What makes an equipment sale different

Excavators, skid steers, loaders, forklifts, generators, and shop machinery usually change hands without a title. The identifying record is the serial or PIN number plus the hour meter reading, and the value of the document comes from how precisely it describes the machine and everything sold with it.

Serial number and hours

Read the serial number directly off the machine's data plate rather than from an old invoice, and record the hour meter as it reads on the day of the sale. If the meter has been replaced or is not working, say so in the condition notes instead of writing a number that cannot be verified.

Attachments and included items

List every attachment by name and size — bucket widths, thumb, forks, grapple, breaker, blade, quick-coupler — plus spare keys, manuals, and any trailer or ramps included. This is the single most common source of disagreement after an equipment sale.

Condition notes alongside as-is

An as-is clause means the buyer takes the machine in its present condition with all faults. That clause works best when the seller has also written down the faults they know about — a weeping cylinder, a worn undercarriage, a gauge that does not read. Disclosing known issues in writing protects both parties: the buyer knows what they bought, and the seller has a record of what was said.

Payment and release

Equipment sales often involve larger sums and a delayed pickup. Record the payment method and the date, and have both parties sign before the machine is loaded. Each party should keep a signed copy.

Bill of sale by state

The template works nationwide. Popular state pages:

• Texas bill of sale
• Florida bill of sale
• Georgia bill of sale
• California bill of sale
• North Carolina bill of sale

Also need one for something else?

• Car bill of sale
• Boat bill of sale
• Motorcycle bill of sale
• Trailer bill of sale
• ATV bill of sale
• RV bill of sale
• Mobile home bill of sale
• Jet ski bill of sale
• Snowmobile bill of sale
• Simple bill of sale
• Camper bill of sale
• Horse bill of sale
• Golf cart bill of sale
• Tractor bill of sale
• Livestock bill of sale