Bill of Sale Basics

If you are selling your vehicle to a private party, you will need to provide the buyer with a Bill of Sale. A Bill of Sale gives the buyer documentation of the sale while providing the seller with a receipt for the transaction.

In many cases, the Bill of Sale is needed to complete a vehicle's title transfer. The Bill of Sale can also be used as legal documentation in the event that there is a problem with the purchase.

You may use the Bill of Sale from the Iowa State County Treasurer's Association, or you may write up your own. Generally, a bill of sale includes the following information:

• The seller's full name

• The signature of seller

• The buyer's full name

• The date of the sale

• The purchase price

• The make of the vehicle

• The year of the vehicle

• The vehicle identification number (VIN)

Bill of Sale Final Steps

A Bill of Sale should always be completed with ink and written as legibly as possible. In some cases, the form may need to be notarized. Contact your county treasurer's office for details.

Remember that the person who signs the Bill of Sale should be the legal owner of the vehicle. If a married couple owns a car or truck, but only the husband has his name on the title, he should be the one to sign the Bill of Sale.

Generic Bill of Sale

If you have trouble downloading the Iowa Bill of Sale form, we provide links to generic forms from our sponsors.

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