What does a bill of sale need to include?
- ☐Full legal name and address of the seller
- ☐Full legal name and address of the buyer
- ☐Description of the item (year, make, model, VIN or serial number)
- ☐Sale price (or that the item is a gift, with value stated)
- ☐Date of sale
- ☐"As-is" statement — the buyer accepts the item in its current condition, with no warranty
- ☐Odometer reading (for vehicles under 20 years old, federally required)
- ☐Signatures of both the buyer and seller (dated)
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The core eight
These apply to every bill of sale, regardless of what's being sold. Miss any of them and the document may not hold up if the sale is challenged. The as-is line is especially important — it's what protects the seller from post-sale complaints about the item's condition.
Vehicle add-ons
For cars and motorcycles, add the VIN (17 characters), year, make, model, and odometer reading. Federal law requires odometer disclosure on any vehicle under 20 model years old. Boats need the 12-character Hull Identification Number (HIN) and length. Trailers need the VIN or serial number and often the number of axles. ATVs and snowmobiles need engine displacement and hours or miles.
Optional but useful additions
Payment method (cash, check, wire, financed), whether the item is a gift (some states have gift-transfer rules), a witness or notary block, a list of accessories included in the sale (spare tire, extra keys, roof rack), and a lien-release statement if there was ever a loan against the item.
What NOT to include
Don't include Social Security Numbers or driver's license numbers — full name and address is enough. Don't leave blank lines that could be filled in later; draw a line through any unused field. Don't include anything you wouldn't want a DMV clerk or a small-claims judge to read.
General information only — not legal advice. Rules vary by state; verify with your state's DMV or a qualified attorney for your situation.