Fillable Form Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale

What is a Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale?

A Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale is used to record the transaction between the buyer and the seller of a motor vehicle. This contains the make, model, year of the vehicle, selling price, and other relevant details to the purchase made.

How to fill out a Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale?

In the first paragraph of the Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale, enter the sum of the motor vehicle in the blank space provided. The sum must be in numerical dollars and cents. Afterward, fill out the following sections with the correct information:

Make

Enter the make or brand of your vehicle.

Model or series

Enter the model or name of the vehicle product.

Year

Enter the year or model cycle that your vehicle is in. This is defined by the 10th digit of its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Color

Enter the color of your vehicle.

Vehicle Identification Number

Enter the identification number of your vehicle. The serial or motor number will be found on the vehicle’s registration and title or on the vehicle itself.

Style

Enter the body style of your vehicle.

Odometer mileage reading

Enter the odometer mileage reading of the vehicle. In some forms, odometer mileage readings are not required, but including them in the motor vehicle bill of sale is highly encouraged.

Title Number

Enter the title number of the vehicle. The title number of the motor vehicle can be found on the line above its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

After entering all the necessary information stated above, you will be required to enter the date and your and the buyer’s legal names. Both names must be clearly printed. Afterward, affix both of your signatures in the spaces provided. You will then be required to enter the name of the witness who has overseen this transaction.

What is the purpose of a Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale?

Whenever a vehicle is being sold, the buyer must obtain a Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale. Both the buyer and the seller must have copies for their own personal records.

A Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale will not only help protect the seller, but it will also help protect the buyer. Having no concrete documentation of the buyer paying for a certain motor vehicle with cash will make it hard to prove that they gave the correct amount and obtained the vehicle.

Having a Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale will help you prevent having misunderstandings with the buyer. Even if your state does not require it, having a bill of sale will surely help both of you.

When should I deliver a Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale?

As a seller, you must deliver the Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale to the buyer right after receiving their full payment of the price you have both agreed on. If the buyer happens to owe you a certain balance, their full payment must include the provision of a Promissory Note.

Where do I get a Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale?

Not all states require and provide a Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale, but just so you can check, you can go to the website of your state’s motor vehicle department. You can also look for and fill out the Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale form on other websites like PDFRun. While you’re looking for the right form, make sure the websites you visit are safe.

Can I write a Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale myself?

Not all states provide downloadable Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale forms. However, there are websites like PDFRun that have an extensive library of downloadable forms. But if you really want to make your own Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale, follow these steps and include all of the following information:

Make

Enter the make or brand of your vehicle.

Model or series

Enter the model or name of the vehicle product.

Year

Enter the year or model cycle that your vehicle is in. This is defined by the 10th digit of its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Color

Enter the color of your vehicle.

Vehicle Identification Number

Enter the identification number of your vehicle. The serial or motor number will be found on the vehicle’s registration and title or on the vehicle itself.

Style

Enter the body style of your vehicle.

Odometer mileage reading

Enter the odometer mileage reading of the vehicle. In some forms, odometer mileage readings are not required, but including them in the motor vehicle bill of sale is highly encouraged.

Title Number

Enter the title number of the vehicle. The title number of the motor vehicle can be found on the line above its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

In some states, a Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale requires more than the basic information listed above.

As a seller, you will be required to include the license plate number of the motor vehicle according to the laws of the state.

In most cases, private party sales don’t have a warranty, but if you had a different agreement with the buyer, include it in the Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale.

If the vehicle you are selling is a motorcycle, you will be required to include the motorcycle engine number.

Remember to include your and the buyer’s legal names, addresses, and signatures. Afterward, create copies for both of you.

Should a Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale be notarized?

In some states, a Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale must be notarized first before it’s recognized as valid. The following states require a notary public to witness both the seller and the buyer during the signing of the Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale:

• Louisiana
• Nebraska
• Maryland
• New Hampshire
• West Virginia
• Montana

What other documents are required?

After completing the Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale, you must sign the Certificate of Title for the vehicle to release its ownership to the buyer. The buyer must then bring the signed title to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to apply for an ownership transfer.

You must then complete a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (NRL) within 5 days of releasing your ownership. Make sure to keep a copy for your own records.

After you submit the NRL to the Department of Motor Vehicles and give the buyer all the necessary documents, your transaction with the buyer is finished.