A California bill of sale records that a seller sold a vehicle, boat or other item to a buyer for a stated price on a stated date. The DMV's own form is REG 135. The DMV also accepts any other bill of sale that names the vehicle or vessel and shows who sold it to whom.
Is a bill of sale required in California?
California has an official form, the Bill of Sale (REG 135). No. The DMV's registration manual says a bill of sale does not need to be notarized or witnessed.
| California at a glance | |
|---|
| Agency | California DMV |
| State bill of sale form | Bill of Sale (REG 135) |
| Notary | Not required |
| Seller | File a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (NRL) within 5 days of the sale. |
| Buyer | Report the change of owner to the DMV within 10 days and transfer the title. |
How to transfer a vehicle in California
- The seller signs the California title over to the buyer. If the title is lost, the seller first fills in an Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title (REG 227).
- Seller and buyer fill in and sign a bill of sale. Use REG 135 or any bill of sale that names the vehicle.
- The seller files the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability within 5 days, online or on paper.
- Within 10 days, the buyer takes the signed title, the fee and any other papers to the DMV.
Keep a copy of everything you sign. A bill of sale can also stand in for the owner's signature on the title in some cases, so the DMV may ask for one when a signature is missing.
What goes on a California bill of sale
The DMV's REG 135 asks for these details. This form asks for all of them, plus the odometer reading and the payment method.
- Vehicle or vessel ID number (VIN or hull ID), year, make and license plate or CF number
- Motorcycle engine number, for a motorcycle
- Seller and buyer names and the date of sale
- Price, or the relationship and value if it was a gift
- Seller signature, date and driver license or ID number, signed under penalty of perjury
- Seller and buyer mailing addresses
REG 135 PDF or this form?
Both work. REG 135 is a short PDF from the DMV that you print and fill in by hand. This form fills in as you type, writes the price in words, adds the odometer and an "as is" clause, and gives you a PDF or Word file. A handwritten bill of sale is also fine in California if it has the same details.
Selling a boat in California
The California DMV also titles and registers vessels. To transfer a boat, the buyer brings the Certificate of Ownership, a bill of sale, the fees and the use tax. Choose "Boat or vessel" in the form and enter the hull ID and the CF number from the registration.
This page helps you fill in and keep a record of the sale. It is not legal advice. Check the current rules on the DMV website before you sell.
How to fill in this California bill of sale
The form above opens with California already chosen. Enter the seller and buyer, the county, what is being sold, the year, make, model and VIN (or hull ID for a boat), the odometer reading and the price. The price is written out in words, and the text is written for you as you type. Choose "Yes" under notary acknowledgment to add a notary block, then print two copies and sign them. Download a PDF or an editable Word file, or print.
Rules, fees and forms change. Check the current requirements on the California DMV website before you sell. For other states, see bill of sale by state or the general bill of sale template.