You sold the car, the buyer is ready to hand over cash, and now you both need a bill of sale. Maybe your state requires it for registration, or maybe you want a paper trail in case the buyer racks up parking tickets before transferring the title. Either way, you don't need to drive to a print shop. Upload the PDF, sign it online, share it with the buyer, done in minutes.
Here's what a used car bill of sale is, what has to be on it, when you need notarization, and how to handle the signatures without printing anything.
Bill of Sale vs. Purchase Agreement vs. Title -- What's the Difference?
These three documents get mixed up constantly, but they do different jobs.
- Purchase agreement is the contract you sign before the deal closes. It locks in the price, the deposit, the inspection clause, and any conditions ("sale is contingent on a clean Carfax"). It's a promise to buy and sell.
- Bill of sale is the receipt. Signed at the moment ownership transfers, it proves the sale happened and lists the vehicle, the price paid, the date, and who signed it over to whom.
- Title (or certificate of title, or pink slip) is the state-issued document that proves legal ownership. The seller signs the back to release ownership, and the buyer submits it to the DMV to register the car.
For a private used car sale, you usually need all three, though small deals sometimes skip the purchase agreement. The bill of sale is the one most states actually want to see at the registration window. For the broader contract side of things, the parent guide on how to sign a car sale contract PDF online covers the full purchase agreement workflow.
State-by-State: Does Your State Require a Bill of Sale?
Bill of sale rules are set at the state level and vary more than people expect. A quick tour:
- California (CA): No state-mandated bill of sale, but the DMV offers Form REG 135 and recommends it. No notarization required.
- Texas (TX): Form 130-U is what the county tax office wants. A separate bill of sale isn't required, but it's smart to have one. No notary needed for private sales.
- Florida (FL): Form HSMV 82050 is the official bill of sale. Florida is strict: the title transfer must be notarized, and many counties want the bill of sale notarized too.
- New York (NY): Form DTF-802 doubles as a bill of sale and a sales tax statement. No notarization, but the buyer needs it to register and pay sales tax.
- Pennsylvania (PA): Form MV-4ST is used at registration. The title signature has to be notarized or witnessed by a PennDOT-authorized agent.
If you're outside these five, check your state DMV site for the exact form. A bill of sale signed electronically is valid in all 50 states under the ESIGN Act and UETA. Notarization, where required, is a separate step at a bank, UPS Store, or online notary.
What Must Be on a Used Car Bill of Sale
The minimum information a usable bill of sale needs:
- Full names and addresses of both buyer and seller
- VIN (17 characters, visible through the windshield and on the driver-side door jamb)
- Year, make, model, body style, and color of the vehicle
- Odometer reading on the date of sale (federal law requires this for vehicles under 20 years old)
- Sale price in numbers and words, plus payment method (cash, certified check, wire)
- Date of sale
- "As is" clause if the car is sold without warranty (most private sales are as-is)
- Signatures of both parties, with printed names underneath
- Witness or notary signature if your state requires it
Two things people skip and regret: the odometer reading and the as-is language. The odometer is a federal disclosure, and the as-is clause is the difference between "the buyer's transmission problem" and "the seller's lawsuit."
How to Sign a Used Car Bill of Sale Online with CanUSign
The process works the same whether you're in the same room or sending the form across the country.
Step 1: Get Your Bill of Sale PDF
Download the official form from your state DMV site, or use a generic template. Fill in the vehicle details, price, names, and date, then save as PDF. Most state forms are already editable PDFs.
Step 2: Upload to CanUSign
Go to canusign.com/en/create/upload and drop the PDF in. No account required to start.
Step 3: Place Signature and Date Fields
Drag signature fields onto the buyer and seller signature lines. Add date fields next to each. If your form has a witness line, drop a third signature field there.
Step 4: Sign and Share
Sign your side first, then send the signing link to the buyer. They open the link in any browser, on any device, and sign with a finger on a phone or a mouse on a laptop. No app install, no account.
Step 5: Download and Archive
Both parties get the signed PDF with timestamps and an audit trail. Save a copy, send one to your insurance company if you're cancelling coverage, bring one to the DMV when the buyer registers.
Cost is $1 per document. No subscription. If you'd rather skip the upload step, the direct sign-PDF flow is even faster.
Will the DMV Accept an E-Signed Bill of Sale?
In almost every state, yes. The DMV cares about the information on the form and the signatures being authentic, not whether the ink was wet. The audit trail CanUSign generates (IP address, timestamp, signer email) is stronger evidence than a handwritten signature.
The exception is the title itself. Most states still require a wet-ink signature on the back of the certificate of title, and several require that signature to be notarized. The bill of sale can be electronic even when the title cannot. For more on why digital signing holds up, see the guide on signing PDFs without printing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a bill of sale if I have a signed title?
In some states, yes. The title proves ownership transfer, but the bill of sale documents the price (which the buyer needs to calculate sales tax) and serves as a receipt. States like Florida, New York, and Texas want both.
Can the buyer sign with their phone?
Yes. The signing link works on any phone or tablet browser. The buyer signs with their fingertip and submits, all within a couple of minutes.
What if my state requires notarization?
You can still draft and sign the bill of sale electronically, then visit a notary together (or use an online notary service) to add the notarized seal. The electronic signatures themselves are valid; the notary step is a separate authentication.
Do I need to keep a copy after the sale?
Yes, both buyer and seller should keep the signed PDF for at least three to five years. The seller may need it for parking tickets or insurance disputes, and the buyer needs it for registration and resale.
What if the buyer pays in installments?
Use a purchase agreement with a payment schedule, then issue the bill of sale only after the final payment clears. The bill of sale should reflect the full price actually paid.
Close the Sale, Keep the Receipt
A used car bill of sale is short, but it's the document that protects you when something goes sideways months later. Get it right, get both signatures, keep a clean copy.
Upload the PDF to CanUSign, drop in two signature fields, share the link, done. One dollar, both signatures, and a timestamped record that holds up at the DMV.