Vehicle Sale Checklist (Buyer & Seller)

Print this or keep it on your phone. It covers both sides of a private vehicle sale so nothing slips through the cracks.

Seller’s checklist

Before the sale

• ☐ Confirm the title is in your name and any loan/lien is paid off and released.
• ☐ Gather maintenance records and the second key.
• ☐ Clean the car and take clear photos.
• ☐ Price it against comparable local listings.

At the sale

• ☐ Sign the title over to the buyer; fill in the sale price and odometer. (Notarize it in LA, OH, PA, NC, or KY — don’t sign until you’re at a notary.)
• ☐ Complete a bill of sale with both parties, the vehicle details, the price, an “as-is” clause, and signatures. Make one free.
• ☐ Collect payment by cashier’s check or bank transfer you’ve verified.

After the sale

• ☐ Remove your license plates if your state requires.
• ☐ File your state’s notice of sale / release of liability with the DMV.
• ☐ Cancel or transfer your insurance.
• ☐ Keep a signed copy of the bill of sale.

Buyer’s checklist

Before you pay

• ☐ Confirm the title is in the seller’s name and lien-free.
• ☐ Match the VIN on the title to the dashboard and driver’s-door jamb.
• ☐ Check the odometer and review service history.
• ☐ Run a vehicle history report and consider a pre-purchase inspection.

At the sale

• ☐ Get the signed title and a signed bill of sale.
• ☐ Confirm the odometer disclosure is completed.
• ☐ Pay only after everything checks out.

After the sale

• ☐ Get insurance in your name before driving.
• ☐ Title and register the vehicle before your state’s deadline (often 10–30 days). See how to register after buying.
• ☐ Pay sales/use tax based on the bill of sale price.
• ☐ Keep your copy of the bill of sale.

The one document both sides need

The thread running through both checklists is the bill of sale — it documents the price, the mileage, the date, and the “as-is” terms, and it protects buyer and seller alike. Create yours free in a few minutes, then check your state’s specific requirements.