A Pennsylvania vehicle bill of sale is a document that records the transfer of ownership of a motor vehicle from one party to another. This document serves as proof of the transaction when interacting with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
For sellers, it provides a clear record of the sale, which is useful for tax purposes and liability protection. For buyers, it demonstrates proof of ownership. This can help speed up registering the vehicle with the Pennsylvania DMV office, and for the title transfer process.
There are different types of Pennsylvania vehicle bills of sale, depending on the nature of the vehicle transaction. Some common types include:
Used for transactions between private individuals for personal property, including watercraft.
Used when purchasing a vehicle from a licensed dealer. After the transaction, the new owner may have to report the odometer reading and register their vehicle with the Pennsylvania DMV.
This states that the motor vehicle is sold without any warranty, and the buyer assumes all responsibility for the vehicle's condition after the sale.
There’s no legal requirement to create a vehicle bill of sale in the state of Pennsylvania—it plays no role in the vehicle registration or titling processes. However, we recommend creating one to officially record the transfer of ownership.
While you can create your own bill of sale, we recommend you use a fillable bill of sale template. This will ensure you include all the necessary details for a valid document.
No, a bill of sale and a title transfer are separate legal documents. The bill of sale documents the transaction, while the vehicle title transfer is the legal process of transferring the certificate of title from the seller to the buyer. Both are necessary when selling or buying a vehicle.
A Pennsylvania motor vehicle bill of sale should include key details related to the transaction, such as the following information:
No. In Pennsylvania, there’s no legal requirement for notarization by a notary public when creating a vehicle bill of sale.
Yes, you can use a bill of sale form for various types of vehicles, including boats (using a boat bill of sale), motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles.
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