A bill of sale template on Lawrina makes things really simple. You don’t need to worry about legal wording — just answer a few easy questions, and the form builds itself. It’s a quick way to make sure everything is clearly written down in case there’s ever a question about the sale later.
Selling a Used Car
It proves that the car now belongs to the new owner and helps with registration.
Buying or Selling Personal Items
Like bikes, electronics, or tools — especially if you don’t know the other person well.
Giving Something as a Gift
Even if no money is involved, you can write $0 on the form to show you gave the item to someone else.
Selling to Someone in Another State
A printable bill of sale can help if any questions come up later since laws can be different in each state.
Keeping for Taxes or Records
It’s useful for showing how much money you made from a sale or proving that something is no longer yours.
Depending on what’s being sold, the format of bill of sale forms may change slightly. Here are some common types:
At the top of the bill of sale printable form, write down where the sale is happening.
Write the full name and address of the person selling the item, and the person buying it.
Add what is being sold, where it is, and for how much.
The Property: The Seller hereby sells, grants, and conveys to the Buyer all of the Seller’s rights to the following:
2020 Honda Civic, located at 789 Oak Street, price: $8,000.
Repeat the total price to make it crystal clear.
Price: The total price of the Property is $8,000.
Write the date when the buyer officially takes ownership and responsibility.
Transfer of title: This Bill of Sale becomes effective on April 15, 2025 (the “Effective Date”). The Buyer takes full responsibility for the item from this date.
Write where the form is being signed to make it official.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Bill of Sale is signed in the County of Los Angeles, State of California.
Both the Seller and the Buyer should sign and date the bill of sale PDF at the bottom. You can also have a witness or notary if needed.
A bill of sale is a legally binding document, and it is essential to comply with your state’s requirements which can vary by state.
For instance, in many states, only the buyer must sign the Bill of Sale, while other states need both parties to sign the document, and some even require that the Bill of Sale be notarized. However, it is essential to note that without the buyer’s signature, the Bill of Sale may not be enforceable.
A bill of sale is a document drafted by the seller that can be used to sell any property category. Most states do not need a notary to witness the bill of sale is signed.
Furthermore, according to law, a notary public must witness both parties signing the agreement in Louisiana, Nebraska, Maryland, New Hampshire, West Virginia, and Montana. Notaries are optional in other states. It is essential to check your state requirements when entering into a bill of sale.
Some states require only the buyer to sign the document, while others require both the buyer and the seller to sign the bill of sale. Possession of the signed bill of sale and payment of the title transfer fee may be required to apply for a title at the state's DMV.
Other states call for the form to be notarized. You would need to look at the State requirements. However, it should be noted that without the buyer's signature, the Bill of Sale may not be an enforceable contract.
Having a bill of sale when gifting property is a good practice, even if your state law does not require one. Most importantly, the bill of sale establishes the date when you made the gift to the recipient, which protects you in case the latter gets into an accident involving your property.
While not all states require the bill of sale, some jurisdictions specifically demand a signed or even notarized bill of sale to proceed with the title transfer in the DMV. Even if your state doesn't require a bill of sales for a vehicle, it is still a good practice to have one establish the date of handing over the car to the buyer to shield yourself from any accident liabilities.
The main difference between a contract of sale and a bill of sale lies in their purpose. The goal of the sales agreement is to establish the terms of the transaction before it takes place. The purpose of the bill of sale is to confirm that the transaction took place and that the seller delivered the property to the buyer.