Bill of Sale Template (Car, Boat or Any Item)
Enter the seller, buyer, item and price to get a bill of sale with an as-is clause, an ownership statement and signature lines, ready to print or save as PDF.
This bill of sale template makes a written record of a sale. You enter the seller, the buyer, the item, its identification number, the price and the date, and the tool builds the document in a live preview with the terms and signature lines. Print it or save it as a PDF.
A bill of sale records that a seller sold one item to a buyer for a price on a date. People use one for a used car, motorcycle, boat, trailer, equipment or a high-value household item. The item type sets the right fields: a VIN and odometer reading for a vehicle, a hull ID for a boat. Add an as-is clause, an ownership statement, a witness line or a notary block as needed.
The tool runs in your browser. There is no account and nothing you type is uploaded.
How to use the Bill of Sale Template
- Above the form, pick a Currency and a Paper size. To see a finished document first, click one of the Examples buttons: Used pickup truck, as-is, Boat with a deposit and a witness, or Furniture, cash, as-is.
- Under The item being sold, choose the Type of item. Type the Description (year, make, model, colour). Enter the VIN, hull ID or serial number and, for a vehicle, the Odometer reading and its unit.
- In Seller and Buyer, enter each person’s full name, address and an optional phone or email.
- Under Price and payment, enter the Date of sale, the Sale price and the Payment method. If the buyer pays only part now, type the amount in Amount paid at signing and the document shows the balance still due. Set a date in Date the buyer takes the item if it is not the date of sale.
- Under Terms and signatures, choose the Condition of sale, tick the ownership statement if it applies, add Exceptions, if any, such as a loan to be paid off, and tick a witness line or a notary block if you want one. Put anything else in Additional terms or notes.
- Check the preview and any warnings, then click Print / save as PDF (choose Save as PDF in the print dialog) or Copy link. Both parties sign and date it, and each keeps a copy.
What should a bill of sale include?
A bill of sale should include the names and contact details of the buyer and the seller, the purchase price, a description of the item, and the date of the sale. For a vehicle, the Colorado DMV adds the make, model, year and VIN, and the signatures of both parties. The template prints all of these, plus the payment method, any deposit and balance, and the terms you choose.
The identification number is what makes the document specific. Two silver pickups can have the same year and model, but only one has a given VIN. Copy the number from the item itself and from its title or registration papers, and check that the two agree.
What does “sold as-is” mean?
Sold as-is means the buyer accepts the item in its current condition and the seller gives no warranty about it. The template’s as-is clause says that, and it says the buyer had the chance to inspect the item. Choose No as-is wording if you and the buyer agreed something different, and write that agreement under Additional terms or notes.
The clause is a statement of what the two sides agreed. Consumer and contract law differ from place to place, so it may not settle every dispute.
Is a bill of sale for a car the same as a title?
No. A title or registration is the official record of who owns a vehicle or boat. A bill of sale records the sale itself. For a car, the seller usually signs over the title and the buyer takes it to the motor vehicle office. The Colorado DMV says a bill of sale is not needed for the title transfer when the title is completed correctly, but it is needed when the sale price is not listed on the title, and it recommends one for every private sale. Rules differ by state and country, and some require a notary or a state form, so check the office that registers the item before you rely on any template.
What is an odometer reading on a bill of sale for?
When a vehicle changes hands, the seller states its mileage so the buyer can see it was not wound back. The Colorado DMV says the seller enters the actual mileage on the title or on its bill of sale form and signs. The rules differ by state, so ask your motor vehicle office whether it needs a form of its own.
What does a bill of sale example look like?
A bill of sale example starts with the date, the seller and the buyer, then describes the item, states the price and ends with signatures. A car bill of sale example template adds the VIN and the odometer reading. A boat bill of sale example adds the hull ID, and a bill of sale example for a trailer adds the serial number. Click an Examples button to see an example bill of sale for a vehicle, a boat or furniture, and print it as a simple bill of sale, a free printable bill of sale or an empty bill of sale form. A vessel bill of sale template works the same way as the boat one. Your Department of Motor Vehicles may also publish its own bill of sale form.
Sources
- Colorado DMV, Private sale: buying or selling a vehicle (checked October 2026) — what a vehicle bill of sale should include, when it is required, and the odometer disclosure.
- ISO 4217 currency list (list one, published 17 September 2026) — currency codes and decimals for all 36 offered currencies.
Worked examples
| Input | Result |
|---|---|
| vehicle (car, truck, motorcycle), price $21,500.00 | Paid in full, $21,500.00 |
| boat, price CA$8,900.00 | Paid CA$1,000.00, balance CA$7,900.00 |
| other item, price £350.00 | Paid in full, £350.00 |
| equipment or machinery, price $21,500.00 | Paid $5,000.00, balance $16,500.00 |
Calculated by the tool above with these values.
Frequently asked questions
Is the bill of sale template really free?
Yes. The tool is free, and you do not need an account or sign-up.
What format should a bill of sale use?
A bill of sale has no single legal format. The free bill of sale format here is a basic one: names, description, identification number, price, date, terms and signatures. It works as an auto bill of sale template, an automobile bill of sale template, a basic bill of sale for a car or a generic automotive bill of sale. Click Used pickup truck, as-is for a sample auto bill of sale or sample automobile bill of sale.
Can I print it blank, or save it as a PDF?
Yes. New document clears the form for a blank bill of sale form, and Print / save as PDF gives you a car bill of sale print out, a free bill of sale printout or a bill of sale auto PDF. It is an ordinary PDF, so you need no Adobe bill of sale template or other software.
Can I use it for a boat, RV or mobile home?
For a boat or other watercraft, choose Boat in Type of item and enter the hull ID. Choose Trailer or RV for a recreational vehicle, camper or motorhome. For a mobile home, choose Other item to record the sale and ask your title office what else it needs.
Do I need my state’s own form or a notary?
Some offices publish their own form, such as the California DMV bill of sale form, the New York DMV bill of sale form or the TxDMV form in Texas. If your office asks for its own form, use that one. Some places also require a notary. Tick Add a notary block to put one on the page, and check with the office that registers the item.
Can I record a deposit?
Yes. Type the part paid now in Amount paid at signing. The document shows the amount paid and the balance still due.
Is a printed bill of sale legally binding?
A bill of sale signed by both parties is written evidence of the sale. Whether it is enforceable, and what else a sale needs, depends on the place and the item. This tool fills in a document from what you type and does not give legal advice.
Is my information sent to a server?
No. Everything runs in your browser and nothing you type is uploaded. The draft is saved in your browser only.
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