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What to include
- Buyer and seller names and contact details
- Vehicle year, make, model, color, and VIN
- Odometer reading at the time of sale
- Sale price and date, and how it was paid
- Whether the car is sold as is
Tips
- Complete the title transfer and any bill of sale your state requires. A receipt alone is not enough.
- Both parties should keep a signed copy.
- Double-check the VIN against the title and the car itself.
What to write on a car sale receipt
A car sale receipt should identify the vehicle without any doubt. Fill in the year, make, model, and the full 17 character VIN, then the odometer reading at the time of sale. Add the sale price, the date, and how the buyer paid. Both names and contact details belong on it, and both people should sign.
Use the VIN from the title and compare it with the plate on the car itself, usually on the dashboard near the windshield or on the driver door frame. A single wrong character can cause trouble at the motor vehicles office.
Say clearly if the car is sold as is
Most private sales are made without a warranty. If that is your deal, write that the vehicle is sold as is, with no warranty, expressed or implied. Putting it on paper protects the seller and avoids a later argument about what was promised.
If you have promised something specific, such as a repair you will make or a key you will hand over later, write that too. Anything agreed out loud is easier to prove when it is written down.
A receipt is not the title transfer
The title is what legally moves ownership, and many states have their own forms, deadlines, and fees. Some require a bill of sale, a notarized signature, or an odometer disclosure on the title. A receipt is a useful record on top of all that, not a replacement for it.
After the sale, sellers often file a notice of sale or release of liability with the state so that tickets, tolls, or accidents after the sale are not tied to them. Check your motor vehicles department for the exact steps.
Safer ways to take payment
- Meet at the buyer's bank and watch a cashier's check being issued, or complete the transfer there.
- For cash, count it in a safe public place and consider a counterfeit pen for larger bills.
- Do not hand over the title until the payment has cleared or is in your hand.
- Take photos of the car and the odometer on the day of the sale, and keep a signed copy of the receipt.
Questions
Is a receipt the same as a bill of sale?
Not always. A bill of sale is a more formal document, and some states require one or a specific form. Check your motor vehicles department.
Should I write 'as is'?
If you are selling without a warranty, say so clearly in the notes. Both sides should be able to see it.
More receipt templates
Related guides
This template is general information. Requirements for receipts vary by place and industry, so check local rules or ask an accountant.