Utah Bill of Sale — Free Template & Generator
In Utah the bill of sale sets the buyer’s sales tax. The Division of Motor Vehicles says the tax “will be based upon the net purchase price shown on the bill of sale, if it contains the information described” — and without a qualifying bill of sale, the DMV works from “Fair Market Value” instead. Understating the price is expensive: a fraud penalty “may be assessed at 100% of the tax or $500, whichever is greater.” The generator below includes every item the DMV lists.
- Free
- No signup
- Word & PDF
- Utah pre-selected
How it works
- 01 Utah 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 Utah’s paperwork
Word & PDF on your device; the state steps and forms are listed below, each cited to the source.
What Utah actually requires
Utah rules for a private sale
Last verified September 30, 2026- What the bill of sale must list Seven items, in ink
“For the seller, a bill of sale provides proof that title to the vehicle has been legally transferred. For the buyer, the bill of sale documents the purchase price of the vehicle for sales tax purposes.” It should contain the buyer’s name and address; the seller’s name, address and signature; a complete vehicle description including the VIN; a description of any trade-in; the purchase price; any trade-in allowance; and the net purchase price. “The bill of sale can be handwritten or typed/printed, but it should be in ink, not pencil.”
- Sales tax On the net price — or on “Fair Market Value”
A private seller does not collect sales tax; “The purchaser will pay the sales tax at the time the vehicle is titled and registered.” With a signed bill of sale containing the listed items, tax is “based upon the net purchase price shown on the bill of sale.” Without one, “the DMV will calculate the amount of sales or use tax based upon the ‘Fair Market Value’,” based on the depreciated cost new under Utah Code §59-2-102. The owner can dispute it with a certified appraisal or a qualifying bill of sale.
Utah DMV — Responsibilities of Buyer and Seller (Internet Archive copy of 4 Aug 2026)
- Understating the price Fraud penalty: 100% of the tax or $500
“Per Utah Code Ann. §59-12-102 sales tax must be charged according to the listed purchase price. The purchase price you claim on documents you provide when registering your vehicle must state the price you actually paid. Your documents will be reviewed for accuracy by the Tax Commission. Underreporting the purchase price may lead to an audit for the additional tax, penalty, and interest. A fraud penalty may be assessed at 100% of the tax or $500, whichever is greater.”
Utah DMV — Bill of Sale Information (Internet Archive copy of 4 Aug 2026)
- The title Within 48 hours; no notary
“Although Utah law requires a seller to provide a title within 48 hours of the transaction, a common-sense approach is to obtain a title at the time of sale.” If the title reads “John Doe and Jane Doe”, both must sign; with “or”, only one. “No notary is needed to sign off on a title.” A Form TC-891 Odometer Disclosure Statement is signed by owner and buyer, except for vehicles 20 years old or older.
Utah DMV — Responsibilities of Buyer and Seller (Internet Archive copy of 4 Aug 2026)
- Seller’s steps Plates off, papers over, report the sale
“Unless the plates are being sold with the vehicle, please remove your license plate from the vehicle. If you do not, you may be liable for any parking or traffic violations occurring while your plate remains on the car.” Give the new owner the signed title, current registration certificate and emission certificate if applicable, and report the vehicle as sold — online through the Motor Vehicle Portal (MVP), by mail with a TC-502, or by phone at 1-800-DMV-UTAH.
Utah DMV — Responsibilities of Buyer and Seller (Internet Archive copy of 4 Aug 2026)
How this document fits Utah’s paperwork
Official form: TC-843 — Bill of Sale (Utah State Tax Commission / DMV). Optional — the DMV says you can use it “if desired”. Vehicle and VIN, plate number (and whether the plate goes with the vehicle), seller, sale price, date of sale, a required odometer reading, and the seller’s certification; the buyer signs that they are aware of the sales and odometer information. Linked here as the Internet Archive copy of 6 June 2026, because the Tax Commission’s own servers were not reachable from our host.
In Utah the bill of sale is the buyer’s tax document, so fill in every item the DMV lists: both parties, the VIN, any trade-in and the trade-in allowance, the price and the net price. Sign in ink. Write the price you actually paid — the Tax Commission reviews it, and understating it can cost 100% of the tax or $500. The seller hands over the signed title (no notary needed) within 48 hours at the latest, removes the plates unless they are sold with the car, and reports the sale through the Motor Vehicle Portal.
FAQ
Utah bill of sale questions
- Is a bill of sale required in Utah?
- The DMV calls it important rather than mandatory. For the seller it is proof the vehicle was transferred; for the buyer it sets the sales tax. With a signed bill of sale that lists everything the DMV names, tax is based on the net purchase price; without one, the DMV uses “Fair Market Value”, based on the depreciated cost new.
- What must a Utah bill of sale include?
- The buyer’s name and address; the seller’s name, address and signature; a complete vehicle description including the VIN; a description of any trade-in; the purchase price; any trade-in allowance; and the net purchase price. It can be handwritten or typed, but in ink. The DMV’s form TC-843 is optional.
- How much sales tax do I pay on a private car sale in Utah?
- Sales tax on the net purchase price shown on a qualifying bill of sale, paid by the buyer when titling and registering at the DMV. The private seller does not collect it. The DMV’s online fee estimator helps work out the amount.
- Does a Utah title need to be notarized?
- No. The DMV says no notary is needed to sign off on a title. If the owners are joined by “and”, both must sign; if by “or”, one signature is enough.
- How long does a Utah seller have to hand over the title?
- The DMV says Utah law requires the seller to provide the title within 48 hours of the transaction, and recommends getting the title at the time of sale — without a negotiable title the buyer cannot title and register the vehicle.
- 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.