New York Bill of Sale — Free Template & Generator
New York is one of the states where a bill of sale is part of every private sale: the DMV says the seller must sign the transfer section of the title and a Vehicle Bill of Sale (MV-912) — even for a gift — and the buyer must sign it too. Generate one that contains everything the DMV lists, with New York pre-selected.
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- New York pre-selected
How it works
- 01 New York 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 New York’s paperwork
Word & PDF on your device; the state steps and forms are listed below, each cited to the source.
What New York actually requires
New York rules for a private sale
Last verified September 4, 2026- Required in a private sale Yes — both sign, even for a gift
The seller must complete and sign the transfer-ownership section of the title certificate and sign a Vehicle Bill of Sale (MV-912), even if it is a gift; the buyer must sign the bill of sale too.
- What it must contain Year/make, VIN or HIN, date, price, names & signatures
An acceptable bill of sale includes the year and make of the vehicle, boat, snowmobile or ATV; the vehicle identification number or the hull identification number; the date of the sale; the purchase price; and the names and signatures of the buyer and the seller.
- Who keeps what Original to the DMV, copies for both
The buyer and seller can make photocopies of the bill of sale for their records; the new owner must give the original bill of sale to the DMV along with the other required proofs of ownership when they title and register the vehicle.
- Gifts and below-market sales Write $0 and file DTF-802
If the vehicle is a gift, indicate it on the bill of sale with a purchase price of $0 and on the Statement of Transaction (sales tax form DTF-802). The seller or donor must also complete Section 6 of DTF-802 if the vehicle is a gift or sold below fair market value to anyone other than a spouse, parent, child, stepparent or stepchild.
- Proof of ownership The title’s transfer section, signed by both
Proof of sale and proof of ownership are two different things: the bill of sale documents who sold and bought the vehicle, when and for how much, while ownership passes through the transfer section on the back of the title, completed by both buyer and seller.
- Notarization Not among the DMV’s requirements
The DMV’s list of what an acceptable bill of sale must include ends with the names and signatures of the buyer and the seller; it does not mention a notary.
How this document fits New York’s paperwork
Official form: MV-912 — Vehicle Bill of Sale. Use it or any bill of sale that includes the year and make, the VIN or HIN, the date, the price, and the names and signatures of buyer and seller; the buyer gives the original to the DMV when titling and registering.
The DMV accepts any bill of sale that contains the five items above, so the generated document qualifies — and it adds the seller’s title warranty, the as-is terms and the payment method, which MV-912 does not cover. Both sign, the buyer keeps the original for the DMV, and if the vehicle is a gift the price reads $0 and DTF-802 goes with it.
FAQ
New York bill of sale questions
- Is a bill of sale required in New York?
- Yes for a private sale. The DMV says the seller must sign the title’s transfer section and a bill of sale (MV-912), even if the vehicle is a gift, and the buyer must sign it as well. The buyer then gives the original to the DMV with the title when registering.
- Do I have to use form MV-912?
- No — the DMV describes MV-912 as a form you can use. What matters is the content: year and make, VIN or hull number, date of sale, purchase price, and the names and signatures of buyer and seller. The generated document includes all five plus the as-is and title-warranty terms.
- How do I handle a gift or a family transfer?
- Write $0 as the purchase price on the bill of sale and indicate it is a gift on the Statement of Transaction (DTF-802). If the recipient is not a spouse, parent, child, stepparent or stepchild, the donor must also complete Section 6 of DTF-802 — the same applies to a sale below fair market value.
- Does the bill of sale prove I own the vehicle?
- No. In New York the bill of sale is proof of sale; proof of ownership is the title certificate (or a transferable registration for 1972 and older vehicles) signed over to you. You need both to title and register.
- Does a New York bill of sale need to be notarized?
- The DMV’s requirements for an acceptable bill of sale list the buyer’s and seller’s signatures and nothing about a notary. Notarizing is optional.
- 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.