Alabama Bill of Sale — Free Template & Generator
Alabama is one of the few states that spells out in a regulation what a bill of sale must contain — names, physical addresses, date, full vehicle description, price and signatures — and requires buyers of vehicles that are not titled to keep a copy in the vehicle for the first 20 days. Generate one that meets rule 810-5-1-.246, with Alabama pre-selected.
- Free
- No signup
- Word & PDF
- Alabama pre-selected
How it works
- 01 Alabama is already selected
The governing-law clause names the state; change it only if the sale happens elsewhere.
- 02 Enter the item and the parties
Vehicle, boat or general item — VIN and odometer, or HIN — plus price, payment method, seller and buyer.
- 03 Review clause by clause
The as-is terms, the seller’s title warranty and, for vehicles, the federal odometer statement.
- 04 Download, then file Alabama’s paperwork
Word & PDF on your device; the state steps and forms are listed below, each cited to the source.
What Alabama actually requires
Alabama rules for a private sale
Last verified September 4, 2026- The 20-day rule Keep the bill of sale in an untitled vehicle
Section 40-12-260 provides that within the first 20 calendar days after a self-propelled vehicle is purchased or acquired, and before it is registered, the registrant must keep a legible copy of the bill of sale in the vehicle if the vehicle is not subject to the Alabama Uniform Certificate of Title and Antitheft Act.
- Minimum contents Names, addresses, date, full description, price, signatures
For license plate issuing officials and law enforcement to treat it as valid, a bill of sale (or an invoice used in its place) must contain the purchaser’s name and complete physical address; the date of sale; a complete vehicle description — VIN, make, year, model or series, body type; the seller’s name (including any DBA) and complete address; the purchase price; and the signatures of seller and purchaser or their authorized representatives.
- Dealer bills of sale Printed $15 penalty notice + tax detail
A licensed retail dealer’s bill of sale must also carry, in bold, “Penalty of fifteen dollars ($15) due if vehicle is not registered in the name of the new owner within 20 calendar days”, the price on which sales tax was paid with the amount and rate collected, and the dealer’s license number.
- Notarization Not required for the title assignment
The state of Alabama does not require the assignment of an MSO or title to be notarized.
- Odometer Certified on the title — must match exactly
On transfers with a certificate of title the mileage must be certified, and the mileage on the title application must agree exactly with the mileage listed in the title assignment.
- Title application Assigned title + supporting documents
An applicant for an Alabama certificate of title surrenders the outstanding manufacturer’s certificate of origin or title assigned to them, together with any documents that support the transfer; a vehicle from a jurisdiction that does not title it is supported by its registration documents. Owner names on the application must match the assignment exactly, including suffixes.
How this document fits Alabama’s paperwork
Official form: The Department of Revenue regulates what a bill of sale must contain (rule 810-5-1-.246) rather than publishing a general form for private sales; its form MVT 32-13B is the bill of sale used for vehicles sold under the Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act.
The generated bill of sale carries every item rule 810-5-1-.246 lists — purchaser and seller names and addresses, the date, the VIN with year, make, model and body type in the description, the price and both signatures — plus the seller’s title warranty and the as-is terms. For a titled vehicle it is the document that supports the title assignment; for a vehicle outside the title act it is the document the buyer keeps in the vehicle for the first 20 days.
FAQ
Alabama bill of sale questions
- Is a bill of sale required in Alabama?
- For a self-propelled vehicle that is not subject to the state’s title act, yes: the buyer must keep a legible copy in the vehicle for the first 20 calendar days after buying it and before registering it. For titled vehicles the assigned title transfers ownership and the bill of sale is a supporting document — and the rule still defines what a valid one must contain.
- What must an Alabama bill of sale contain?
- Rule 810-5-1-.246 lists it: the purchaser’s name and complete physical address, the date of sale, a complete vehicle description (VIN, make, year, model or series, body type), the seller’s name and complete address, the purchase price, and the signatures of seller and purchaser. Dealer sales add the printed $15 penalty notice, the tax collected and the dealer license number.
- Does the title assignment need to be notarized in Alabama?
- No. The Department of Revenue states that Alabama does not require the assignment of an MSO or title to be notarized.
- How careful do I need to be with the odometer reading?
- Exact. On a titled vehicle the mileage is certified in the assignment, and the title application must show exactly the same figure — a mismatch is grounds for rejection.
- Is this legal advice?
- No. Free Contract Generator provides self-help templates and general information, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. Vehicle-transfer rules are set by each state and change; confirm the current rule with the agency cited and consult a licensed attorney for advice about your situation.