Bill of Sale Requirements by State
Requirements vary a lot between states — especially whether you need a notary. Compare all 50 states and DC below, then open your state for the official form, witness rules, and title-transfer steps.
Which states require a notary?
Notarization depends on the state and the document. For Oklahoma titles, a paper-title assignment must be notarized; an electronic-title transfer uses notarized official Form 718. A supplemental bill of sale does not replace either document. Check the state agency instructions for the exact title or form before signing.
Notary required
Notary sometimes (situational)
50-state comparison table
Every row links the agency page it came from — all 51 jurisdictions. Requirements change; confirm with your state before relying on a row, and tell us if one is out of date.
| State | Bill of sale | Notarization | Witnesses | Official form | Agency source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Recommended | Not required | — | — | revenue.alabama.gov |
| Alaska | Recommended | Situational | — | Form 812 | dmv.alaska.gov |
| Arizona | Recommended | Situational | — | 48-2004 | azdot.gov |
| Arkansas | Recommended | Not required | — | 10-313 | dfa.arkansas.gov |
| California | Not required | Not required | — | REG 135 | dmv.ca.gov |
| Colorado | Situational | Not required | — | DR 2173 | dmv.colorado.gov |
| Connecticut | Recommended | Not required | — | H-31 | portal.ct.gov |
| Delaware | Recommended | Not required | — | — | dmv.de.gov |
| District of Columbia | Required | Not required | — | — | dmv.dc.gov |
| Florida | Recommended | Not required | — | HSMV 82050 | flhsmv.gov |
| Georgia | Situational | Not required | — | T-7 | dor.georgia.gov |
| Hawaii | Situational | Situational | — | CS-L(MVR)40 / county forms | honolulu.gov |
| Idaho | Recommended | Situational | — | ITD 3738 | itd.idaho.gov |
| Illinois | Recommended | Not required | — | RUT-50 | ilsos.gov |
| Indiana | Situational | Not required | — | State Form 44237 | in.gov |
| Iowa | Recommended | Situational | — | 411107 | iowadot.gov |
| Kansas | Situational | Not required | — | TR-312 | ksrevenue.gov |
| Kentucky | Situational | Required | — | TC 96-182 | drive.ky.gov |
| Louisiana | Required | Required | 2 | — | expresslane.la.gov |
| Maine | Recommended | Not required | — | Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale | maine.gov |
| Maryland | Situational | Situational | — | VR-181 | mva.maryland.gov |
| Massachusetts | Situational | Not required | — | — | mass.gov |
| Michigan | Recommended | Not required | — | TR-207 | michigan.gov |
| Minnesota | Recommended | Not required | — | — | dps.mn.gov |
| Mississippi | Recommended | Situational | — | — | dor.ms.gov |
| Missouri | Recommended | Situational | — | Form 1957 | dor.mo.gov |
| Montana | Situational | Situational | — | MV24 | dojmt.gov |
| Nebraska | Required | Not required | — | Bill of Sale | dmv.nebraska.gov |
| Nevada | Recommended | Situational | — | VP-104 | dmv.nv.gov |
| New Hampshire | Required | Not required | — | TDMV 22A | dmv.nh.gov |
| New Jersey | Situational | Situational | — | — | nj.gov |
| New Mexico | Situational | Situational | — | MVD-10009 | mvd.newmexico.gov |
| New York | Required | Not required | — | MV-912 | dmv.ny.gov |
| North Carolina | Not required | Required | — | MVR-1 | ncdot.gov |
| North Dakota | Recommended | Not required | — | SFN 2872 | dot.nd.gov |
| Ohio | Situational | Required | — | BMV 3770 | bmv.ohio.gov |
| Oklahoma | Situational | Required | — | 718 | oklahoma.gov |
| Oregon | Recommended | Not required | — | 735-501 | oregon.gov |
| Pennsylvania | Not required | Required | — | MV-4ST | pa.gov |
| Rhode Island | Recommended | Situational | — | Bill of Sale | dmv.ri.gov |
| South Carolina | Situational | Not required | — | Form 4031 | dmv.sc.gov |
| South Dakota | Recommended | Not required | — | MV-016 | dor.sd.gov |
| Tennessee | Situational | Situational | — | — | tn.gov |
| Texas | Not required | Not required | — | Form 130-U | txdmv.gov |
| Utah | Recommended | Not required | — | TC-843 | dmv.utah.gov |
| Vermont | Required | Not required | — | VT-005 | dmv.vermont.gov |
| Virginia | Situational | Situational | — | SUT 1A | dmv.virginia.gov |
| Washington | Required | Situational | — | 420065 | dol.wa.gov |
| West Virginia | Situational | Situational | — | DMV-7-TR | transportation.wv.gov |
| Wisconsin | Recommended | Not required | — | MV1 | wisconsindot.gov |
| Wyoming | Situational | Situational | — | MV-300A | dot.state.wy.us |
No states match that search.
Sources: official state DMV / DOR / SOS pages and NHTSA. Always confirm with your state — this is general information, not legal advice.
State requirement questions
Does a bill of sale need to be notarized?
Notarizing a supplemental bill of sale and notarizing a title transfer are different requirements. Oklahoma requires a notarized Oklahoma paper-title assignment or notarized official Form 718 for an electronic title. A generated supplemental bill of sale does not replace either. Check the applicable state agency and the instructions for the exact document.
Which states require a notarized vehicle bill of sale?
Title-transfer notarization requirements vary by state and document. Oklahoma requires a notarized Oklahoma paper-title assignment or notarized Form 718 for an electronic title. Other states also have notarization rules. Check the current state agency instructions; a title rule does not automatically apply to a separate bill of sale.
Do you need a witness for a bill of sale?
Usually not. Most states do not require witnesses for a bill of sale. Louisiana allows two witnesses as an alternative to notarization, and a notary effectively serves as the witness in states that require notarization. Check your state page for the specific rule.
Can I register a car with only a bill of sale and no title?
Usually not. Most states require the signed title to register a vehicle. A bill of sale alone is generally only enough for older, title-exempt vehicles or in special bonded-title situations. Check your state DMV for the exact rules.
Ready to make your bill of sale?
Free to create and download. No account, no subscription — and your details never leave your browser.
Open the free bill of sale generator