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Louisiana Trailer Bill of Sale

Louisiana requires a bill of sale for private sales. Fill in the form below and download a free, one-page Louisiana trailer bill of sale PDF that includes everything the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles looks for. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

Louisiana
Trailer Bill of Sale

Seller

Buyer

Trailer details

Price and terms

How to sell a trailer in Louisiana

A trailer bill of sale names the trailer by year, make, type and VIN, and records the price and date. Utility and cargo trailers are often homemade or came with no title, so the bill of sale is frequently the only paper trail the DMV will see.

Seller steps

  1. Confirm you hold clear title. If a lender is on the title, get the lien release before you list it.
  2. Agree on the price and fill in the Louisiana trailer bill of sale above with the buyer. Record the VIN.
  3. Sign it in front of a notary. Louisiana requires the notarized bill of sale for this kind of sale.
  4. Sign the title over to the buyer exactly as your name appears on it, and complete the odometer section on the title if the trailer has one.
  5. File a notice of sale or release of liability with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles if Louisiana offers one, remove your plates if the state keeps plates with the seller, and cancel the insurance once the buyer has driven away.

Buyer steps

  1. Bring the signed bill of sale, the signed title and your ID to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles.
  2. Expect to pay sales or use tax on the price shown on the bill of sale, plus title and registration fees.
  3. Register within Louisiana's deadline, commonly 10 to 30 days from the sale date, to avoid late penalties.

Before you sign

  • The VIN plate is usually on the tongue or the front frame rail.
  • Homemade trailers need a state-assigned VIN before registration; the bill of sale still helps prove ownership of the materials.
  • List the GVWR; it decides whether the trailer needs a title in many states.
  • Mention included equipment: ramps, spare tire, tie-downs.

Why a bill of sale matters for a trailer

  • Many trailers under a certain weight are not titled, so the bill of sale is the ownership record.
  • Needed to register the trailer and get a plate.
  • Shows the price for sales tax.
  • Protects the seller once the trailer leaves the driveway.

Selling a trailer? The $19 sell-your-vehicle kit adds a signed release of liability and a Louisiana checklist to the pack, so the handoff is finished the day you sign.

Louisiana at a glance

Bill of sale
Required for private sales
Notary
Notarization required
Official state form
None published; any signed bill of sale is accepted
Where the buyer registers
Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (www.expresslane.org)
License plates
Stay with seller

Louisiana's Office of Motor Vehicles expects the title to be signed and notarized and a separate bill of sale (or act of donation for a gift) that is also notarized. Both parties usually sign in front of the notary at the same time. Boats use the Wildlife and Fisheries notarized bill of sale.

Checked October 2026 against the state's own guidance. Rules change; confirm before you file.

Other Louisiana forms

Trailer Bill of Sale in other states

All states →

Louisiana trailer bill of sale questions

Is a bill of sale required to sell a trailer in Louisiana?+

Louisiana requires a bill of sale for private sales. Louisiana's Office of Motor Vehicles expects the title to be signed and notarized and a separate bill of sale (or act of donation for a gift) that is also notarized. Both parties usually sign in front of the notary at the same time. Boats use the Wildlife and Fisheries notarized bill of sale. Louisiana has no mandatory form, so any complete, signed bill of sale like the one generated here is accepted.

Does a Louisiana trailer bill of sale need to be notarized?+

Louisiana requires the bill of sale to be notarized in most private vehicle sales. The ready-to-sign pack includes a notary acknowledgment page formatted for Louisiana.

Where does the buyer take the bill of sale in Louisiana?+

To the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles or the county office that handles vehicle registration, together with the signed title, proof of insurance where required, and payment for tax and fees.

Does a trailer need a title?+

It depends on the state and the trailer weight. Lighter trailers often need only registration. Either way the DMV will accept a signed bill of sale as proof of purchase.

What if the trailer has no VIN?+

Describe it carefully (make, size, axles, color) and the state will assign a VIN during inspection. The bill of sale should still be signed by both parties.