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A bicycle bill of sale is a signed record of a bike sale. It names the seller and buyer, the bike's make, model and serial number, the price and the date. Private sellers and buyers use it as a record of the sale and of where the bike came from.
This page explains what goes into the form, how to sell a bike step by step, how to fill out each line and how to sign the finished bill of sale.
Key facts
A bicycle bill of sale is a written receipt for the sale of a bike between a private seller and a buyer. The form lists the parties, the bike, the price, the payment method and the sale date, and both sides sign it.
The document is also called a bike bill of sale. It covers road bikes, mountain bikes, kids' bikes and electric bikes alike, because every sale of a bike between two people raises the same questions: who sold it, who bought it, which bike it was and what was paid.
| Document Name | Bicycle Bill of Sale Form |
| Other Name | Bike Bill of Sale |
| Avg. Time to Fill Out | 10 minutes |
| # of Fillable Fields | 56 |
| Available Formats | Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word |
A bill of sale for a bike gives both sides proof of the sale: the seller can show the bike was sold and paid for, and the buyer can show where the bike came from. A bike changes hands without one, but then neither side holds a paper that names the bike.
A properly completed and signed bicycle bill of sale offers transparency and accountability for both the seller and the buyer.
For a titled vehicle, the bill of sale is not proof of ownership: in Tennessee, a notarized bill of sale is not sufficient proof of ownership, and a properly endorsed title showing all chain of title is needed to show requisite ownership of a vehicle (Tennessee DOR; SB-3).
A bike bill of sale includes the date, both parties, the bike's description, the price and the signatures. Each item below has its own line in the template:
The serial number is the one detail that identifies a single bike, since many bikes share a make, model and color. Most bikes carry it stamped into the frame, often under the bottom bracket where the pedal cranks meet. Copy it exactly and take a photo of it with the bike.
When the frame shows no number, the form still works: write "no serial number found" on that line and describe the bike in more detail on the Other Information line, such as scratches, stickers, parts and accessories.
The as-is clause states that the seller makes no promises about the bike's condition. The clause covers the bike's quality and working order; it does not say the seller may sell a bike that is not theirs. The template prints this passage in its standard terms, so both parties read it before they sign. A buyer who wants a promise about the bike's condition, such as a working gear set, adds it to the form in writing.
In Tennessee, the owner of a titled vehicle, such as a motorized bicycle, endorses an assignment and warranty of title upon the certificate of title, with a statement of all liens or encumbrances, and delivers the certificate of title to the purchaser at the time of delivering the vehicle (Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-3-118(a)).
The payment section offers a single payment or a deposit with the balance paid later. The parties initial one option on page 2. For a deposit, the form records the deposit amount, its date and the date the balance is paid in full. The payment types are cash, check, cashier's check and money order.
The template has two witness lines on page 3 and an acknowledgment on page 4, and both parts are optional. A witness is a person who sees the parties sign and adds a signature, date and printed name. The acknowledgment adds a notary's seal for parties who want one more layer of proof that the signatures are genuine.
The notary part is not optional in one case: in Tennessee, an application for a certificate of title for a used vehicle with no Tennessee title in existence or pending must be accompanied by a notarized bill of sale and sworn statement, or a certificate of title from the state in which previously registered (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1320-8-13-.01(2)). A used motorized bicycle with no Tennessee title in existence or pending falls under that rule.
A bike with a motor can fall under motor vehicle title rules that a pedal bike does not meet. In Tennessee, subject to the exceptions the statute lists, every motorized bicycle as defined in chapter 8 of title 55 is subject to the state's registration and certificate of title provisions when it is driven or moved upon a highway (Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-3-101(a)).
That section names motor vehicles, motorized bicycles, trailers and occupied mobile homes; a bike without a motor is not on its list. The section itself does not say which e-bikes count as motorized bicycles; the definition sits in chapter 8 of the same title.
The sources behind this page hold no other state's rule on titles for bicycles or e-bikes. Before selling a bike with a motor in another state, check with that state's motor vehicle agency whether it is titled like a moped.
The bike bill of sale template comes as a Microsoft Word document or a PDF. The form has four pages and the same sections in both files.
Other kinds of property sales use their own bill of sale forms.
Selling a bicycle takes four steps: describe the bike, set a price, list it for sale and record the deal in a bill of sale.
Describe the bicycle.
Write down the make, model, color, year of manufacture, tire size and serial number. Check that no part is faulty, since buyers prefer a bike that needs no repairs after the sale. Clean the bike and take clear photos of it and of its serial number.
Set the price.
Compare the asking prices of similar used bikes of the same make, model and age. Set a price that fits the bike's condition, since a high price keeps buyers away.
List the bike for sale.
Post the bike on a local or online marketplace with the photos and the description. When a serious buyer replies, agree on a time and a public place to inspect and test ride the bike.
Fill out the bill of sale.
Once you agree on the final price, fill out each line of the bill of sale with the buyer present. Sign it when the buyer pays, and give each party a signed copy.
The steps below follow the FormsPal bicycle bill of sale template, so you can check each part of your form against the screenshots. The form has four pages, and each step tells you where to look.
The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Bicycle 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.
Step 1: Date
Enter the date of the bill of sale on the DATE line at the top of page 1.
Step 2: 1. Seller’s information
Enter the seller’s particulars in section 1 of page 1:
Step 3: 2. Buyer’s information
Write the buyer’s name, street address, city, state and zip code. Then add a phone number and an email address.
Step 4: 3. Description: the parties
Write the seller’s name and the buyer’s name again on the two lines of the sentence that opens Section 3.
Step 5: 3. Description: the bike
Enter the make, model, year and serial number of the bike. Use the Other Information line for anything else that helps identify it, such as the color or the tire size.
Step 6: 4. Purchase date, price and payment plan
On page 2, enter the purchase date and the total price in U.S. dollars. Then initial one option: the full amount paid at once, or a deposit with the balance paid later. For a deposit, add the deposit amount, its date and the date the balance is paid in full.
Step 7: 4. Payment type
Initial one payment type: Cash, Check, Cashier’s check or Money Order. If you choose Check, write the check number on the line beside it.
Step 8: 6. Signatures
In the Signatures section on page 2, the seller and the buyer each sign, date and print their name.
Step 9: Witness lines
On page 3, each witness signs, dates and prints a name on one of the two lines.
Step 10: Acknowledgment
If you add the acknowledgment on page 4, sign it in front of the notary or other officer. They fill in the state, county, date and their own details, then add the seal.
The bill of sale for a bike is signed by the seller and the buyer on page 2, after both read the standard terms together. For a pedal bike, witnesses and a notary come in only when the parties choose them; in Tennessee, the title application for a used motorized bicycle with no Tennessee title in existence or pending must be accompanied by a notarized bill of sale and sworn statement, or a certificate of title from the state in which previously registered (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1320-8-13-.01(2)).
Read the standard terms. Go through the printed terms together, including the as-is passage that sells the bike with no promises about its condition.
Sign and date the form. The seller and the buyer each sign, date and print their name in the Signatures section. A witness who sees the signing adds a signature on page 3.
Add the notary acknowledgment, if you want one. Sign the acknowledgment on page 4 in front of the notary, who completes it and adds the seal.
Hand over the bike and the original. Give the original signed form to the buyer, and keep a signed duplicate or a copy for the seller.
A bill of sale is not part of every bike sale, but it gives both sides proof of the deal. The sources behind this page hold no general rule on paperwork for selling a pedal bike. The form suits any bike of real value, such as a mountain bike or an e-bike.
The bill of sale still works without a serial number. Write "no serial number found" on that line, then describe the bike in detail: frame color, size, parts, scratches and stickers. Add photos of the bike to your copy of the form.
Yes, a handwritten bill of sale lists the same details as a typed one. Print the template and fill it in by hand, or write your own on plain paper with the date, both parties, the bike, the price and both signatures.
Choose the deposit option on page 2. Enter the deposit amount and its date, then add the date the balance is paid in full. Keep the payment receipts with the signed form, so both sides can show when each payment arrived.
Yes, the same form records the sale of an e-bike: add the motor and battery details on the Other Information line. In Tennessee, subject to the exceptions the statute lists, a motorized bicycle as defined in chapter 8 of title 55 is subject to the registration and certificate of title provisions when it is driven or moved upon a highway (Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-3-101(a)).
For a titled motorized bicycle in Tennessee, the bill of sale alone does not transfer or prove ownership: the owner endorses an assignment and warranty of title upon the certificate of title, with a statement of all liens or encumbrances, and delivers it to the purchaser with the vehicle (Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-3-118(a)).
Make a copy for each party and keep the signed form with your sales records. A scan of the signed form also works as a backup if the paper copy gets lost.
General information, not legal or tax advice.
