Texas Bill of Sale — Free Template & Generator
Texas transfers a vehicle with the signed title and Form 130-U — but the county tax office also tells buyers to keep a written record of the seller, the date and the VIN, which is exactly what a bill of sale is. Generate one with Texas pre-selected, then follow the steps below, each cited to the official source.
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How it works
- 01 Texas 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 Texas’s paperwork
Word & PDF on your device; the state steps and forms are listed below, each cited to the source.
What Texas actually requires
Texas rules for a private sale
Last verified September 4, 2026- Transfer documents Signed title + Form 130-U
Buying from an individual, the county tax office tells you to get the title signed over plus the signed vehicle title application, Form 130-U, and any release of lien or power of attorney — and to keep a written record with the seller’s name and address, the date of sale and the vehicle information, including the VIN.
Travis County Tax Office — Vehicle title transfer, buying a vehicle
- Buyer’s deadline 30 days
Failure to title a vehicle within 30 days from the date of sale may result in delinquent transfer penalties. The sales and use tax is also due to the county tax assessor-collector within 30 days of the purchase.
Travis County Tax Office — buying a vehicle; Form 130-U notice
- Seller’s protection Vehicle Transfer Notification within 30 days
File a Vehicle Transfer Notification (TxDMV form VTR-346) within 30 days of the sale date to remove your liability for anything the purchaser does with the vehicle — parking tickets and toll violations included. Sign the back of the title and record the odometer reading; the tax office recommends buyer and seller come in together.
Travis County Tax Office — Vehicle title transfer, selling a vehicle
- Odometer On the title and on Form 130-U
The seller records the odometer reading on the back of the title; Form 130-U repeats it (box 9, no tenths) with a certification that it is the actual mileage unless marked otherwise.
- Motor vehicle sales tax 6.25% of price — or of 80% of SPV
A 6.25 percent motor vehicle sales and use tax is imposed on the sales price less any trade-in allowance. For private-party sales of most used vehicles, the tax is computed on the greater of the sales price or 80 percent of the vehicle’s Standard Presumptive Value on the day of the title application.
- Notarization Not part of Form 130-U
Form 130-U is signed by the seller and by the buyer under a certification that falsifying information is a third-degree felony; it has no notary block, and the county tax office does not list a notarized bill of sale among the documents for a private sale.
How this document fits Texas’s paperwork
Official form: Texas has no bill-of-sale form among the documents the county tax office lists for a private sale: the transfer documents are the title, signed over by the seller, and Form 130-U, Application for Texas Title and/or Registration. A bill of sale is the supporting record the tax office tells buyers to keep.
Use the generated bill of sale as the written record both sides keep: it names the seller and buyer with addresses, the date, the VIN and odometer reading, the price and how it was paid, and it carries the seller’s title warranty and the as-is terms that Form 130-U does not. Then the buyer takes the signed title, Form 130-U and this document to the county tax office within 30 days, and the seller files the Vehicle Transfer Notification.
FAQ
Texas bill of sale questions
- Is a bill of sale required to sell a car in Texas?
- Not as a stand-alone form. The documents the county tax office lists for a private sale are the title, signed over by the seller with the odometer reading, and Form 130-U signed by both. The same office tells buyers to keep a written record with the seller’s name and address, the date of sale and the VIN — a bill of sale is that record, and it is also the proof of the price the 6.25% tax is calculated on.
- How long does the buyer have to transfer the title in Texas?
- 30 days from the date of sale. Missing it can trigger delinquent transfer penalties, and the motor vehicle sales tax is due to the county tax assessor-collector within the same 30 days.
- What does the seller have to do after the sale?
- Sign the back of the title, record the odometer reading, hand over a signed Form 130-U, and file a Vehicle Transfer Notification with TxDMV within 30 days of the sale. The notification removes your liability for anything the buyer does with the vehicle afterwards. The tax office recommends that buyer and seller come in together.
- How is sales tax figured on a private sale in Texas?
- 6.25% of the sales price less any trade-in — with one catch for private-party sales of most used vehicles: the tax is computed on the greater of the price you paid or 80% of the vehicle’s Standard Presumptive Value on the day you apply for title, so a very low stated price does not lower the tax.
- Does a Texas bill of sale need to be notarized?
- Form 130-U carries the seller’s and buyer’s signatures with a felony warning for false statements, but no notary block, and the county tax office does not ask for a notarized bill of sale. Notarizing a high-value sale is still a reasonable precaution — it is simply not a Texas requirement in the documents cited here.
- 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.