Car bill of sale template: free in Word, or sign it online
Reviewed in October 2026
A car bill of sale is the document that records the private sale of a car between a seller and a buyer. It lists the VIN, make, model, mileage, price and date, and both parties sign it. The buyer takes it to the DMV with the signed title.
Ten documents free, no card. Signed by the seller and the buyer.
Example filled in with sample data
The full car bill of sale
MOTOR VEHICLE BILL OF SALE
On [date], [Seller name], of [address] (the "Seller"), sells the vehicle below to [Buyer name], of [address] (the "Buyer").
1. Vehicle
Year: [year] · Make: [make] · Model: [model] · Body style: [sedan, SUV, truck] · Color: [color] · VIN: [17-character VIN] · Title number: [number] · License plate: [plate, if it stays with the vehicle].
2. Odometer
The odometer reads [number] miles. To the best of the Seller’s knowledge this reflects the actual mileage [unless one of these applies: exceeds mechanical limits / not the actual mileage].
3. Price
The price is [amount] USD, paid by [method] on [date]. The Seller confirms receipt.
4. Seller’s statements
The Seller is the legal owner, has the right to sell and states that the vehicle is free of liens, except [none / name of lender, which will be paid off from the price].
5. Condition
The vehicle is sold "AS IS, WHERE IS", with no warranty. The Buyer has inspected it or had the chance to. [Option: known issues disclosed by the Seller: list.]
6. Title and registration
The Seller will sign over the certificate of title on the date of sale. The Buyer will title and register the vehicle and pay all taxes and fees.
7. Signatures
This bill of sale is governed by the laws of [state]. The parties agree to sign it electronically, with the same effect as handwritten signatures.
SELLER
Signature: ______________________
Name: [full name]
Date: [date]
BUYER
Signature: ______________________
Name: [full name]
Date: [date]
What the template includes
Year, make, model, body, color, VIN, title number and plate
Odometer reading with the mileage statement
Price, payment method and receipt
Ownership and lien statement
As-is condition with known issues
Title signed over and buyer’s registration duty
What you fill in
Field
Example
Date
October 21, 2026
Seller
Jason Reed, 210 Oak Ln, Phoenix, AZ
Buyer
Maria Lopez, 75 Palm Ave, Mesa, AZ
Vehicle
2018 Honda Civic LX sedan, silver
VIN
2HGFC2F59JH512345
Odometer
68,240 miles, actual mileage
Price
13,200 USD by bank transfer
How it gets signed
1Choose “Use this template”, fill in the fields and read the full car bill of sale once more.
2Send it by WhatsApp or email. The other party opens the link on their phone without an account.
3They tap the brown bar at the bottom that says “Sign as …” and draw their signature with a finger.
4Everyone gets the signed PDF with its signature certificate. Anyone can check it at signsolu.com/verificar.
Before signing, each signer agrees to sign electronically. The screen links to the electronic signature disclosure the ESIGN Act asks for.
The bill of sale can be signed online. The certificate of title is a separate state document. If your state still uses a paper title, the seller signs it by hand and hands it to the buyer.
Your first ten documents are free and need no card.
Got another document from someone as a PDF or a phone photo? Sign documents online for free, with no account.
What the law says
Each state’s motor vehicle agency sets how ownership passes. The seller signs over the certificate of title, and the buyer registers the vehicle within the state deadline. Many states ask for a bill of sale too, and a few ask for it to be notarized.
Federal law requires the seller to state the mileage when ownership passes, under the odometer disclosure rule. Vehicles from model year 2011 or later are exempt only after 20 years, and older models after 10 years. The disclosure usually goes on the title.
The ESIGN Act gives an electronic signature on the bill of sale the same effect as ink.
Private sale step by step
1Check the title is in the seller’s name and free of liens.
2Let the buyer inspect the car or take it to a mechanic.
3Fill in this bill of sale with the VIN and the mileage.
4Collect payment by a method that clears before handing over keys.
5Sign the bill of sale and the title.
6Remove your plates if your state requires it and cancel your insurance.
7Report the sale to your state if it offers a release of liability form.
Get paid safely
Bank transfers and cashier’s checks verified with the issuing bank are the safest options. Avoid personal checks for large amounts and never hand over the title before the money clears.
Private sellers and the Used Car Rule
The federal Used Car Rule requires dealers to post a Buyers Guide. Private sellers who sell their own car are not dealers. Selling as is, as clause 5 says, is normal in private sales.
A worked example
Jason sells his 2018 Civic to Maria for 13,200 USD. She takes it to a mechanic, then sends the money by bank transfer.
Once it clears, they meet. Both sign the bill of sale on their phones, and Jason signs the paper title. Maria registers the car the next day with both documents.
Mistakes to avoid
Wrong VIN. Copy it from the title and check it against the dashboard plate.
No mileage. Federal law asks for it on most cars sold today.
Leaving your plates on the car. In many states plates stay with the seller.
Not reporting the sale. Without it you may get the buyer’s tolls or tickets.
What changes from state to state
Notarization. A few states ask for a notarized bill of sale or title signature.
State forms. Some motor vehicle agencies have their own bill of sale form and prefer it.
Plates. In many states plates stay with the seller. In others they go with the vehicle.
Release of liability. Many states let the seller report the sale online within a few days.
Inspections. Emissions or safety checks may be needed before the buyer can register.
Sales tax. The buyer pays it at registration in most states, based on the price or a book value.
Check your state motor vehicle agency before the sale. The bill of sale stays the same, only the steps around it change.
Meeting the buyer safely
Meet in daylight at a public place, such as a bank parking lot. Bring a friend. Let the buyer see the title and your ID, and check theirs.
Checklist for handover day
1Payment received and cleared.
2Bill of sale signed by both.
3Title signed in the right boxes, with the mileage.
4Keys, manuals and spare key handed over.
5Plates removed if your state requires it.
6Insurance cancelled after the buyer drives away.
Take a photo of the signed title before you hand it over. It helps if the buyer is slow to register the car.
Keep that photo with the signed bill of sale and the payment record.
Avoiding common scams
Overpayment checks. A buyer sends more than the price and asks for the difference back. The check later bounces.
Fake payment screenshots. Wait until the money shows in your own account.
Title washing. Buyers should check the car’s history for salvage or flood brands.
The names and addresses of the seller and the buyer, the year, make, model and VIN, the odometer reading, the price and the date, and whether the car is sold as is. Both of you sign it, and the buyer keeps it with the signed title.
Is a car bill of sale signed online legally binding?
Yes. The ESIGN Act gives an electronic signature the same legal effect as a handwritten one. The signed PDF and its certificate show who signed the car bill of sale, when and from which device.
Does the buyer need a SignSolú account to sign?
No. They open the link on their phone and sign with the brown bar at the bottom of the screen.
Can I download the car bill of sale in Word?
Yes. “Download in Word” gives you the full car bill of sale with no email and no account. You can print it or edit it and sign it here later.
Do I need a bill of sale if I have the title?
Many states ask for both. Even where it is optional, it records the price and the as-is terms.
Can I sign the car title online?
Only where your state offers electronic titles. With a paper title, the seller signs it by hand.
What if the car still has a loan?
The lender holds the title. Pay off the loan, often at the lender’s branch with the buyer, and the lender releases the title.
Should I keep a copy of the buyer’s license?
It helps. Note the license number in your records, or ask the buyer to add it to the bill of sale.
