About an Auto Bill of Sales
A car owner who decides to sell his car in a private arrangement needs to think of all the details involved in selling his car to a friend or another person without going through a used car dealership. He can run into many legal issues that will only complicate what he wanted to be a simple process.
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Necessity
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A private car owner who is thinking of selling his vehicle can sell it without a bill of sale; however, if questions about the sales process come up at a later date, he may wish he had gone through the time and trouble to draw one up so the details of his sale were documented in clear and convincing writing. He can easily find templates or have one created that will meet requirements in his state.
Documentation
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Bills of sale for vehicles protect both the seller and the buyer; they include such questions as the odometer reading at the time of the sale, year, make and model of the vehicle, the vehicle's registration number or license plate number, the names of the seller and buyer, as well as their addresses. The buyer will take the bill of sale to the Motor Vehicle Division office in his city and state to register the vehicle in his name; the bill of sale is also necessary for titling purposes.
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Creating a Template
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If the vehicle seller does not already have a bill of sale ready, he can easily find a template online or visit an attorney who can create a bill of sale that will include all the necessary information, such as the vehicle identification number (VIN). The seller needs to make sure his attorney has included all the elements his state will require; this will save him time, trouble and, potentially, time in court.
Seller's Responsibilities
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The vehicle seller should, ideally, take his car to a mechanic to find and repair any issues; he is protecting himself once the car has been sold. He should have it professionally washed and detailed and repair parking lot dings. One of the most important details he needs to verify is whether his car is free of liens so he is legally able to sell his car.
Protections
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The bill of sale protects the seller in the event his buyer tries to come back, saying he is unhappy with the condition of the car, or if he wants to have the price of the car reduced. The seller also protects himself when he provides a bill of sale when he sells his car privately; if, for instance, his buyer doesn't visit the Motor Vehicle Division office and he gets into an accident, the seller can produce solid proof in court that he sold the car and the buyer should have had the registration and title transferred into his name; however, the seller may still be responsible for insurance costs, and repair and medical bills.
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