Sign a bill of sale online

What a bill of sale records

A bill of sale is a written record that ownership of an item passed from seller to buyer for a price. It is used for private sales of cars, motorbikes, boats, trailers, horses, machinery, and the assets of a small business. It is shorter than a sales contract and usually signed at the moment of handover.

For the buyer, it proves ownership and the price paid, which matters when registering a vehicle or for insurance. For the seller, it proves the date they stopped being responsible for the item.

What to include

The VIN or serial number is the field most often left out, and the one that matters most if there is a dispute.

• Names and addresses of seller and buyer.
• A precise description: make, model, year, colour, and the VIN, hull number or serial number.
• Odometer reading for vehicles. US federal law requires an odometer disclosure on most vehicle transfers, often on the title itself.
• Price and payment method.
• Date and time of sale.
• Whether the item is sold 'as is', and any warranties given.
• A statement that the seller owns the item free of any loan or lien.

Notaries, titles and registrations

In the US, transferring a vehicle is mainly done by signing over the certificate of title, and a bill of sale supports it. A handful of states require the bill of sale or title transfer to be notarised; others require a specific state form. Check your state's motor vehicle department before relying on an e-signed bill of sale for registration.

In the UK, a used car is transferred by updating the V5C logbook with the DVLA. A bill of sale is good practice but not required. Be aware that in English law the Bills of Sale Acts 1878 and 1882 apply to documents where the seller keeps possession of goods, as with 'logbook loans', and those have strict form and registration rules. A simple receipt for a private sale where the buyer takes the car away is not caught by them.

This is general information, not legal advice. In the UAE, vehicle ownership transfers go through the relevant traffic authority.

Who signs

Both seller and buyer should sign, though in some places only the seller's signature is strictly needed. Where the item is jointly owned, all owners sign. If a notary is required, Sign PDF is not the right route, because we do not offer notarisation.

Mistakes to avoid

Selling without checking for outstanding finance; in many places the finance company still owns the vehicle. Leaving the price blank or writing a nominal figure, which can create tax problems. Not recording the time of handover, which matters for speeding fines and parking tickets in the following days.

How to send a bill of sale with Sign PDF

Upload the bill of sale, or photograph a printed form. Sign PDF places the seller and buyer boxes; ask the assistant to 'add a box for the VIN' or 'add an odometer reading box'. Both can sign on their phones while standing beside the car.

The certificate of completion records the exact time each person signed, in UTC, with their email and approximate location. For a one-off private sale, the Light plan at $5 a month is enough; cancel after the sale if you do not need it again.