How to Write a Bill of Sale

A bill of sale is the record of the transaction of a vehicle between buyer and seller. It’s also known as a proof of purchase or sales receipt. The bill of sale proves that you were the person who purchased the vehicle. By itself, a bill of sale will not allow you to get a title, but this document can serve as evidence of ownership when it comes to transferring the title. Every bill of sale will look slightly different, but there are nine key components that every bill of sale needs to have.

9 components of a bill of sale:

• Date of purchase
• Name of the seller
• Seller’s signature
• Name of the buyer
• Vehicle identification number (VIN)
• Vehicle make
• Vehicle model
• Model year
• Odometer statement

When writing a bill of sale, there are some important things to remember. One of the most important things is to make sure that all of the information on the title matches what’s on the bill of sale. This ensures that the buyer gets what they paid for and that there aren’t any issues with transferring ownership in the future. If the information doesn’t match, then the DMV won’t be able to process the title when it’s time to transfer to the new owner.

Additionally, the seller is responsible for signing over the new title to the buyer. As the buyer, make sure to check the ID of the seller. If the seller’s ID doesn’t match the title and bill of sale, this may be a red flag. Remember, only the individual named on the vehicle’s title can legally sign over ownership.

The bill of sale is an incredibly important document and provides a paper trail of the transaction of the vehicle. A bill of sale doesn’t take long to write, but the contents of the documents are of the utmost importance. A well-written bill of sale will clearly show the transaction that took place and will not exclude any of the components in this article. By itself, a bill of sale won’t get you a title, but it is most often the first step to obtaining a vehicle title in your name.