How to Write a Bill of Sale for a Car

A car bill of sale is a written record of a private vehicle sale. It proves who sold the car, who bought it, when the sale happened, what the buyer paid, and whether the vehicle was sold as-is. The fastest way to make one is to use our free car bill of sale generator, but you can also write one yourself if you include the right fields.

Quick answer

To write a bill of sale for a car, list the buyer and seller, describe the car with the year, make, model, VIN, and odometer reading, write the sale price and date, add payment and as-is terms, then have both parties sign. For DMV use, also confirm your state bill of sale requirements before signing.

Car bill of sale checklist

Section	What to include	Why it matters
Seller	Full legal name, address, phone or email	Shows who owned and sold the car
Buyer	Full legal name and address	Shows who bought the car
Vehicle	Year, make, model, color, body style, VIN	Identifies the exact vehicle
Odometer	Exact mileage at sale	Required for most newer vehicle transfers
Price	Sale price, payment method, payment status	Supports tax and dispute records
Terms	As-is clause or written warranty	Defines what the buyer accepts
Signatures	Buyer and seller signatures with date	Shows both parties agreed

Step 1: Identify both parties

Use full legal names, not nicknames. If the seller name does not match the title, solve that issue before the sale. Add mailing addresses so the document can be tied to both parties later.

Step 2: Describe the car

Write the vehicle description exactly:

• Year
• Make
• Model
• Trim or body style, if helpful
• Color
• VIN
• Odometer reading
• Title number or plate number, if your state form asks for it

Do not round mileage. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration explains that federal odometer disclosure rules apply to vehicles less than 20 years old, so the exact reading matters for most modern private sales.

Step 3: Record the price and payment

Write the real sale price and how it was paid. If the buyer paid by cashier’s check, money order, bank transfer, or cash, say so. If the car is a gift, write that clearly instead of inventing a fake price.

Step 4: Add as-is terms

Most private car sales are “as-is.” That means the buyer accepts the car in its current condition and the seller is not making future repair promises. If the seller is offering any warranty, put the exact promise in writing.

Example wording:

The vehicle is sold as-is, with no warranty from the seller except any written terms listed in this bill of sale.

Step 5: Sign after payment

Both parties should sign and date the bill of sale after payment is complete. Keep a signed copy for the buyer, a signed copy for the seller, and an extra copy for DMV paperwork if your state asks for it.

DMV documents to check

A car bill of sale is only one part of the transfer. Most sales also need:

Document	Usually handled by	Notes
Certificate of title	Seller and buyer	This normally transfers ownership
Odometer disclosure	Seller	Often built into the title or bill of sale
Notice of sale or release of liability	Seller	Required or recommended in many states
Registration and title application	Buyer	Filed with the state DMV or tax office

Start with your vehicle bill of sale template, then use the vehicle ownership transfer guide to finish the title, notice-of-sale, and registration steps.