An Ohio car bill of sale is a written record of a private vehicle sale. It names the seller, the buyer and the vehicle, and it shows the purchase price and the date of the sale. Ohio’s title statute asks for the date, the true selling price and the odometer reading, so record all three.[1] Download our free template or fill it out online.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Ohio law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
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| Document Name | Ohio Vehicle Bill of Sale Form |
| Other Names | Ohio Car Bill of Sale, Ohio Automobile Bill of Sale |
| DMV | Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles |
| Bill of Sale Required? | No Ohio statute requires one |
| Avg. Time to Fill Out | 7 minutes |
| # of Fillable Fields | 64 |
FormsPal has Ohio bill of sale templates for four kinds of private sales: a motor vehicle, a boat, a firearm and general items. Each card below says what the form records and lets you download a free PDF template. You can also browse our bill of sale forms for other states.
The Ohio motor vehicle bill of sale records the sale of a car, truck or other motor vehicle between a private seller and a buyer. It lists the seller, the buyer, the vehicle, the price and the date of sale.
| Alternative Name | Car Bill of Sale |
| Seller’s Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Buyer’s Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Notarization | Acknowledgment page on the form |
| Download | PDF Template |
Use an Ohio boat bill of sale when you sell or buy a boat. It records the boat, the seller, the buyer, the price and the date of sale.
| Alternative Name | Vessel Bill of Sale |
| Seller’s Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Buyer’s Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Notarization | Check the form |
| Download | PDF Template |
Fill in the Ohio firearm bill of sale to record a firearm sale between a private seller and a buyer. It lists the firearm, the seller, the buyer, the price and the date of sale.
| Alternative Name | Gun Bill of Sale |
| Seller’s Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Buyer’s Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Notarization | Check the form |
| Download | PDF Template |
A general bill of sale covers private sales of items that do not need a specialized form. You can add and personalize the details for your own transaction.
| Alternative Name | Generic Bill of Sale |
| Seller’s Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Buyer’s Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Notarization | Check the form |
| Download | PDF Template |
An Ohio car bill of sale records who sold which vehicle to whom and the purchase price. Ohio’s title statute points to four details that belong to a private vehicle sale. Our template asks for all of them.[1]
The statute describes the price and mileage this way:
The registrar shall prescribe an affidavit in which the transferor shall swear to the true selling price and, except as provided in this division, the true odometer reading of the motor vehicle
In plain words, the seller swears to the real price and the real mileage. In a casual sale, the buyer of the vehicle fills out and swears to the form. The seller and the buyer must also provide any information the Department of Taxation requests.[1]
The steps below follow our Ohio motor vehicle bill of sale template, from the date at the top to the acknowledgment on page 4. Fill in each part in the order the form shows it. You can create the form online, print the PDF and write it by hand, or fill in the PDF with our PDF editor.
Step 1: Date
Write the date on the DATE line at the top of page 1.
Step 2: Seller’s and Buyer’s Information
In Sections 1 and 2, fill in the name, street address, city, state, zip code, telephone number and email address for the seller. Then enter the same details for the buyer.
Step 3: Motor Vehicle Description
In Section 3, write both names in the sentence at the top. Then fill in these fields:
Step 4: Purchase Date, Price and Method
On page 2, enter the purchase date and the purchase price. Then check one option: all at once, trade-in with the buyer’s vehicle details, deposit with a balance date, or gift.
Step 5: Payment Form and Taxes
Select Cash, Check (with the check number), Cashier’s Check or Money Order. Then check whether taxes are included.
Step 6: Miscellaneous Provisions
On page 3, read Section 5 before you sign. This part has nothing to fill in. It covers the seller’s ownership and no-liens statement, the as-is sale and the entire agreement.
Step 7: Signatures
In Section 6, the seller and the buyer each sign, date and print their name. The form also has a Witness line.
Step 8: Acknowledgment
To have the form notarized, sign before the notary in the acknowledgment on page 4. The notary completes the county, date, name, title, signature and seal.
After the sale, the title moves into the buyer’s name. The buyer applies for a certificate of title, and the statute sets the timing for that application. The application is made on the registrar’s form and comes with the certificate of title duly assigned, unless the chapter provides otherwise.[1]
In all cases of transfer of a motor vehicle except the transfer of a manufactured home or mobile home, the application for certificate of title shall be filed within thirty days after the assignment or delivery of the motor vehicle.
Here is what the statute says about the buyer’s paperwork:
The certificate of title is issued on the form prescribed by section 4505.07 of the Ohio Revised Code.[1]
Many buyers keep the signed bill of sale with their title paperwork. Check the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles website before you go, since papers and fees change. If you only have a bill of sale and no title, read our guide to getting a vehicle title with a bill of sale.
Application(s) for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle
Odometer Disclosure Statement
Fill out a motor vehicle power of attorney to give a trusted person the right to handle vehicle registration for you.
Certified Watercraft Registration Application and Affidavit of Ownership (Form DNR 8460R) is an authorized form required for registering a watercraft in Ohio.
A power of attorney form for watercraft is needed when the vessel registration process or title transfer is conducted by a person of trust.
The buyer files an application for a certificate of title within thirty days after the vehicle is assigned or delivered. The application comes with the certificate of title duly assigned. Any applicable sales or use tax is paid with the application.[1]
When a dealer is a party to the sale, the dealer obtains the certificate of title in the buyer’s name, on an application the buyer signs. In a private sale, the buyer’s application comes with the certificate of title duly assigned.[1] Keep a signed copy of your bill of sale for your own records.
The buyer’s title application comes with the certificate of title duly assigned. For a vehicle brought into Ohio, it may instead come with a manufacturer’s or importer’s certificate or with another state’s certificate of title. The application is due within thirty days after the assignment or delivery of the vehicle.[1]
Ohio has no statute that requires a bill of sale to be notarized. The title application is made on the registrar’s form. It is sworn before a notary public or other officer empowered to administer oaths.[1]
The title statute speaks of a notary only for the title application, not for the bill of sale.[1] Our template has an acknowledgment on page 4 for people who want a notary to sign the bill of sale as well.
General information, not legal or tax advice.
