California Bill of Sale — Free Template & Generator
California’s DMV says a bill of sale is not required to be notarized or witnessed, that any bill of sale identifying the vehicle is acceptable, and that buyers have 10 days to transfer ownership while sellers have 5 days to report the sale. Generate one with California pre-selected, then follow the steps below, each cited to the DMV.
- Free
- No signup
- Word & PDF
- California pre-selected
How it works
- 01 California 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 California’s paperwork
Word & PDF on your device; the state steps and forms are listed below, each cited to the source.
What California actually requires
California rules for a private sale
Last verified September 4, 2026- Notarization Not required — nor witnesses
A bill of sale must accurately establish the chain of ownership and is not required to be notarized or witnessed.
CA DMV Registration Procedures Manual §1.020 Bill of Sale (VC §1652)
- Which form REG 135 — or any bill of sale that identifies the vehicle
The DMV’s Bill of Sale (REG 135) is available on its website only, but any bill of sale that identifies the vehicle/vessel is acceptable. It is accepted in lieu of the registered owner’s release signature on the title (the DMV prints “B/S” on that line) and in lieu of an in-between buyer’s signature on multiple transfers.
- Deadlines Buyer 10 days · Seller 5 days
Buyers have 10 days after purchasing the vehicle to transfer ownership from the seller to themselves, and sellers have 5 days after the sale to report the transfer of ownership to DMV.
CA DMV — How to Register Vehicles Purchased in Private Sales
- When a bill of sale is required Seller is not the owner on the title
If the seller is not the owner whose name is on the title, you will need a bill of sale signed by both the seller and the person whose name appears on the title. The buyer also needs the title signed by the seller on line 1, a smog certification, and the applicable fees and use tax.
CA DMV — How to Register Vehicles Purchased in Private Sales
- Odometer Required if the vehicle is under 10 years old
The buyer needs a record of the odometer mileage if the vehicle is less than 10 years old. If the title has no line for it, both parties sign the Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment form (REG 262), which is printed on security paper for federal odometer compliance and is not available online.
CA DMV — How to Register Vehicles Purchased in Private Sales
- What REG 135 asks for ID number, year, make, plate or CF number, price or gift value
The DMV form records the identification number, year, model, make and license plate or CF number, the seller’s and buyer’s printed names and mailing addresses, the selling price and date — or the gift value and the relationship — and the seller signs under penalty of perjury with a driver license or ID number.
How this document fits California’s paperwork
Official form: REG 135 — Bill of Sale. A one-page vehicle/vessel form available only on the DMV website. The DMV accepts any bill of sale that identifies the vehicle or vessel, so a fuller document like the one generated here works too.
REG 135 is a receipt-sized form; this generated bill of sale records the same identifiers plus the seller’s title warranty, the as-is terms and the payment method, and the DMV accepts any bill of sale that identifies the vehicle. Sign it, keep a copy each, then the buyer transfers ownership within 10 days — with the signed title, a smog certificate where required, and the odometer record for vehicles under 10 years old — and the seller reports the transfer to DMV within 5 days.
FAQ
California bill of sale questions
- Does a California bill of sale need to be notarized?
- No. The DMV’s registration manual states a bill of sale is not required to be notarized or witnessed; what it must do is accurately establish the chain of ownership.
- Do I have to use the DMV’s REG 135 form?
- No. REG 135 is the DMV’s own bill of sale, but the manual says any bill of sale that identifies the vehicle or vessel is acceptable — and it can even substitute for the registered owner’s release signature on the title, where the DMV prints “B/S” on that line.
- What are the deadlines after a private sale in California?
- The buyer has 10 days to transfer ownership; the seller has 5 days to report the transfer to DMV. The buyer also needs the title signed on line 1 by the seller, a smog certification, the odometer record for vehicles under 10 years old, and the fees and use tax.
- When is a bill of sale mandatory in California?
- When the person selling is not the owner named on the title — then the DMV requires a bill of sale signed by both the seller and the titled owner. It is also the document that carries the price the use tax is assessed on.
- Where does the odometer reading go?
- On the title if it has a mileage line; otherwise on the REG 262 Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment form, signed by both, which is printed on security paper for federal odometer compliance and cannot be downloaded. The odometer clause in this bill of sale is in addition to that, not a substitute.
- 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.