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Vehicle Bill of Sale template

A vehicle bill of sale documents the private sale of a car, motorcycle, boat, or trailer, including the vehicle identification details, odometer reading, price, and the condition in which it is sold.

A vehicle bill of sale is a document recording the private sale of a car, motorcycle, boat or trailer, including the VIN, odometer reading, price and date of handover. You need one when you buy or sell a vehicle privately, because it proves when responsibility for the vehicle changed hands, even though it usually does not replace the official title transfer.

Use this template — sign onlineOpens as a ready-to-send document with signature fields placed.
Replace everything in [BRACKETS], export to PDF, then send it for signature.

1. Parties

This Vehicle Bill of Sale is made on [DATE OF SALE] between [SELLER NAME], residing at [SELLER ADDRESS], phone [SELLER PHONE] (the "Seller"), and [BUYER NAME], residing at [BUYER ADDRESS], phone [BUYER PHONE] (the "Buyer").

2. Vehicle Description

The Seller sells to the Buyer the following vehicle (the "Vehicle"): Make: [MAKE]; Model: [MODEL]; Year: [YEAR]; Body type: [BODY TYPE]; Color: [COLOR]; Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) / Chassis Number: [VIN]; Registration / Plate Number: [PLATE NUMBER]; Title / Registration Document Number: [TITLE NUMBER]. Included with the Vehicle: [ACCESSORIES, KEYS, SPARE TIRE, MANUALS, ETC.].

3. Odometer Disclosure

The Seller states that the odometer currently reads [ODOMETER READING] [MILES / KILOMETERS] and that, to the best of the Seller's knowledge, this reflects the actual distance traveled by the Vehicle, unless the following box is marked: [ ] The odometer reading is NOT the actual distance. Reason: [EXPLANATION].

4. Purchase Price and Payment

The Buyer agrees to pay [AMOUNT AND CURRENCY] for the Vehicle (the "Purchase Price"), paid by [PAYMENT METHOD] on [PAYMENT DATE]. [OPTIONAL: A deposit of DEPOSIT AMOUNT has been received and the balance is due on or before BALANCE DUE DATE.] [OPTIONAL: The Vehicle is transferred as a gift / trade, with a stated value of VALUE.]

5. Seller's Representations

The Seller represents that the Seller is the legal owner of the Vehicle, has the right to sell it, and that the Vehicle is free of all loans, liens, and encumbrances, except [DISCLOSED LIENS OR "NONE"]. The Seller has disclosed the following known defects, accident history, or damage: [KNOWN ISSUES OR "NONE KNOWN"].

6. Condition — Sold As Is

The Buyer has had the opportunity to inspect and test drive the Vehicle [and have it inspected by a mechanic of the Buyer's choice]. To the extent permitted by law, the Vehicle is sold "as is," without any warranty as to its condition, performance, or fitness for a particular purpose, except as stated in this Bill of Sale. [OPTIONAL: The Seller provides the following limited warranty: WARRANTY DETAILS.]

7. Transfer of Title and Possession

Upon receipt of the full Purchase Price, the Seller will sign over the title or registration document and deliver the Vehicle, keys, and documents to the Buyer on [HANDOVER DATE] at [HANDOVER LOCATION]. Risk of loss passes to the Buyer at handover.

8. Registration, Insurance, and Taxes

The Buyer is responsible for registering the Vehicle in the Buyer's name, obtaining insurance, and paying any transfer taxes and fees within the time required by law. The Seller will remove the Seller's plates where required and notify the relevant authority of the sale where required. The Seller is not responsible for fines, tolls, or charges incurred after the handover date and time of [HANDOVER TIME].

9. Governing Law and General Terms

This Bill of Sale is governed by the laws of [GOVERNING LAW JURISDICTION]. It is the entire agreement between the parties concerning the sale of the Vehicle and may only be changed in writing signed by both parties.

10. Signatures

The Parties agree that this Agreement may be signed electronically and in counterparts, and that electronic signatures have the same effect as handwritten signatures. SELLER: [SELLER NAME] Signature: ____________________ Date: [DATE] BUYER: [BUYER NAME] Signature: ____________________ Date: [DATE]

Our take: Our take: the handover time matters more than people think. Write the exact date and time the keys changed hands, because parking tickets, tolls and accidents after that moment are the buyer's problem, and without a timestamp you are arguing from memory. Copy the VIN from the vehicle itself, not only from the paperwork, and note the odometer at signing. Remember that the registration authority may insist on its own form or a wet signature, so treat this as your private record alongside it. For non-vehicle items, the general bill of sale is simpler.

When should you use a vehicle bill of sale?

  • When selling or buying a used car, truck, or motorcycle privately
  • When transferring a vehicle between family members or businesses
  • When a registration office asks for proof of the sale and purchase price
  • When selling a vehicle "as is" and you want the condition clearly recorded

How do you fill in this template?

  1. Enter the buyer's and seller's full names, addresses, and phone numbers.
  2. Copy the make, model, year, VIN, and plate number exactly as they appear on the registration document.
  3. Record the odometer reading at the time of sale and mark the box if it is not accurate. The signing timestamp in the certificate of completion backs up the handover date.
  4. Fill in the price, payment method, handover date, known defects, and governing-law jurisdiction.
  5. Upload the bill of sale to eSignSimple and send it to both buyer and seller for e-signature. Signers don't need an account.
  6. Check with your local registration authority whether it also needs its own official transfer form.

How do you get it signed online?

  1. Save it as Word or PDF. Paste the filled-in text into Word or Google Docs and keep it as a .docx file, or export it as a PDF. eSignSimple accepts both, plus DOC, ODT and RTF, up to 25 MB; Word files are converted to PDF on upload.
  2. Upload and place the fields. Sign up with Google, upload the file and drag signature, initials, date and text fields onto the page for each signer. Set a signing order if one party must sign first.
  3. Send it for signature. Each signer gets a private link and signs in the browser without creating an account. Automatic email reminders go out every three days (up to three) until everyone has signed.
  4. Keep the signed copy. When the last person signs, everyone can download the final PDF with a certificate of completion, an audit trail and a SHA-256 fingerprint you can verify later.

Signing on your own device only? The guide to signing a PDF covers the free built-in options, and the security page explains how signed files are stored and verified.

This template is general information, not legal advice. Laws differ by country and state; have a lawyer review contracts with high stakes.

Written by Buğra Sözeri, founder and editor, eSignSimple · Last reviewed

Buğra builds eSignSimple and writes and maintains its guides. He researches each legal page against the official texts linked on it and updates pages when the law or the product changes. He is not a lawyer, and nothing here is legal advice. About eSignSimple

Frequently asked questions

What information goes on a vehicle bill of sale?

Typically the buyer and seller details, the vehicle's make, model, year, VIN, and plate number, the odometer reading, the sale price and date, and both signatures.

Is a bill of sale enough to transfer a car title?

Usually not on its own. Most registration authorities also require the signed title or registration document and their own forms. The bill of sale is supporting proof of the transaction.

Can I sell a car as is?

In many places private sellers can sell a vehicle as is, meaning the buyer accepts its current condition. Some jurisdictions still require certain safety or emissions disclosures, so check local rules.

Can a vehicle bill of sale be signed online?

Many authorities accept electronically signed bills of sale, but some require a wet-ink signature or notarization for vehicle transfers. Confirm with your local registration office before relying on an e-signed copy.

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