A generic bill of sale is a written receipt that records the sale of personal property for money. It shows who sold what, to whom, on what date and for what price. You can use it for any movable item, such as a car, a TV or a motorhome. The need for such a sale form varies from state to state.
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 If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
Such a widely-used bill of sale form works as proof that contains all the details of the private trade between the seller and buyer. It serves as evidence of proprietary rights and holds both parties responsible for the agreed terms and conditions indicated in the bill of sale.
A signed bill of sale documents the answers to four basic questions:
This legal document will include everything from the buyer’s and seller’s information, a description of the item put up for sale, the date of the transaction, any other conditions or guarantees, and finally signatures from both sides of the trade as well as any witnesses.
A bill of sale is more profitable and necessary for the buyer in case they ever should be required to prove their property rights or confirm the identity of the person who sold them a particular item. A sales contract is considered a valid legal and binding document after each of the two parties involved has signed it and the transaction has been cleared.
The buyer has to realize that with the use of a general bill of sale form, they acquire the property in the “as-is” state.
| 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.
Preparing a bill of sale without professional assistance can feel complicated. FormsPal provides a free general bill of sale that is quick to download and straightforward to complete. 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). Add your own terms and conditions without wading through cryptic legal language. 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.
Have these details ready before you start:
Prefer to answer questions one at a time? Our step-by-step builder creates a personalized bill of sale in minutes.
You can also order a consultation from an attorney who prepares these papers. Legal advice usually costs much more than a top-quality general bill of sale form from us.
It is now abundantly clear that, in some states, to perform the sale of a property, you will have to write a bill transferring the title from one person to another. But what to do if you have no idea where to start such a venture? Feel free to use our short step-by-step algorithm.
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. Put Advertisements Everywhere You Can
Place an ad online and offline, in newspapers, magazines, on bulletin boards and anywhere else buyers look. 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
A general bill of sale can cover many kinds of goods and property. It usually contains the following information:
Step 6. Notify the Government of Your Purchase and Register It
After everything is said and done in writing and all crucial documentation is signed, the new owner might have to go to the notary public to confirm that the deal is officially closed. They might also want to visit the Department of Motor Vehicles (in case of the acquisition of a means of conveyance) and register the newly-bought vehicle in their name. In most states, the purchaser will have to provide the bill of sale form.
The guidelines listed here are based on our custom general bill of sale form. Nonetheless, it is advisable to opt for the official document in case it is provided by the local authorities.
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, which means the item is sold without a warranty.
Step 6: Put your signature(s) in the corresponding areas.
In most states, the signature of the purchaser is not mandatory. But, it is recommended to have the form signed by each party. Just to be on the safe side, the buyer and seller may choose a person who can attest the deal and sign the document too.
Step 7: Use the assistance of a notary public
Although notarization is rarely mandatory, it acts as an additional way to guard against legal problems.
If selling a vehicle of any kind the original bill of sale copy has to be presented to the buyer since they will need it to obtain a title to their new vehicle. There are two ways here: you must either prepare and sign two identical bills of sale or get a copy for the seller to keep.
In all 50 of the 50 jurisdictions FormsPal's verified state data covers (49 states and DC), a sale of goods above the statute-of-frauds threshold must be in writing. Below that threshold, a written bill of sale still gives you proof of the deal, the price and the date.
In all 50 of the 50 jurisdictions covered, the writing must be signed by the person who would be held to the deal. A signature from both the buyer and the seller is the safest choice, because then each side holds signed proof of the sale.
In all 50 of the 50 jurisdictions covered, the writing must identify the goods and show their quantity. Describe the item so nobody can confuse it with another one. Include:
A general bill of sale can record the sale of almost any movable item. For a car, the motor vehicle bill of sale is built for that sale. For a boat, use the boat bill of sale.
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.
