Alabama Bill of Sale Form

An Alabama car bill of sale is a written record of a private vehicle sale between a buyer and a seller. For a vehicle that is not covered by Alabama’s certificate of title law, this document is what conveys ownership of it.[2]

On our site, you will find different templates of bills of sale designed for equipment, animals, or other personal property. You also have the possibility to create your own bill of sale form that will feature the fields applicable solely to your personal case.

The Alabama Motor Vehicle Title Registration and Insurance Portal provides a special form MVT 32-13B for abandoned motor vehicles. It is available for download below.

Alabama motor vehicle bill of sale form

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Last Updated: September 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Alabama law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.

Document Details

Document Name Alabama Vehicle Bill of Sale Form
Other Names Alabama Car Bill of Sale, Alabama Automobile Bill of Sale
DMV Alabama Title System (ALTS)
Avg. Time to Fill Out 7 minutes
# of Fillable Fields 59

Alabama Bill of Sale Forms by Type

The forms of bills of sale differ depending on the type of transaction you intend to do. Choose the form that matches what the buyer and seller are agreeing to sell or buy.

Alabama motor vehicle bill of sale template

Alabama vehicle bill of sale is one of the most frequently utilized forms when titling and registering a vehicle in this state. You must include an odometer reading in your form.

Alternative Name Car Bill of Sale
Seller’s Signature Required
Buyer’s Signature Required
Notarization Optional
Download PDF Template
Alabama boat bill of sale template

Fill in an Alabama boat bill of sale for any private purchase transaction of a boat. In practice, the previous registration certificate and the hull serial number go on the form.

Alternative Name Watercraft Bill of Sale
Seller’s Signature Required
Buyer’s Signature Required
Notarization Optional
Download PDF Template
Alabama firearm bill of sale template

Alabama firearm bill of sale will be useful for all gun transactions in Alabama. The fields include the serial number of the gun, the personal details of the parties, and the purchase price.

Alternative Name Gun Bill of Sale
Seller’s Signature Required
Buyer’s Signature Required
Notarization Optional
Download PDF Template
Alabama general bill of sale template

A general bill of sale in Alabama can be used for any other personal property type of purchase transaction between the seller and the buyer.

Alternative Name Generic Bill of Sale
Seller’s Signature Required
Buyer’s Signature Optional
Notarization Optional
Download PDF Template

How to Write an AL Vehicle Bill of Sale

To fill out an Alabama motor vehicle bill of sale, follow the steps below for our template. If your local authorities issue their own form, you can use that one instead.

Under Ala. Admin. Rule 810-5-1-.246, an Alabama bill of sale must show the purchaser’s name and address and the seller’s address.[2] It must also show the date of sale, the purchase price of the vehicle, and the signatures of both the seller and the purchaser.[2]

This document goes by several names in Alabama, including Alabama Car Bill of Sale, Alabama Automobile Bill of Sale, and AL Vehicle Bill of Sale. They all refer to the same form.

Step 1: Specify the date of the document

The first step is to specify the creation date of the document. This is the date when the bill of sale form is signed.
Creation date indication section of Alabama motor vehicle bill of sale

Step 2: Enter the seller’s and buyer’s details

The next step is to name the parties to the document. List the buyer and seller’s contact information as follows:

  • Full name
  • Address: street, city, state, and zip code
  • Telephone number
  • Email address
    Purchaser's and seller's information indication section of bill of sale for vehicle for Alabama

Step 3: Describe the vehicle

In this section, you have to describe the vehicle being sold, including the following details:

  • Make
  • Model
  • Vehicle’s body type
  • Year of manufacture
  • Miles (odometer reading)
  • Color
  • Vehicle Identification Number (also known as VIN)
    Part for descriptive details of car of Alabama vehicle bill of sale template

Step 4: Indicate the payment method

This step also involves specifying the exact date of the purchase and the complete amount of money approved by each party of the transaction. Then, select the payment method:

  1. One-time payment. One of the more simple methods: within the same day, the buyer gets the motor vehicle transported to them and pays off the whole amount of money.
  2. Trade-in. Using this choice, the property owner agrees to trade their automobile for the purchaser’s vehicle with an extra payment from the purchaser. In such a case, the document should also have the buyer’s motor vehicle specifics.
  3. Several payments. With this method, you must indicate the dates when the buyer has to deliver the first and the final payments, along with their sums.

After that, decide on one transaction method:

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Cashier’s check
  • Money order

Lastly, indicate whether the purchase price includes all applicable taxes. If state, county, or municipal sales tax was collected on the sale, the price shown on the document is treated as the basis for that tax.[2]
Section for information about way of receiving money of Alabama motor vehicle bill of sale

Step 5: Read through the miscellaneous provisions

The miscellaneous provisions typically say that the buyer obtains the property in “as-is” condition and is liable for it once the purchase is finished.
Miscellaneous provisions part of vehicle bill of sale document for Alabama

Step 6: Put the signature(s) in the appropriate areas

Under Section (h) of Ala. Admin. Rule 810-5-1-.246, Alabama requires the signatures of both the seller and the purchaser on the bill of sale.[2] You can also have one or more witnesses sign, though the law does not require it.

A common mistake is leaving the form with only one signature. Alabama’s requirements call for signatures from both the seller and the purchaser.

See the image below for where each signature goes.
Signature section of Alabama bill of sale for motor vehicle

Step 7: Notarize the document

Alabama does not require notarization of the bill of sale or of the MSO or title assignment.[3] Notarizing it anyway can add an extra layer of legal protection.

The buyer will need the original document to title the new vehicle. In practice, sellers either sign two identical originals or make a copy to keep for their own records.
Notarization section of a document of vehicle bill of sale for Alabama

Template Preview
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What Happens if a Bill of Sale Is Not Notarized?

Nothing prevents the sale from being valid. Alabama does not require notarization of the assignment of an MSO or title, so an unnotarized bill of sale is still valid for registering the vehicle.[3] Notarizing the document is optional and mainly adds extra proof if the sale is ever disputed.

Registering a Motor Vehicle in Alabama

After the bill of sale is signed, the new owner typically needs to register the Alabama motor vehicle at a licensing office. The registration procedure depends on whether the title is coming from another state or the vehicle was sold within Alabama. It typically involves a VIN verification, proof of insurance, and payment of the applicable registration fee.

For a vehicle registered in Alabama for the first time, a VIN verification is typically done to confirm the vehicle’s identity and origin. You complete this step at your county’s local licensing office.

When registering a vehicle, owners typically bring proof of liability insurance, the vehicle’s title, and a receipt for the fees paid. If the title is missing, you can request a replacement through the Department of Revenue’s Public Title Portal by registering or logging in to file a title replacement application.

When transferring title ownership at the Alabama licensing office, owners typically bring the following documentation:

  • A complete vehicle bill of sale form with all relevant details of the transaction
  • The buyer’s ID
  • Proof of the insurance
  • Title
  • The results of VIN inspection
  • An odometer disclosure statement, since federal law (49 U.S.C. § 32705(a)(1)) requires the seller to disclose the vehicle’s mileage at the time of sale[4]

Once these documents are compiled and presented, the vehicle’s registration is regarded as complete.

Relevant Official Forms

(Vehicle) Form MVT 32-13B
(Vehicle) Form MVT 20-1
(Vehicle) Form MVT 5-13
(Vehicle) Form MVT 5-5
(Boat) Registration Form

This Alabama Bill of Sale for Abandoned Vehicles form must be completed and submitted to the Alabama Department of Revenue to transfer the ownership of an abandoned vehicle. (see Alabama Code, Title 32, Chapter 13)

(Vehicle) Form MVT 32-13B
Download

Application for Certificate of Title to Record or Transfer a Lien

(Vehicle) Form MVT 20-1
MVT 20-1

It’s a document that a person can use to appoint an agent who would be able to act on the principal’s behalf and handle registration, tax payment, and other responsibilities connected with issuing, obtaining, and renewing license plates for any vehicle’s owner.

(Vehicle) Form MVT 5-13
Download

The Alabama Odometer Disclosure Statement is used to keep track of the mileage of a vehicle being sold. In order to comply with the Federal Truth in Mileage Act of 1986, which requires you (the seller) to disclose the miles in connection with the transfer of ownership, you must complete this form.

(Vehicle) Form MVT 5-5
MVT 5-5

The ALEA application for boat registration, transfer, replacement, and duplicate.

(Boat) Registration Form

Short Alabama Bill of Sale Video Guide

seal of alabama state

Other Bill of Sale Forms by State

General information, not legal or tax advice.

Sources

  1. Ala. Admin. Code r. 810-5-1-.246(3).
  2. Ala. Admin. Rule 810-5-1-.246.
  3. Alabama DOR; Motor Vehicle Title Applications FAQ.
  4. 49 U.S.C. § 32705(a)(1).
Published: Apr 14, 2022
Mara Erlach
Mara Erlach
Writer & Attorney
Mara has been practicing estate planning and trust law in California since 2003, taking pride in helping clients of all backgrounds and asset profiles form a complete and customized estate plan. Her specialties are: estate planning, wills and trusts, trust and probate administration.