Bill of Sale Notary Requirements by State
Read each state agency's requirements and the exact context of any notarial certificate. A title rule is not a universal private-sale rule.
“Not stated” means the reviewed source does not establish a universal rule. It does not mean every transaction is exempt.
| State | Sale record | Execution context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | A bill of sale conveys ownership of a non-titled vehicle under rule 810-5-1-.246. For titled vehicles, complete the title process separately. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Alaska | Use the assigned title to transfer a titled vehicle; Alaska DMV describes the bill of sale as a record, not a title-transfer document. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Arizona | MVD form 48-2004 provides sale evidence when a proper ownership document is unavailable or particular signatures are needed. It does not establish a blanket substitute for a title. | Form 48-2004 has an acknowledgment before a notary or MVD agent for that form’s specified evidence use. Confirm the form and ownership route before signing. | Source Source |
| Arkansas | The reviewed DFA Bill of Sale is specifically for claiming a used-vehicle sale credit toward a replacement purchase. It is not labelled as a universal title-transfer form. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| California | California DMV accepts REG 135 or a vehicle-identifying sale record when a bill of sale is needed. A title transfer still needs its applicable ownership documents. | California DMV expressly states that a bill of sale does not need notarization or witnesses. | Source Source |
| Colorado | A separate bill is not needed for a title transfer when the Colorado title is properly completed; it is needed when the sale price is missing from the title. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Connecticut | Connecticut accepts H-31 or a custom bill with the prescribed details alongside the title or applicable ownership document. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Delaware | Delaware DMV says not to accept a bill of sale or registration alone as proof of ownership for a titled used vehicle. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| District of Columbia | DC DMV’s ownership checklist includes a bill of sale and an assigned title or manufacturer’s certificate of origin. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Florida | Florida form HSMV 82050 combines a Notice of Sale with a bill-of-sale section for the listed vehicle and vessel categories. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Georgia | Georgia T-7 records the transaction and the seller’s mileage statement acknowledged by the buyer. Submit it with the other required documents. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Hawaii | Hawaii transfer paperwork is administered by county. The reviewed Honolulu instructions address the assigned title, registration and notice of transfer. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Idaho | Idaho ITD 3738 records a vehicle or vessel sale, including identifying numbers and title-brand information. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Illinois | Illinois’s electronic title and registration process requires the appropriate title application and ownership documents. A sale record supports the transaction. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Indiana | Indiana accepts a bill as primary ownership evidence only in the specified non-titled, legacy or other listed situations; it is not a universal replacement for a title. | Indiana BMV expressly states that a bill of sale does not require notarization or a perjury statement. | Source Source |
| Iowa | Use Iowa DOT’s title-application and ownership-document process for a titled vehicle. A private sale record cannot replace those documents. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Kansas | Kansas TR-312 is a bill for a vehicle 35 years old or older in the circumstances stated on the form. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Kentucky | Kentucky’s title transfer normally uses a completed assigned title and the applicable application. Out-of-state non-title ownership has different supporting-document rules. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Louisiana | Louisiana accepts the specified title and purchase-price documents. A separate notarized bill or invoice is required when the price is not shown on the title, subject to the stated alternatives. | OMV’s checklist calls for a notarized bill or invoice when the price is not shown on the title, with the stated document and lender-officer alternatives. Confirm which document must be notarized. | Source Source |
| Maine | Maine publishes a Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale with price, vehicle details, mileage and buyer and seller signatures. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Maryland | Maryland VR-181 is a purchase-price bill of sale used with the applicable title-transfer and tax instructions. | VR-181 is notarized in the purchase-price-evidence circumstances described by MVA. Follow the official form and current tax instructions. | Source Source |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts requires the applicable registration-and-title application and ownership evidence for a vehicle bought from an individual. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Michigan | Michigan’s ownership-transfer instructions require the appropriate assigned title and mileage information. A private sale record documents the agreement. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Minnesota | Minnesota DVS distinguishes titled transfers from the proof accepted for non-titled vehicles. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Mississippi | Mississippi DOR requires a properly assigned title for a titled vehicle; a sale record supports the purchase details. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Missouri | Missouri form 1957 records a vehicle, vessel or outboard-motor sale with the listed transaction details. | Form 1957 calls for notarization for rebuilt major-component ownership or when requested by DOR. | Source Source |
| Montana | Montana MV24 records a vehicle sale. Its notary instruction applies to the break-or-bond and electronic-transfer uses identified on the form. | MV24’s notary instruction is for its stated break-or-bond and electronic-transfer uses. | Source Source |
| Nebraska | The Nebraska DMV bill states that individuals transferring a motor vehicle must complete a bill, but are not required to use that particular courtesy form. | Nebraska’s courtesy form has separate sworn seller and buyer certificates. Its note permits a different bill; confirm any different record’s execution with the county. | Source Source |
| Nevada | Nevada VP104 must accompany the title or another acceptable ownership document; it does not replace them. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire publishes TDMV 119 and uses different ownership evidence for titled and non-titled vehicles. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| New Jersey | New Jersey’s seller instructions call for a sale record with the buyer, sale date, mileage and price alongside the transferred title. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| New Mexico | New Mexico MVD 10009 supports a vehicle or vessel sale with purchaser and seller details and signatures. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| New York | New York requires the appropriate ownership proof plus a bill in its listed vehicle-transfer situations; MV-912 is the published sale-record form. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| North Carolina | North Carolina’s document table distinguishes purchases from individuals from dealer purchases; the title and application requirements still apply. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| North Dakota | North Dakota SFN 2888 is a seller’s certificate and vehicle bill of sale with transaction, lien and title-availability details. | SFN 2888 requires the seller to sign before a notary public or authorized officer. Use the official certificate if the agency requires SFN 2888. | Source Source |
| Ohio | Ohio’s title process requires the applicable assigned title and transfer paperwork; a private sale record is supplementary. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma form 718 is specifically a Bill of Sale of an Electronic Title. It is not labelled as a universal bill for every paper-title sale. | Form 718 is for an electronic title and includes the specified notarial certificate for that use. | Source Source |
| Oregon | Oregon accepts its 735-501 sale record or other evidence of release of interest where the ownership chain calls for it. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania’s used-vehicle transfer process uses the assigned title and application through an authorized agent. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island publishes a vehicle bill with buyer, seller, vehicle, date, price and signature details. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| South Carolina | South Carolina publishes form 4031 as a sample; the reviewed copy is marked not for official use. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| South Dakota | South Dakota provides Bill of Sale Form 1025 and a separate title-and-registration application through the county treasurer. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Revenue expressly says a notarized bill alone is not sufficient proof of ownership for a titled vehicle. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Texas | Texas requires the assigned title and signed Form 130-U with the sale price for an ordinary individual title transfer. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Utah | Utah accepts a bill identifying the buyer, seller, item, sale date and price under its published sale-record instructions. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Vermont | Vermont VT-005 combines a bill of sale with an odometer statement on the reverse for applicable vehicles. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Virginia | Virginia accepts the specified purchase-price evidence alongside the title; a handwritten bill can be signed by seller and purchaser. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Washington | Washington TD-420-065 expressly says that a vehicle or vessel bill does not transfer title or act as a report of sale. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| West Virginia | West Virginia’s current DMV forms list describes DMV-7-TR for motor vehicles, trailers and boats, completed by buyer and seller with notarization. | The current DMV forms directory identifies DMV-7-TR as a bill completed by both parties with notarization. Use the official form when that document is required. | Source Source |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin recommends keeping a sale record and completing the assigned title. It explicitly says MV2928 is not a valid bill of sale. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Wyoming | Wyoming’s current statute requires the owner’s title assignment to be acknowledged before a notarial officer. Special bank-held-title cases use the specified bill and delivery procedure. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |