Free car bill of sale starter template—and what to check first

A car bill of sale records the parties, vehicle, price, and transaction date. It can be useful evidence of the agreement, but it is not a universal replacement for a title, required odometer disclosure, lien release, or state transfer form. Start by checking the motor vehicle agency that will process your transaction.

Open the free editable car bill of sale starter template. Save the text file, open it in a text editor or word processor, and replace the blank fields. It is a general starting point, not a state-approved form or a guarantee that your transfer requirements are satisfied. Use the state's required form where applicable.

Check the official form before filling in a template

Find your agency through the USA.gov motor vehicle directory. Ask which documents apply to the vehicle, where it is titled, and where the buyer will register it. A private sale, dealer sale, gift, estate transfer, and financed sale may require different paperwork.

For example, California DMV's bill-of-sale guidance explains its requirements and available forms. Its official REG 135 bill of sale is an option to review for a California transaction. Do not assume that form or our starter satisfies another state's requirements.

Ask specifically about notarization, signatures, odometer forms, and correction procedures. If a notary must witness a signature, follow those instructions rather than signing in advance.

Gather the details together

• Full legal names and the contact information required for the seller and buyer.
• Vehicle year, make, model, and VIN, checked against the car and documents.
• Actual agreed purchase price and the date of the transaction.
• Payment arrangement and an accurate record of amounts received or still due.
• Current odometer reading and the separate disclosure documents required.
• Included keys, accessories, and any written promises or condition disclosures.
• Signatures and dates from the parties required by the applicable process.

Do not place completed documents containing personal information in a public listing. Exchange them through an appropriate private process and keep copies for your records. A blank public template should stay blank; it is not a place to upload customers' identities.

Distinguish a deposit from a completed sale

If money is paid before closing, document what it represents and the agreed conditions. Do not describe the full price as received if only a deposit has arrived. Make any inspection conditions, remaining amount, and planned possession date explicit in the appropriate agreement.

Our starter includes separate fields for the agreed price, amount received, remaining amount, and payment method. Those fields record facts; they do not verify that a payment is genuine or settle a disagreement about refund terms. Resolve unusual arrangements with qualified help before signing.

If a loan remains on the car, use the lender's process alongside the documents. Our guide to selling a financed car explains what to ask about payoff and lien release.

Record promises accurately

Write down included equipment, known condition disclosures, and any agreed work. Do not add a broad “as-is” clause automatically if it conflicts with a warranty, a written promise, or applicable law. Our template deliberately leaves agreed terms for the parties to specify rather than silently inserting a warranty waiver.

For a dealer transaction, review the purchase agreement and applicable disclosures together. For a private transaction, do not assume the seller's preferred wording eliminates every legal obligation. A general template cannot resolve every state's rules or every unusual sale.

Complete the transfer steps separately

Check that the VIN and party names agree across the bill of sale, title documents, and other required forms. Do not leave fields blank for someone to invent later or record a lower price than the actual transaction. If there is an error, follow the agency's correction process.

Confirm who submits the title application, any sale notice, and the required fees or taxes. Arrange insurance, plates or temporary permits, and possession according to the applicable requirements. A signed receipt alone does not establish that all of those steps have happened.

Keep a closing folder

Retain the signed documents, payment evidence, agreed disclosures, and any lender confirmation. Use our selling checklist to plan the handoff and missing-title guide if ownership paperwork is unresolved.

You can create a CarTruvo account to prepare your listing or submit your vehicle for review. Finish the official transfer requirements for the actual transaction even when the buyer first finds your car online.