Maryland Equipment Bill of Sale
Maryland requires a bill of sale in common situations, such as when the title does not show the purchase price. Fill in the form below and download a free, one-page Maryland equipment bill of sale PDF that includes everything the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration looks for, matching the fields on VR-181. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Seller
Buyer
Equipment details
Price and terms
How to sell a equipment in Maryland
An equipment bill of sale records the sale of machinery, tools or heavy equipment: skid steers, excavators, generators, trailers of tools, shop machines. It lists the make, model, serial number, hours and attachments, states the price and the as-is terms, and gives the buyer a receipt for their books and the seller proof the equipment is gone.
Seller steps
- Confirm you hold clear title. If a lender is on the title, get the lien release before you list it.
- Agree on the price and fill in the Maryland equipment bill of sale above with the buyer. Record the Serial no..
- Sign it. Signing in front of a notary is not always required in Maryland, but offices ask for it often enough that it is worth the few dollars.
- Hand over any registration papers, manuals, receipts or health records that go with the equipment.
- Hand over the equipment and keep your signed copy of the bill of sale for your records.
Buyer steps
- Check the Serial no. against the equipment itself before you sign.
- Keep the signed bill of sale with your records; it is your proof of ownership and purchase price.
- If you bought it for a business, give the bill of sale to your bookkeeper for the asset record.
Before you sign
- Copy the serial number from the manufacturer's plate, not from a listing.
- Record hour meter readings on anything with an engine.
- List every attachment, bucket and accessory in the sale.
- If the buyer is a business, use the business name as the buyer.
Why a bill of sale matters for a equipment
- Businesses need a bill of sale to book the asset and claim depreciation.
- Heavy equipment is not titled in most states, so this is the ownership record.
- Serial numbers on the bill of sale help if the equipment is later reported stolen.
- An as-is clause on used machinery protects the seller from repair claims.
Want both parties to walk away with a signed copy and a notary page ready? The $9 ready-to-sign pack adds them.
Maryland at a glance
- Bill of sale
- Required in common cases
- Notary
- Notarization recommended
- Official state form
- VR-181
- Where the buyer registers
- Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (mva.maryland.gov)
- License plates
- Stay with seller
Maryland strongly recommends a bill of sale and requires a notarized VR-181 when the vehicle is 7 years old or newer and the price is used to set excise tax (sold below book value). Buyers submit it with the VR-005 title application and a safety inspection certificate. Plates stay with the seller.
Checked October 2026 against the state's own guidance. Rules change; confirm before you file.
Other Maryland forms
- Maryland Vehicle Bill of Sale
- Maryland Motorcycle Bill of Sale
- Maryland Boat Bill of Sale
- Maryland Trailer Bill of Sale
- Maryland Firearm Bill of Sale
- Maryland Mobile Home Bill of Sale
- Maryland RV Bill of Sale
- Maryland ATV / UTV Bill of Sale
- Maryland Dirt Bike Bill of Sale
- Maryland Golf Cart Bill of Sale
- Maryland Jet Ski Bill of Sale
- Maryland Snowmobile Bill of Sale
- Maryland Scooter / Moped Bill of Sale
- Maryland Tractor Bill of Sale
- Maryland Horse Bill of Sale
- Maryland Dog Bill of Sale
- Maryland Livestock Bill of Sale
- Maryland General Bill of Sale
- Maryland Business Bill of Sale
Equipment Bill of Sale in other states
Maryland equipment bill of sale questions
Is a bill of sale required to sell a equipment in Maryland?+
Maryland requires a bill of sale in common situations, such as when the title does not show the purchase price. Maryland strongly recommends a bill of sale and requires a notarized VR-181 when the vehicle is 7 years old or newer and the price is used to set excise tax (sold below book value). Buyers submit it with the VR-005 title application and a safety inspection certificate. Plates stay with the seller. Maryland publishes VR-181 for this; the PDF from this page carries the same information and is accepted alongside it.
Does a Maryland equipment bill of sale need to be notarized?+
Notarization is not always required in Maryland, but offices often ask for it, so it is worth doing. The ready-to-sign pack includes a notary acknowledgment page formatted for Maryland.
Does the buyer need to file a equipment bill of sale in Maryland?+
No. Equipment are not titled or registered with the state, so there is nothing to file. The signed bill of sale is the ownership record; each party keeps a copy.
Is heavy equipment titled?+
Generally no. Construction and farm equipment is sold on a bill of sale, sometimes with the manufacturer's statement of origin. A few states title road-going equipment like truck tractors.
Do I need a UCC search before buying equipment?+
For anything expensive from a business seller, yes. A lender may hold a lien on the equipment. The bill of sale includes the seller's statement that it is free of liens, but a UCC search confirms it.