Private Party Bill of Sale for a Used Car: What to Put In It

A private party bill of sale is a receipt that records the price, date, VIN and both parties, but it does not transfer ownership on its own; the signed title and the state's transfer and seller-notice steps do that. So write a clear bill of sale, then finish the title work fast. When I checked state pages on Nov. 5, 2026, California's DMV said sellers must file a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability within 5 days, and Texas DMV said buyers must title the vehicle in their name within 30 days.

What to put in the bill of sale

• Full 17-digit VIN, checked against the dash plate, door sticker and title.
• Year, make, model and body.
• Odometer reading on the day of sale.
• Sale price and payment method.
• Date and time of sale, and the place.
• Printed names, addresses and signatures of buyer and seller.
• A line saying whether the car is sold as-is, and any promises the seller is making.

Some states publish their own form. California's DMV lists a Bill of Sale (REG 135). Using a state form avoids missing a field the office expects.

The title and seller notice do the legal work

In California, the seller reports the transfer to DMV within 5 days through the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability. In Texas, TxDMV says the buyer has 30 days to title the vehicle, and the seller can file a Vehicle Transfer Notification within 30 days to protect against tickets, tolls and crimes tied to the car after the sale. Texas also notes that, since July 1, 2025, temporary tags have been replaced by metal plates. Your state may differ; check its DMV site. We cover several states in detail, including Oregon and Washington.

Odometer disclosure

Federal rules at 49 CFR Part 580 require an odometer disclosure on transfer, with an exemption for model year 2010 and older vehicles transferred at least ten years after January 1 of the model year, among other exemptions. Newer cars need the disclosure on the title or a separate form. Our odometer disclosure statement rules post goes through it.

Check the car before you write anything

A bill of sale protects the record of what you paid; it does nothing about a hidden brand or rollback. Run the VIN on the NHTSA recall lookup, pull a history report you control and compare the title in the seller's hand with what the report says. Look, a listing that offers a bill of sale but no title is a red flag in most states; see Facebook Marketplace bill of sale only for why. If the seller has a lien on the car, get the lender's payoff and release process in writing before money changes hands.

Meeting and paying

• Meet in daylight, ideally at a bank or police station parking lot.
• Pay with a cashier's check or bank transfer you can trace.
• Get the signed title, keys, any spare key and service records at once.
• Take photos of the signed title, odometer and both IDs if the seller agrees.

If the seller is out of state

Buying across a state line adds steps: your state may want a VIN inspection, an emissions check or a notarized form before it will title the car. Call your own DMV before you travel. Our Idaho private sale guide shows how one state handles out-of-state titles.

Who keeps what

Each side should leave with a signed copy of the bill of sale. The buyer keeps the signed title until it is filed, and the seller keeps proof of the release of liability filing.

Common mistakes

• Writing a fake low price on the bill of sale to cut tax. Tax offices can and do check.
• Leaving title fields blank for "someone else" to fill in later.
• Seller skipping the release of liability and getting the buyer's tickets.
• Buyer waiting past the state deadline and paying penalties.

So keep a copy of every page each side signs, and check CARFAX for private party sales if the seller offers a report. Honestly, the seller's report is a starting point, not proof.

What the report costs

As of early November 2026 a CARFAX bought direct usually costs around $44.99, and AutoCheck sits a little lower. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Our guest price has been about $5.50 a report, about $4.50 for members, and about $6.75 for a CARFAX and AutoCheck bundle. Confirm the price at checkout, since it can change.

Staple the report to your copy of the bill of sale. If anything comes up later, you will want both.

Sources

• California DMV: title transfers and changes
• Texas DMV: buying or selling a vehicle
• 49 CFR Part 580 (eCFR)
• NHTSA recall lookup by VIN