States That Require a Bill of Sale
12 US states require a bill of sale as part of the paperwork to register a privately purchased vehicle. In the other 38 states the title itself contains the legally required transfer fields, and a bill of sale is strongly recommended but not mandated. Either way, every buyer should always keep one.
State-by-state bill of sale status
| State | Bill of sale required? | Note | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | ✓Yes | Alabama requires a bill of sale to register a vehicle purchased from a private seller. | Alabama Law Enforcement Agency ↗ |
| Alaska | ✓Yes | Alaska requires a bill of sale to register a vehicle purchased from a private seller. | Alaska Division of Motor Vehic ↗ |
| Georgia | ✓Yes | Georgia requires a bill of sale to register a vehicle purchased from a private seller. | Georgia Department of Revenue ↗ |
| Louisiana | ✓Yes | Louisiana requires a bill of sale to register a vehicle purchased from a private seller. | Louisiana Office of Motor Vehi ↗ |
| Maryland | ✓Yes | Maryland requires a bill of sale to register a vehicle purchased from a private seller. | Maryland Motor Vehicle Adminis ↗ |
| Massachusetts | ✓Yes | Massachusetts requires a bill of sale to register a vehicle purchased from a private seller. | Massachusetts Registry of Moto ↗ |
| Nebraska | ✓Yes | Nebraska requires a bill of sale to register a vehicle purchased from a private seller. | Nebraska Department of Motor V ↗ |
| Nevada | ✓Yes | Nevada requires a bill of sale to register a vehicle purchased from a private seller. | Nevada Department of Motor Veh ↗ |
| New Hampshire | ✓Yes | New Hampshire requires a bill of sale to register a vehicle purchased from a private seller. | New Hampshire Division of Moto ↗ |
| New Mexico | ✓Yes | New Mexico requires a bill of sale to register a vehicle purchased from a private seller. | New Mexico Motor Vehicle Divis ↗ |
| Vermont | ✓Yes | Vermont requires a bill of sale to register a vehicle purchased from a private seller. | Vermont Department of Motor Ve ↗ |
| West Virginia | ✓Yes | West Virginia requires a bill of sale to register a vehicle purchased from a private seller. | West Virginia Division of Moto ↗ |
| Arizona | ✗No | In Arizona, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Arizona Motor Vehicle Division ↗ |
| Arkansas | ✗No | In Arkansas, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Arkansas Department of Finance ↗ |
| California | ✗No | In California, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | California Department of Motor ↗ |
| Colorado | ✗No | In Colorado, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Colorado Division of Motor Veh ↗ |
| Connecticut | ✗No | In Connecticut, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Connecticut Department of Moto ↗ |
| Delaware | ✗No | In Delaware, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Delaware Division of Motor Veh ↗ |
| Florida | ✗No | In Florida, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Florida Department of Highway ↗ |
| Hawaii | ✗No | In Hawaii, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Hawaii County DMV Offices ↗ |
| Idaho | ✗No | In Idaho, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Idaho Transportation Departmen ↗ |
| Illinois | ✗No | In Illinois, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Illinois Secretary of State ↗ |
| Indiana | ✗No | In Indiana, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicl ↗ |
| Iowa | ✗No | In Iowa, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Iowa Motor Vehicle Division ↗ |
| Kansas | ✗No | In Kansas, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Kansas Division of Vehicles ↗ |
| Kentucky | ✗No | In Kentucky, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Kentucky Transportation Cabine ↗ |
| Maine | ✗No | In Maine, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles ↗ |
| Michigan | ✗No | In Michigan, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Michigan Secretary of State ↗ |
| Minnesota | ✗No | In Minnesota, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Minnesota Driver and Vehicle S ↗ |
| Mississippi | ✗No | In Mississippi, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Mississippi Department of Reve ↗ |
| Missouri | ✗No | In Missouri, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Missouri Department of Revenue ↗ |
| Montana | ✗No | In Montana, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Montana Motor Vehicle Division ↗ |
| New Jersey | ✗No | In New Jersey, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commi ↗ |
| New York | ✗No | In New York, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | New York State Department of M ↗ |
| North Carolina | ✗No | In North Carolina, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | North Carolina Division of Mot ↗ |
| North Dakota | ✗No | In North Dakota, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | North Dakota Department of Tra ↗ |
| Ohio | ✗No | In Ohio, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles ↗ |
| Oklahoma | ✗No | In Oklahoma, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Oklahoma Tax Commission ↗ |
| Oregon | ✗No | In Oregon, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Oregon Department of Transport ↗ |
| Pennsylvania | ✗No | In Pennsylvania, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Pennsylvania Department of Tra ↗ |
| Rhode Island | ✗No | In Rhode Island, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Rhode Island Division of Motor ↗ |
| South Carolina | ✗No | In South Carolina, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | South Carolina Department of M ↗ |
| South Dakota | ✗No | In South Dakota, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | South Dakota Division of Motor ↗ |
| Tennessee | ✗No | In Tennessee, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Tennessee Department of Revenu ↗ |
| Texas | ✗No | In Texas, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Texas Department of Motor Vehi ↗ |
| Utah | ✗No | In Utah, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Utah Division of Motor Vehicle ↗ |
| Virginia | ✗No | In Virginia, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Virginia Department of Motor V ↗ |
| Washington | ✗No | In Washington, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Washington State Department of ↗ |
| Wisconsin | ✗No | In Wisconsin, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Wisconsin Division of Motor Ve ↗ |
| Wyoming | ✗No | In Wyoming, a bill of sale is recommended as a record of the transaction but is not required for DMV registration. | Wyoming Department of Transpor ↗ |
Why a bill of sale matters even when it's not required
Tax basis & audit defence
States compute sales tax from the price paid. If the DMV thinks you paid more than you did (or your state uses a Standard Presumptive Value floor), a signed bill of sale is your evidence. Without one, you pay tax on whatever the DMV decides.
Liability protection
For sellers, a dated bill of sale is hard proof that you no longer owned the car at the time of any subsequent ticket, toll, or accident. Pair it with a release-of-liability filing where your state offers one.
Warranty & condition
"Sold as-is" only protects the seller if it's in writing and signed. A bill of sale is the standard place for that language — and for the buyer's acknowledgement of the odometer reading.
Frequently asked questions
Which states require a bill of sale to register a used vehicle?
12 states explicitly require a bill of sale: Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Vermont, West Virginia. In the other 38 states, the title itself contains the assignment fields the DMV needs, and a bill of sale is recommended but not mandated.
What has to be on a vehicle bill of sale?
At minimum: full name and address of buyer and seller, vehicle year/make/model, full VIN, odometer reading at the time of sale, sale price, date of sale, and signatures of both parties. Many states accept a simple typed or handwritten document; others (Louisiana, West Virginia) require it to be notarized.
Is a bill of sale the same as a title?
No. The title is the legal certificate of ownership issued by the state. A bill of sale is a private contract that documents the transaction. Both are usually needed: the seller signs the title over to the buyer, and a bill of sale records the price, date, and condition for tax and warranty purposes.
Do I need a notary for the bill of sale?
It depends on the state. Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and West Virginia require a notarized bill of sale for vehicle transactions. Most other states do not require notarization on the bill of sale itself even if they require a bill of sale.
Can I write my own bill of sale?
Yes. If your state provides an official form (e.g., Florida HSMV 82050, Texas Form 130-U), use that. Otherwise, a self-drafted document with all the required fields is generally accepted. Save a signed copy for your records — you may need it years later for tax or warranty disputes.
Related comparisons
Last reviewed: 2026-01-01 · Reviewed by the Car Paperwork editorial team · Independent resource · Not legal advice