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A Texas bill of sale is a signed record of a private sale. TxDMV Form 130-U guidance asks for the seller's name and address, the sale date and the VIN.[1] This page covers each Texas type, the title papers and how to fill one out.
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| Document Name | Texas Vehicle Bill of Sale Form |
| Other Names | Texas Car Bill of Sale, Texas Automobile Bill of Sale, Texas Auto Bill of Sale |
| DMV | Texas Department of Motor Vehicles |
| Title Application | Form 130-U |
| Title Deadline | 30 days from the date of sale (TxDMV Form 130-U)[1] |
| Avg. Time to Fill Out | 7 minutes |
| # of Fillable Fields | 64 |
A Texas bill of sale form comes in five kinds, one for each thing people sell privately: motor vehicles, trailers, boats, firearms and general property. Each kind records the parties, the item, the price and the signatures, and adds the identifiers its item carries. Forms for other states and items are on the bill of sale forms page.
The Texas motor vehicle bill of sale records the vehicle's make, model, VIN, odometer reading and the payment details. Its vehicle details are copied from the title, so the two documents match.
| Alternative Name | Car Bill of Sale |
| Seller's Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Buyer's Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Notarization | Notary block on the form |
| Download | PDF Template |
The Texas trailer bill of sale records the sale of a utility, cargo or other trailer between two private parties. It lists the trailer's identifying details, the price and both signatures.
| Alternative Name | Utility Trailer Bill of Sale |
| Seller's Signature | Customary |
| Buyer's Signature | Customary |
| Notarization | Extra safeguard |
| Download | PDF Template |
The Texas boat bill of sale records a vessel sale. It lists the hull identification number (HIN), the engine hours and any other identifying details of the boat.
| Alternative Name | Vessel Bill of Sale |
| Seller's Signature | Customary |
| Buyer's Signature | Customary |
| Notarization | Extra safeguard |
| Download | PDF Template |
The Texas firearm bill of sale records a private gun sale between two parties. It lists the make, caliber and model of the firearm, the serial numbers of all guns, the price and the details of the buyer and the seller.
| Alternative Name | Gun Bill of Sale |
| Seller's Signature | Customary |
| Buyer's Signature | Customary |
| Notarization | Extra safeguard |
| Download | PDF Template |
The general bill of sale covers other personal property, such as furniture, tools or electronics, when no more specific form fits the item.
| Alternative Name | Generic Bill of Sale |
| Seller's Signature | Customary |
| Buyer's Signature | Customary |
| Notarization | Extra safeguard |
| Download | PDF Template |
A Texas vehicle bill of sale lists the seller, the buyer, the vehicle, the price and the date of sale in one signed document. Its core details match the written record the TxDMV asks for: the name and address of the seller, the date of sale and the vehicle information, including the VIN (TxDMV Form 130-U).[1]
A complete form holds these parts:
The VIN and the odometer reading tie the document to one vehicle. The VIN (vehicle identification number) is the vehicle's unique serial code, printed on the title. The title the seller signs over includes the date of sale and the odometer reading (TxDMV Form 130-U), so the form copies the same reading from the dashboard and the title.
The sales price on the document matches the price on the title application. The TxDMV asks for a signed Form 130-U with the sales price clearly shown (TxDMV Form 130-U). A gift has no price: the form's gift option shows that no consideration, meaning no money or goods, is paid for the vehicle.
The bill of sale does not take the place of the TxDMV's own gift paperwork. Ask the TxDMV or the county tax office which donors qualify and what tax applies to a gift.
An "as is" clause states that the buyer takes the vehicle in its current condition. The Texas motor vehicle form prints this clause in its Miscellaneous Provisions. The same part holds the seller's confirmation of ownership and no liens, and the statement that the bill of sale is the only agreement between the two sides.
A Texas bill of sale backs up the signed title and the signed Form 130-U, the papers the TxDMV asks for when a vehicle changes hands (TxDMV Form 130-U). The TxDMV points below come from its guidance on buying or selling a vehicle.[1]
A bill of sale does not replace the title paperwork. The TxDMV asks for the signed Form 130-U title application to put the vehicle in the buyer's name (TxDMV Form 130-U).[1]
Keep the signed bill of sale together with the title paperwork. If the sale is ever questioned, one folder shows the date, the price and the vehicle details.
The TxDMV sources this page cites set no notarization rule for a Texas bill of sale. The Texas motor vehicle form still carries a notary acknowledgment page for parties who want their signatures acknowledged before a notary public.
A lien discharge is the lienholder's written release of its claim on a vehicle once the loan behind it is paid. Under Tex. Transp. Code § 501.115(a), the lienholder shall execute and deliver a discharge of the lien to the owner within a reasonable time, when the debt secured by the lien has been satisfied.[2]
The full subsection reads:
When a debt or claim secured by a lien has been satisfied, the lienholder shall, within a reasonable time not to exceed the maximum time allowed by Section 348.408 or 353.405 (b), Finance Code, as applicable, execute and deliver to the owner, or the owner’s designee, a discharge of the lien in a manner prescribed by the department.
A Texas vehicle bill of sale is filled out part by part, from the date at the top to the signatures, in ten steps that follow the form's own part labels. Each step below matches one part of the form, on screen or on paper.
The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Texas motor vehicle bill of sale template filled with sample entries in blue, so you can see where each answer goes. The names, addresses, dates and amounts are examples only.
The first four parts of the form record the date, the seller, the buyer and the vehicle, copied from each party's ID and from the title.
Fill in the date. Enter it at the top of the first page.
Complete part 1, Seller's Information. Enter the seller's details:
Complete part 2, Buyer's Information. Fill in the same five lines for the buyer.
Complete part 3, Motor Vehicle Description. Write the seller's and buyer's names in the sentence, then fill in the vehicle details:
Part 4 of the form records the purchase date, the total price and how the buyer pays, whether all at once, by trade-in, by deposit and balance, or as a gift.
Enter the purchase date and total price in part 4. On page 2, write the date of sale and the total price in U.S. dollars.
Check how the price is paid. Tick one of the four options:
Choose the payment type and the tax line. Select one payment type: cash, check (with the check number), cashier's check or money order. Then tick whether all applicable taxes are included in the price or not included.
The last parts of the form hold the sale terms, the signatures of both parties and an optional notary acknowledgment page.
Read part 5, Miscellaneous Provisions. This page has no blanks. It covers the seller's confirmation of ownership and no liens, the "as is" sale and the statement that the bill of sale is the only agreement between the two sides.
Sign part 6, Signatures. The seller and the buyer each sign, add the date and print their names. The form also has a signature line for a witness.
Use the Acknowledgment page if you want a notary. The last page is a notary acknowledgment. If you choose to notarize, sign in front of the notary and let them complete it. Print two copies and have both signed, so the seller and the buyer each keep a record of the sale.
A Texas bill of sale supports the buyer's title application, and vehicles are required to be titled in the buyer's name within 30 days from the date of sale (TxDMV Form 130-U).[1] The county tax office is where the buyer applies for the new title.
The buyer's title packet starts with the papers the seller hands over at the sale and ends at the county tax office.
If the buyer plans to drive the vehicle before the title paperwork is finished, they can look into a temporary license plate, also known as a temp tag. Ask your county tax office what the buyer needs to bring.
The seller's part ends with a Vehicle Transfer Notification, the notice to the TxDMV that the vehicle has passed to a new owner.
Application for Texas Title and/or Registration is used to apply for title or registration, or both. Instructions inside.
Used when a vehicle is given, without payment, by an eligible family member, guardian, qualified trust or nonprofit.
Use this Affidavit of Heirship for a Motor Vehicle if you inherited the vehicle.
When the seller files the Vehicle Transfer Notification within 30 days from the date of sale, the seller cannot be held responsible for parking tickets and toll violations committed by the buyer (TxDMV; Buying or Selling a Vehicle).
A vehicle power of attorney that you can use to appoint an agent that would be able to act on your behalf in matters related to vehicle registration.
Affidavit of Fact is used for previously owned vessels that have never been documented in any way.
These answers cover the questions people ask most about a Texas bill of sale that the sections above leave open or answer only in passing.
A Texas bill of sale holds the name and address of the seller, the date of sale and the vehicle information, including the VIN, the details the TxDMV says to keep in a written record (TxDMV Form 130-U).[1] The title must also be properly signed, including the date of sale and the odometer reading (TxDMV Form 130-U).
A common slip is a missing date of sale or odometer reading, since a properly signed title includes both (TxDMV Form 130-U).[1] Before signing, compare the VIN, the names and the sale price on the document with the title and Form 130-U so every document matches.
The seller and the buyer each keep a signed copy of the document. Print two copies and have both signed before the vehicle changes hands. The buyer's copy goes with the title papers to the county tax office.
A signed bill of sale is a useful supporting document when a vehicle comes without a title. It records the vehicle details and both parties in one place. For a missing title, check with the TxDMV or your county tax office.
The Vehicle Transfer Notification protects the seller from the buyer's tickets and tolls. When the seller files the notification within 30 days from the date of sale, the seller cannot be held responsible for parking tickets and toll violations committed by the buyer (TxDMV; Buying or Selling a Vehicle).[1]
General information, not legal or tax advice.
