Those who want to get additional security guarantees in a private deal of vehicle sale or purchase in Texas may use a Texas vehicle bill of sale form. It is a document containing all of the vital data about the seller, buyer, and vehicle that is the object of a private sale (its year of manufacture, make, model, VIN, etc.). Though the completion of a bill of sale template is not mandatory in Texas, the deal’s parties should still opt for filling in that document to get additional protection against any potential liabilities, to keep a record of the vehicle’s ownership and price, and to stipulate the sale in “as-is” condition (you can get more details about the “as-is” condition in our full bill of sale guide).
Texas bill of sale templates – click to get more Texas-related bill of sale documents that you may use.
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Read our guide to make sure you did everything to get ready to register your newly purchased vehicle.
Once the sale is complete, the buyer of the vehicle should proceed to its registration to obtain new plates and a certificate of title. The procedure is undertaken at the County Tax Office. Registration should be initiated in not more than 30 days after the actual deal.
If the buyer plans to drive the vehicle until the registration is complete, they should get a temporary license plate, also known as a temporary tag or temp tag. It’s possible to obtain one in the local DMV office or county tax office. The document can come in handy if the buyer needs to bring the vehicle to the inspection site or re-register it due to moving to the new state of residence.
The documents required from the motor vehicle’s seller include:
These documents need to be sent to the TxDMV Vehicle Titles and Registration Division in Austin. The more detailed information about the vehicle’s buyer is provided, the better.
Papers needed for filing a registration application by the new owner include:
Those who have a lien on their vehicles should also file a completed Form VTR-272, which is an application for registration purposes only.
The bill of sale may also be helpful for those who purchase a motor vehicle without a certificate of title. In such cases, the bill of sale serves as a vital supportive document containing all of the essential data about the vehicle and the transaction’s parties. Those who have bought a vehicle without a title may also apply for a bonded title for the sake of transferring ownership. The issuance of the bonded title is subject to a $15 administrative fee.
The vehicle purchase tax in Texas equals 6.25% of the new vehicle’s purchase value and 80% of the standard presumptive value of used vehicles (bought in a private sale, not from a dealer). The annual registration fee in Texas depends on the vehicle’s weight, ranging from $50.75 for passenger vehicles and trucks less than 6,000 lbs in weight to $850 for vehicles weighing 70,000-80,000 lbs. A standard fee for motorcycles and mopeds is $30.
| Document Name | Texas Vehicle Bill of Sale Form |
| Other Names | Texas Car Bill of Sale, Texas Automobile Bill of Sale |
| Relevant Link | Texas Department of Motor Vehicles |
| Registration Fee | $51.75 |
| Required by the State? | Yes |
| Avg. Time to Fill Out | 7 minutes |
| # of Fillable Fields | 59 |
| Available Formats | Adobe PDF |
The details here are based on our custom-made bill of sale template. We strongly suggest using the local official version whenever possible.
Step 1: Specify the bill of sale creation date.
Step 2: Provide the buyer’s and seller’s specifics:
Step 3: Identify the motor vehicle being sold:
Step 4: Specify the payment method and amount.
This part also involves specifying the date of the transaction and the full sum approved by both sides of the transfer. You have to furthermore indicate the sale method the buyer will opt for:
The next step is considering the way of payment:
Finally, check whether the purchase cost includes all applicable taxes.
Step 5: Go through standard provisions and confirm that both sides are aware of them.
The “as-is” paragraph points out that the property owner provides no warranties and will not be liable for repairs after the transfer.
Step 6: Place your signature(s) in the corresponding fields.
The purchaser is generally not requested to sign the bill of sale. However, you’ll be more protected against legal issues if all parties sign the form. You may additionally have one or several witnesses verify the deal.
Step 7: Have a notary public certify the document
With this, you’ll get more legal protection. Nevertheless, this is normally entirely optional.
The original bill of sale copy has to be given to the purchaser because they will likely require it to receive a title to their new motor vehicle. As a seller, you may either get a copy and keep it or have a pair of identical documents signed and completed by both parties.
