An even trade bill of sale is a written record of a trade in which two people swap vehicles of equal value and no money changes hands. Form 1957 is the version used in Missouri. It captures the make, model, year and VIN of each car or truck, plus contact details for both people. Both people sign it, and each one keeps a copy.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
In Missouri, when creating an even trade bill of sale, both parties will need to fill out Form 1957. With this form in hand, they will need to follow a few steps to ensure the proper creation. Once everything is done correctly, parties need to visit their local Department of Motor Vehicles to finalize the transaction.
The first step is to fill out the entire form. Each blank space in the document must be written in clear print and include information about the buyer, seller, and vehicles in question. Documentation is acceptable, either handwritten or printed, allowing each party to take their pick. You can also fill in the PDF online with the FormsPal PDF editor and print it.
Fill in these details:
Once all the details are filled in, both parties should read through the form to make sure everything is accurate before signing. When both agree, each person signs the bill of sale and adds the date.
Most states require the presence and signing of a notary public. This means that all parties must wait until they are in front of a notary public to ensure the document’s legality. Other states may allow the presence of two witnesses in place of a notary public. In any form, all involved should check their local laws to ensure the entire process is done correctly.
When dealing with vehicles, individuals must be sure to come prepared with the title. The vehicle’s title shows the current owner and is used in all documentation involving the purchase and sale. Because one vehicle is traded for another, the titles must exchange hands, too.
To make the title transfer, current owners and future owners can use Form 1957 as proof of the trade. The new owner must sign their name on the title, showing that they now have acquired ownership. All legal documentation of a title transfer must be filed with the Department of Motor Vehicles in the state in which the sale is taking place.
Once the form is filled out and signed, each person should keep their own copy. The ownership record of a vehicle follows it through its whole history and comes up again any time someone wants to buy or trade it. When ownership changes in the future, fill out a new bill of sale to record that transfer.
Most problems with this form come from small slips made in a hurry. Take your time with each line, and check the form together before anyone picks up a pen.
The paperwork does not end when the pens go down. A few quick steps after signing help both people close out the trade and keep a clean record of it for as long as they might need it.
This example shows how the details might look when Anna Baker trades a car for a truck owned by Ben Carter. All names, addresses, title numbers and VINs are made up. Use it as a quick check that every part of your own form has an entry.
| Detail | Anna Baker | Ben Carter |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 123 Main Street, Springfield | 456 Oak Avenue, Springfield |
| Traded | 2016 Honda Accord | 2015 Ford F-150 |
| Title number | 1234567 | 7654321 |
| VIN | 1ABCD23E4FG567890 | 2WXYZ98V7UT654321 |
| Signed on | June 1, 2026 | June 1, 2026 |
A regular bill of sale records a sale in which one person pays money for an item. An even trade records a swap instead. Both people hand over something of equal value, so the form lists one car or truck for each side instead of one item and a payment.
A few words on Form 1957 can look unfamiliar at first. Here is what each one means in plain English, so you know exactly what every line on the form is asking you to enter.
A few simple habits make the paperwork easier for both people. Gather the documents before you meet, read each line slowly, and keep the finished set together in one folder.
Other Financial Forms
Take a look at various other financial PDF files available for editing through our editor. Besides that, do not forget that you can upload, fill out, and edit any PDF at FormsPal.
Most questions about this form come down to the same few points. People want to know what goes on the form, who keeps a copy and what to check before signing.
It is a written record of a trade in which two people swap items of equal value and no money changes hands. Form 1957 is the version used for vehicle trades in Missouri.
The form gives both people one clear record of the trade. It shows who received which car or truck and that no money changed hands, which helps if a question about ownership or value comes up later. It can also give the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) a document showing that the two were swapped, which can make registration simpler.
Both people use the same form, so each side can read about the other car or truck before signing. The make, model, year and VIN sit next to the names and addresses of the two people.
People use this form whenever they swap one vehicle for another without paying each other. It fits a neighbor who trades a car for a truck, friends who swap motorcycles, or family members who exchange rides that are worth about the same.
The form is useful even when the two people know each other well. A clear written record saves time if either person is asked about the trade later, and it keeps everything about both sides in one place.
The form has room for these details:
Yes. You can write the entries by hand, or type them in and print the form. Either way, keep the writing easy to read.
Each person should keep a signed copy. A photo or scan of the signed form also works as a backup if a paper copy gets lost.
In a sale, one person pays money for an item. In an even trade, two people swap items of equal value and no money changes hands.
Start again on a clean copy instead of writing over the entry. A neat form is easier for both people to read and check.
Check that the names match the IDs and that each VIN matches the one printed on its title. Then read every line once more, so both people agree on what the form says.
General information, not legal or tax advice.
