When you sell a car to someone in the U.S., there are two pieces of official paperwork you need: the car title and a bill of sale form. The buyer needs the car title to prove ownership, to get new license plates, to register the car with the state and to get the car insured. According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, in 2009 35.4 million used cars and trucks were sold, making the automotive bill of sale a common official document. Use these free printable automotive bill of sale forms to sell a car to make an official receipt that covers all the information needed.
Which Information Should Be in a Bill of Sale Form?
The bill of sale is crucial because it is a record of ownership and proves that a financial transaction took place. Standard automotive bill of sale forms contact the following information:
- Buyer's legal name
- Seller's legal name
- Date of sale
- Location of sale
- Year of vehicle
- Make of vehicle
- Model of vehicle
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Price paid
- Whether the buyer has paid in full, or whether this is a receipt showing partial payment
Some BOS templates will include witnesses, the actual time of the sale, the mileage on the odometer, and other issues, but the above list is enough in most states when you use a printable or free bill of sale form template. Check your state's Department of Motor Vehicles before choosing a sales form template, though, to understand the required items, and choose a form accordingly.
Free Printable Bill of Sale Forms for Selling a Car
You can find a variety of free printable automotive bill of sale forms on the Internet. A few select websites for finding free bill of sale forms include:
- Microsoft Office. Microsoft's website offers a quick and easy download for this simple vehicle bill of sale form. Just print and complete.
- AutoCrisis.com. This site offers a more extensive version of an automotive bill of sale form, with more legalese. Consider using this template if you're concerned about odometer readings.
- DMV.org. DMV.org is not an official state or federal website that represents government Department of Motor Vehicles; it is a private website. However, it provides a wide range of information on car issues, and the car bill of sale template offered covers all the information needed in most states.
If you're planning to sell directly to a dealership, the dealer will have automotive sales forms, but be certain to read the fine print in the contract. The simpler the form, the better, as long as it covers the legal basics.
Why is a Signature Important on a Bill of Sale Form?
Be certain to get the buyer's signature when you're selling a car, and always follow state law. Some states require that a car transaction be witnessed my a Notary Public, so don't sign the automotive bill of sale form or the car title if this is the case. You'll need to do so in front of an official Notary Public for the sale to be legal. The National Notary Public Association provides a database of registered members to find a local offical. Call the NNPA at 800-876-6827 for more details.
In states that don't require a Notary Public, a signature will do. The signature makes the transaction complete, so be sure both the buyer and the seller sign the bill of sale form.
Keep an eye out for simple bill of sale form templates and for options that apply to your state when you are selling your car. The Internet offers plenty of free printable sales forms, so there's no need to spend money if you do a little research and search for options to help make selling a car legally a simple process with the right forms.
Melanie Zoltan - Melanie Zoltan is a former college professor and administrator who has written for About.com, PCWorld, Brain Child, Thomson Gale, and ...
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