappear when you close or refresh this page.

Wording: change the title, labels and clauses

Each box shows the words printed now. Rewrite any of them; an empty box goes back to the standard wording. You can also click any text on the page to rewrite it.

Finished? Print or save your bill of sale

Print two copies: one for the seller, one for the buyer. Everything except the signatures is saved in this browser.

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Preview

Click any text on the page to edit it.

Layout

Whole page · the printed page has no watermark or logo.

Pinch to zoom.

Examples3 layouts filled in with made-up details. Open one to start with that layout, or print a blank template to fill in by hand.

Car bill of sale template in the Classic layout, filled in with sample details Default layout ClassicCentred title, seller and buyer side by side, ruled lines for the property. Start with this layoutOpen Car bill of sale template in the Boxed layout, filled in with sample details Layout BoxedRuled boxes for every detail, like a printed office form. Start with this layoutOpen Car bill of sale template in the Numbered layout, filled in with sample details Layout NumberedFormal numbered sections in a serif typeface, like a lawyer’s form. Start with this layoutOpen

Prefer to fill it in by hand? Print a blank template and write on it.

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Notice: Generated via SnapPaperwork. For genuine sales only. A false bill of sale, a wrong price to lower sales tax, or a false odometer statement can be illegal.

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How to make a car bill of sale

  1. Describe the car

    Year, make, model, body style and color, the 17-character VIN and the odometer reading. The VIN is checked as you type, so a typo shows up before you print.

  2. Add the seller, the buyer and the price

    Both names and addresses, the date, the price (written out in words for you) and how it was paid. The “as is” and “owned outright” clauses are on by default.

  3. Print two copies and sign both

    Each of you signs both copies and keeps one. Then sign the title over as well: the bill of sale records the deal, the title moves the ownership.

What a car bill of sale should include

  • The full names and addresses of the seller and the buyer
  • Year, make, model, body style and color of the car
  • The VIN, exactly as it appears on the title and on the car
  • The odometer reading on the day of the sale
  • The price in figures and words, or “gift” if no money changes hands
  • The date, how the buyer paid, and whether the car is sold “as is”
  • Both signatures with printed names and the date

The bill of sale and the title

Ownership of a car passes through the certificate of title: the seller signs it over and the buyer applies for a new title and registration. A bill of sale does not replace the title, but many DMVs ask for one, for example to work out sales tax or when the title has no space for the price.

Some states have their own form, such as Florida’s HSMV 82050. If your DMV asks for its own form, use it and keep this one as your record. Many states also ask the seller to report the sale and decide what happens to the plates, so check your DMV’s website before the sale.

The odometer reading

US federal law requires the seller of a motor vehicle to state the mileage when ownership changes and to certify whether it is the actual mileage (49 CFR 580.5). It applies to vehicles of model year 2011 and newer, for 20 years; vehicles of model year 2010 and older are exempt (49 CFR 580.17).

The official statement is made on the title or on your state’s odometer form. The disclosure this tool prints for US cars is an extra record for both of you.

Before you hand over the keys

  • Compare the VIN on the title with the VIN on the dashboard and the driver’s door frame. They must match.
  • Buyers can order a vehicle history report built on NMVTIS, run for the US Department of Justice, to see title brands such as salvage or flood.
  • Sellers: keep your copy, report the sale if your state asks, and call your insurer once the car is no longer yours.
  • Meet in a safe public place and use a payment you can check, such as a cashier’s check confirmed with the bank.

Frequently asked questions

Is a car bill of sale enough to transfer ownership?

No. Ownership passes when the seller signs the title over and the buyer registers the car. The bill of sale is the record of the deal that the DMV, the buyer and the seller may need alongside the title.

Does a car bill of sale need to be notarized?

In most states, no. A few states require it in some cases, and the rules change, so check your DMV. If you need one, turn on the notary block and sign in front of the notary.

What does “as is” mean on a car bill of sale?

The buyer takes the car in its present condition, with any faults, and the seller makes no promise about how it runs. Under the Uniform Commercial Code, words like “as is” exclude the implied warranties. It does not cover hiding a problem the seller knows about.

Can I use it for a car I am giving away?

Yes. Choose “Gift” instead of a price: the bill of sale then says no money was paid, which some DMVs ask for when working out tax.

Do I need to fill in the mileage?

For cars of model year 2011 and newer, US federal law requires the seller to state the mileage when ownership changes. The official statement goes on the title; the bill of sale keeps a copy for both of you.

Is this car bill of sale free?

Yes. It is free, needs no account and adds no watermark. What you type stays in your browser.