Bill of sale answers

A bill of sale needs eight things: both parties' names and addresses, a description of the item, the sale price, the date, an as-is statement, an odometer reading for vehicles, and both signatures. Use the checklist below or fill out the template — it takes about 3 minutes.

A bill of sale is a written record documenting the transfer of ownership of an item from a seller to a buyer, showing what was sold, for how much, and on what date. It's proof the sale happened — it is not a title.

In most U.S. states, no — a bill of sale for a private vehicle sale does not need to be notarized. A handful of states (Louisiana, West Virginia, Nebraska, Montana, and a few others) require or recommend it for vehicle transfers. Use the state selector below to check yours.

Yes. A handwritten bill of sale is legally valid as long as it includes the required elements — both parties' names and addresses, item description, price, date, an as-is statement, and both signatures. That said, a typed one is easier to read and harder to dispute; you can generate one free below.

No. A title is the state-issued document that proves legal ownership of a vehicle, boat, or manufactured home. A bill of sale is a private record that documents the transaction — who sold what to whom, for how much, on what date. You usually need both to register a vehicle in the buyer's name.

Sometimes. Some states have a process — often called a bonded title or a lost-title application — that lets a buyer get a new title using a bill of sale plus other documents. Rules vary widely by state and by vehicle type; verify with your state's DMV before starting.

Sometimes it's required, always it's a good idea. Roughly 20 states require a bill of sale for private vehicle sales; the rest don't but most DMVs will accept one as proof of purchase. For any private sale — vehicle or otherwise — both buyer and seller should have one for their records.

A valid bill of sale needs eight things: seller's name and address, buyer's name and address, item description (with VIN or serial number), sale price, date of sale, as-is statement, odometer reading for vehicles under 20 years old, and both signatures.

A car bill of sale needs eight things: seller and buyer name/address, year/make/model/color, the 17-character VIN, sale price, date, an as-is statement, a federal odometer disclosure (for vehicles under 20 model years old), and both signatures. Fill out the template below and you'll have a signed PDF in about three minutes.

A trailer bill of sale needs the seller's and buyer's names and addresses, the trailer's year, make, model or type, VIN or serial number, dimensions and axle count, sale price, date, an as-is statement, and both signatures. Odometer disclosure is not required (trailers don't have odometers). Fill out the template below to generate a signed PDF.

A boat bill of sale needs the seller's and buyer's names and addresses, the boat's year, make, model, length, and 12-character Hull Identification Number (HIN), plus separate entries for the trailer and each outboard motor if they're part of the sale. Add the sale price, date, an as-is statement, and both signatures. Use the template below to include the trailer and motors correctly.

A motorcycle bill of sale needs the seller's and buyer's names and addresses, the bike's year, make, model, color, 17-character VIN, current odometer reading, sale price, date, an as-is statement, and both signatures. Odometer disclosure is federally required on motorcycles under 20 model years old. Use the template below.

A bill of sale documents the sale — who transferred what to whom, for how much, on what date — but it does not replace a missing title. If the seller doesn't have the title, the buyer will need to work through a title-recovery process (usually a bonded title, duplicate title, or court order) that varies by state. Verify the exact process with your state's DMV before handing over money.

An "as-is" bill of sale sells the item in its current condition, with no warranties of any kind. The seller is not responsible for repairs, defects, or problems discovered after the sale. It's the standard for almost every private-party sale. Solda's templates include an as-is clause by default.