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A generic bill of sale is a written receipt for personal property. It names the seller, the buyer, the item, the price and the date, and both sides sign it. Private sellers and buyers get it free here as a PDF or Word file.
A general bill of sale, also called a generic bill of sale, is one form that records the private sale of a movable item, such as a car, a TV or a motorhome. The buyer gets written proof of what they bought, from whom and for how much. The seller gets proof of the date the item changed hands.
A signed bill of sale documents the answers to four basic questions:
The generic form suits a one-off sale between private people. When the item has its own paperwork, look at our other bill of sale templates first.
The generic bill of sale form comes as an Adobe PDF or a Microsoft Word file, and it also goes by the other names listed below.
| Document Name | Generic Bill of Sale Form |
| Other Names | Generic Auto Bill of Sale, Personal Bill of Sale |
| Avg. Time to Fill Out | 10 minutes |
| # of Fillable Fields | 54 |
| Available Formats | Adobe PDF; Microsoft Word |
Keep a signed copy of the bill of sale for your records. On the day of the sale, take clear photos of the item and note its serial number, if it has one.
A generic bill of sale should name both parties, describe the item, and give the price, the payment method, the sale date and the signatures. Those details let anyone reading it later see exactly what happened:
Describe the item so nobody can confuse it with another one.
A simple bill of sale format is a short paragraph saying who sold what, to whom, when and for what price, followed by the signatures. The sample below shows that wording with made-up details.
Sample wording (made-up names and figures): On June 1, 2026, Alex Rivera of 12 Oak Street, Springfield, sold one blue road bicycle, serial number 00000, to Jordan Lee of 34 Elm Road, Springfield, for $350 paid by check. The seller states that they own the bicycle and have the right to sell it. The bicycle is sold as-is. Signed: Alex Rivera, Jordan Lee.
For a vehicle sale, some state agencies publish their own list of what the bill of sale contains, so compare your generic form with that list before you sign. These lists apply to vehicles only, each in the situation shown.
| State | When the list applies | What the bill of sale contains | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | Selling your vehicle privately | Name and address of the purchaser and the seller; make, model, year, color and VIN; sales price; date of sale; signature of the seller. The DMV's Get a bill of sale page gives a second list that adds the odometer reading and the buyer's signature (Connecticut DMV; Get a bill of sale) | Connecticut DMV; Sell your vehicle |
| New Jersey | The seller gives it to the buyer with the signed title | Buyer's name and address; date of sale; mileage odometer reading; sale price | New Jersey MVC Transferring Ownership |
| New Mexico | A transfer between individuals when the title's assignment is incomplete; the seller completes it | Year, make, VIN, sale price; the seller's and the buyer's names, addresses and signatures | New Mexico MVD Form MVD-10009 |
| Wisconsin | A seller who drafts their own bill of sale, as suggested contents | Buyer's name, address and telephone number; selling price and date sold; signatures of both buyer and seller | Wisconsin DMV Form MV2928 |
Use a generic bill of sale whenever you want written proof of a private sale of a movable item, such as furniture, a bicycle or a used car. The state sources behind this page cover vehicle sales only, so this page sets out no rule for other goods.
For a vehicle, the answer depends on the state and on what the title already shows. These states speak to it directly:
| State | When a vehicle sale calls for a bill of sale | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Required if the sale price is not listed on the title; otherwise not needed for the title transfer when the title is completed correctly, though the DMV calls it best practice | Colorado DMV, Buying and Selling |
| Georgia | Provided if the vehicle is 1985 or older and does not require a title | Ga. DOR MVD; Title and Register a Vehicle Purchased in a Casual Sale |
| Kansas | Required if the title assignment has no space to record the purchase price | Kansas Division of Vehicles, Title FAQ |
| Kentucky | Required at every sale, trade, transfer or delivery of a motor vehicle, made in quadruplicate, with the original and two copies delivered to the county clerk | KRS 186.200(2) |
| Maine | A signed bill of sale is listed for registering a passenger vehicle bought in a private sale | Maine BMV; Register A Passenger Vehicle - private sale |
| South Carolina | Required with the paperwork if the title assignment has no section for the sales price | SCDMV; Buying or Selling a Car |
| Wisconsin | The DMV's bill of sale is offered for convenience and is not a required form | Wisconsin DMV Form MV2928 |
A state left out of this table is not a state without a rule. Check with its motor vehicle agency before a vehicle sale.
A different document fits when you are selling land or a house, because the fields of this form describe a movable item and not real estate. Searchers looking for a land bill of sale should start with our deed forms and real estate purchase agreement. For the sale of a whole company, see the business bill of sale.
Yes, you can create a general bill of sale online with our step-by-step builder, which asks one question at a time, or download a blank form and fill it in yourself. Use it to create a bill of sale for any item.
You can download the form as a Word file (.docx) or a PDF (.pdf). Our printable bill of sale templates cover the sale of almost any asset. To fill in the downloaded PDF, open it in the FormsPal PDF editor.
For an unusual or high-value sale, an attorney who prepares these papers can review the terms with you.
To sell an item using a general bill of sale, describe it, set a price, find a buyer, agree on the terms, and then fill out and sign the form when you close the deal.
Step 1. Describe What You Are Selling
Whatever you sell, give its full specifications. If you sell a vehicle, include its model, manufacturer and year of production. These details help a prospective buyer.
Step 2. Set the Price
If you are unsure what price to ask, research similar items online and compare the prices. Do not overcharge, but do not sell your property too cheaply either.
Step 3. Advertise the Item
Place an ad wherever your buyers look, online or on a local bulletin board. Prepare to answer many questions from potential buyers about the item.
Step 4. Negotiate and Attend the Closing of the Deal
Once you have found your buyer, negotiate the purchase price. Then agree on a closing date for the transaction. Bring every document the buyer needs to take ownership of the item, including the bill of sale.
Step 5. Fill Out a Bill Of Sale Form
Enter the details listed in what a generic bill of sale should include, using the walkthrough in the next section. Sign it together when the item and the payment change hands.
Step 6. Finish the Paperwork for a Vehicle
A bill of sale for furniture or a TV usually ends here, with a signed copy for each side. A vehicle has further steps with the state, so read bill of sale vs. vehicle title before the buyer drives away.
To write a generic bill of sale, enter the date, the parties, the item and the payment, read the terms, and then sign. The guidelines listed here are based on our custom general bill of sale form. If your state publishes its own form, see generic form or state form first.
Step 1: Indicate the bill of sale creation date.
Step 2: Type in the details of both parties (seller and buyer):
Step 3: Fill in the details of the item you are selling. A few examples:
Step 4: Indicate how you will be paid for the item.
Enter the exact date of the sale and the full amount both sides agreed on. Then choose one sale method:
Next, choose the type of payment:
Finally, decide whether the final price includes all applicable taxes.
Step 5: Read the miscellaneous terms.
This part states that the seller is the lawful owner and has the right to sell the item. It also states that the seller has listed everything to the best of their knowledge and that the bill of sale is accurate.
This part usually has an “as-is” clause about the item's condition. The seller's statement of ownership above stays in the form. This page does not cover what as-is wording does to implied warranties, so ask a local attorney if that matters to you.
A titled vehicle can carry a further promise on the title itself. In Maryland, an owner who transfers a vehicle gives an assignment and warranty of title on the certificate when the vehicle is delivered, unless the transfer only creates a security interest or goes to a licensed dealer who holds the vehicle for sale (Md. Code Ann., Transp. 13-112(a)). In Massachusetts, the owner gives an assignment with the actual odometer reading and a warranty of title on the certificate at delivery (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90D, § 15).
Step 6: Put your signature(s) in the corresponding areas.
Have both the seller and the buyer sign, so each side holds signed proof of the sale. If you want an extra safeguard, ask a person who saw the deal to sign too.
Step 7: Decide whether to use a notary public.
Check the notary table below for a vehicle sale. Then make enough signed copies so that the seller and the buyer each keep one.
For a vehicle bill of sale, notarization depends on the state and the situation: California does not require it (Cal. DMV VIRP Manual § 1.020 Bill of Sale (VC §1652)), while Tennessee requires it in set cases (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1320-8-13-.01(2)). Every row concerns a vehicle, and our sources hold no notary rule for the sale of other goods.
| State | Notarized bill of sale? | Source |
|---|---|---|
| California | Not required to be notarized or witnessed | Cal. DMV VIRP Manual § 1.020 Bill of Sale (VC §1652) |
| Hawaii (Honolulu County) | Required if the certificate of title is not released by the recorded owner | Honolulu CSD (county-administered) |
| Indiana | Not required to be notarized or signed under penalties for perjury, when used as proof of ownership in the cases the BMV allows | Indiana BMV State Form 44237 |
| Kansas | Most bills of sale completed within Kansas need no notary; the Division reserves the right to require notarized documentation in unusual circumstances | Kansas Division of Vehicles, Title FAQ |
| Kentucky | When a motor vehicle is sold, traded, transferred or delivered, the bill of sale is sworn before any officer authorized to administer an oath, not only a notary | KRS 186.200(1) |
| Louisiana | Listed for a used title: an original notarized bill of sale or invoice stating the actual consideration and a full description of the vehicle; a separate bill of sale is not required if the selling price is included on the title assignment | Louisiana OMV; Used Title & Registration |
| Maryland | Required when a used vehicle under 7 model years old is bought from someone other than a licensed dealer and the excise tax is to be based on a price $500 or more below book value; it is then on the MVA's own form, signed by both sides, with a statement of why the vehicle sold at that price; not for a trailer, moped, motor scooter or off-highway recreational vehicle. Separately, the MVA's Form VR-181 says: “If this form is used to establish the purchase price of your vehicle, a notary is required.” | Md. Code Ann., Transp. 13-809(d)(2); Maryland MVA Form VR-181 |
| Nebraska | Used only for a vehicle manufactured prior to 1940 for which the department finds no certificate of title issued in the previous thirty years, along with an affidavit, an inspection statement and any other papers the section lists | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-142.01(1) |
| Tennessee | Required in three cases: with a sworn statement on a title application for a used vehicle when no Tennessee certificate of title exists or is pending, unless the application has a certificate of title from the state where the vehicle was previously registered; a sale where the title has been lost, damaged or destroyed, with the seller's notarized affidavit; a sale where a lienholder holds the title and the seller delivers a separate bill of sale naming the lienholder and notifies the lienholder of the sale | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1320-8-13-.01(2), -.04 and -.02(1)(c) |
| Washington | Signatures are notarized or certified only when the seller releases interest on a bill of sale instead of on the title; a certified signature under WAC 308-56A-275 is accepted, and a bill of sale from the owner of a vehicle brought from a jurisdiction that does not title that type of vehicle is exempt | WAC 308-56A-265(2) |
| West Virginia | Required, signed by both parties, if a vehicle is purchased from an individual at a price below 50% of the current NADA Clean Loan Book value | West Virginia DMV Titles |
A state left out of this table is not a state without a rule. Rules on notarizing the title itself are a separate matter.
A bill of sale records the deal, while a vehicle title carries the ownership, and in Alaska a bill of sale “is not valid for ownership transfer” (Alaska DMV; Selling a Vehicle in Alaska). The same DMV still calls it a good idea to have the buyer sign one. Other states draw the same line:
So for a vehicle that has a title, treat a generic bill of sale as a companion to the signed title, not a replacement for it, unless the state's own source says otherwise. These sources go the other way, each in the case shown:
A generic form can work for a vehicle sale in states that accept a bill of sale you write yourself, as long as it carries the details they name. These sources say so directly:
Maryland is an exception in one case: the bill of sale used to base the excise tax on a price well below book value comes from the MVA itself (Md. Code Ann., Transp. 13-809(d)(2)).
Some states publish an official vehicle bill of sale form, and using that form spares you from comparing a generic one with its list. These are examples, not a full list.
| State | Official form | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, Off-Highway Vehicle or Vessel | Florida HSMV 82050 |
| Georgia | Bill of Sale | Georgia DOR Form T-7 |
| New York | Vehicle Bill of Sale | NY DMV Form MV-912 |
| Utah | Bill of Sale | Utah DMV Form TC-843 |
| Vermont | Bill of Sale and Odometer Disclosure Statement | Vermont DMV Form VT-005 |
A written bill of sale gives you proof of the deal, the price and the date, whatever the item is, and that is the reason to write one. This page does not settle whether your own sale needs one, so ask a local attorney if that matters to you.
Who signs depends on the state: for a vehicle, Arkansas lists the signatures of the seller and the buyer (Arkansas DFA; Do You Have What You Need?), while Connecticut's Sell your vehicle page lists the signature of the seller (Connecticut DMV; Sell your vehicle) and its Get a bill of sale page lists the signatures of the buyer and the seller (Connecticut DMV; Get a bill of sale). In a private vehicle sale in New York, both the seller and the buyer sign the Vehicle Bill of Sale, even if it is a gift, though the seller may instead provide other acceptable proofs of ownership and transfer of ownership (NY DMV Form MV-912).
A signature from both the buyer and the seller is the safest choice, because then each side holds signed proof of the sale.
A general bill of sale can record the sale of almost any movable item, including a car or a boat. For a car, the motor vehicle bill of sale is built for that sale. For a boat, use the boat bill of sale.
In any state, a person transferring ownership of a motor vehicle must give the transferee a written disclosure of the cumulative mileage on the odometer, or say the actual mileage is unknown if they know the reading differs from the miles traveled (49 U.S.C. § 32705(a)(1)).
Exempt vehicles include one with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating over 16,000 pounds, one that is not self-propelled, a model year 2010 or older vehicle transferred at least 10 years after January 1 of its model year, and a model year 2011 or newer vehicle transferred at least 20 years after that date (49 C.F.R. § 580.17).
Some states also list the reading on the bill of sale itself: New Jersey lists the mileage odometer reading among its contents (New Jersey MVC Transferring Ownership). Vermont requires an Odometer Disclosure Statement for vehicles model year 2011 or newer (Vermont DMV Form VT-005). Our form has a field for the reading.
Yes, a generic bill of sale can record a gift, and our form has a gift option for a transfer with no payment. For a vehicle, Washington's form asks for the sale price and says to enter zero if the transfer is a gift or an inheritance (Washington DOL Form 420-065).
Create one online with the form at the top of this page, or download the blank PDF or Word file. Fill in the seller, the buyer, the item, the price and the date, then sign it.
General information, not legal or tax advice.
