Free Texas Bill of Sale Template

A Texas bill of sale is a written document that records the transfer of ownership of personal property, most often a motor vehicle, from a seller to a buyer. It captures the essential facts of the transaction: who sold the item, who bought it, what was sold, how much was paid, and on what date. For a car bill of sale in Texas, the document also describes the vehicle in detail, including the year, make, model, vehicle identification number (VIN), and odometer reading.

While a bill of sale is not the document that legally transfers title to a vehicle in Texas, it serves as important supporting evidence of the sale. The Texas Certificate of Title, properly signed and assigned by the seller, is what actually transfers ownership, and Form 130-U (Application for Texas Title and/or Registration) is what the buyer files to register the vehicle in their name. The bill of sale complements these documents by giving both parties a dated, signed record of the agreed price and the condition of the property at the time of sale.

A bill of sale protects everyone involved. For the buyer, it is proof of the purchase price, which matters when the county tax assessor-collector calculates motor vehicle sales tax. For the seller, it documents the date ownership changed hands, which helps limit responsibility for tolls, parking tickets, or accidents involving the vehicle after the sale. Because Texas does not require the document to be notarized, a clear, complete, and signed bill of sale is often the most practical safeguard a private party has.

You should use a Texas bill of sale any time you buy or sell personal property in a private transaction and want a written record of the deal. The most common situation is a private-party vehicle sale, where there is no dealership to handle the paperwork and both sides benefit from documenting the price and terms themselves.

Use a bill of sale when selling or buying a car, truck, motorcycle, boat, trailer, or other titled vehicle between private individuals. In these transactions, the buyer typically needs proof of the purchase price to present at the county tax office, and the seller wants a record showing the date they no longer owned or controlled the vehicle. A bill of sale is also useful for selling general personal property such as furniture, equipment, electronics, livestock, or firearms, where no title document exists and the bill of sale becomes the primary proof of the transaction.

The document is especially valuable when the sale is made "as is," meaning the seller offers no warranties about the condition of the property. Stating the as-is nature of the sale in writing helps prevent later disputes about whether the seller promised a particular level of quality. It is equally useful when the price paid is below the vehicle's Standard Presumptive Value, because the signed bill of sale documents what was actually paid.

Even when Texas law does not strictly require a bill of sale, creating one is a low-effort way to reduce risk. Keeping a signed copy gives both the buyer and the seller a reference point if a question about the sale ever arises.

A complete Texas bill of sale should leave no important detail to memory. The following elements form the backbone of an enforceable, useful document.

Writing a Texas bill of sale is straightforward when you work through it section by section. Start with the date of sale at the top of the document, since this anchors the transaction in time and starts the clock on the buyer's 30-day window to title and register the vehicle.

Next, identify the parties. Enter the seller's full legal name and address, followed by the buyer's full legal name and address. Adding each party's Texas driver's license number is a common practice that helps confirm identity. Take care to spell names exactly as they appear on official identification, because mismatches can cause problems at the county tax office.

Describe the property in detail. For a vehicle, list the year, make, and model; the 17-character VIN; the color; the odometer reading; and the license plate and title numbers if available. The VIN is the single most important identifier, so double-check that it is transcribed correctly. For non-vehicle property, write a clear description that distinguishes the item from any similar one.

State the sale price clearly. Write the agreed amount in dollars, and make sure it matches the figure you will report on Form 130-U, because the county uses this number to calculate sales tax. If the property is sold "as is," include a sentence stating that the seller makes no warranties and the buyer accepts the property in its present condition. Add any additional terms the parties agreed to, and disclose any lien on the vehicle.

Finally, both parties sign and print their names and the date. Witness signatures are optional in Texas. Each party should keep a signed copy for their records, and the buyer should bring their copy when applying for title and registration.

Texas does not have a single statute that mandates a bill of sale for every private sale, but several state requirements shape how the document fits into a vehicle transaction. Understanding these rules helps both parties complete the transfer correctly.

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) requires the buyer to apply for title and registration using Form 130-U at the county tax assessor-collector's office. This must be done within 30 days of the date of sale; missing the deadline can trigger delinquent transfer penalties. The properly signed and assigned Certificate of Title, not the bill of sale, is the document that legally transfers ownership.

Motor vehicle sales tax in Texas is 6.25 percent. For private-party purchases, the Texas Comptroller calculates the tax on the greater of the actual sales price or 80 percent of the vehicle's Standard Presumptive Value (SPV), unless the buyer provides a valid certified appraisal. A signed bill of sale documenting the real purchase price is therefore useful evidence at the tax office.

Notarization is not required for a Texas vehicle bill of sale, the title, or Form 130-U during a standard private-party sale. By contrast, Form 14-317, the Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Gift Transfer used when a vehicle is given as a gift, must be notarized. Witnesses on a bill of sale are optional but recommended.

Vehicle inspection rules changed recently. Under House Bill 3297, effective January 1, 2025, non-commercial vehicles no longer require a safety inspection before registration; instead, owners pay a $7.50 inspection program replacement fee at registration. Emissions testing is still required in certain urban counties, and commercial vehicles still need an annual safety inspection. The seller is also encouraged to file a Vehicle Transfer Notification with the TxDMV within 30 days of the sale to limit liability for the buyer's later conduct.

A bill of sale only protects you if it is accurate and complete. The following errors are among the most common and the most likely to cause problems later.