New York General Bill of Sale
New York 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 New York item bill of sale PDF that includes everything the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles looks for, matching the fields on MV-912. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Seller
Buyer
Item details
Price and terms
How to sell a item in New York
A general bill of sale works for anything that is personal property and does not have its own form: furniture, electronics, appliances, tools, bicycles, musical instruments, collectibles. It records the description, serial number if any, price, date and as-is terms so both parties have a receipt that holds up.
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 New York item bill of sale above with the buyer. Record the Serial no..
- Both parties sign and each keeps a copy. New York does not require a notary.
- Hand over any registration papers, manuals, receipts or health records that go with the item.
- Hand over the item and keep your signed copy of the bill of sale for your records.
Buyer steps
- Check the Serial no. against the item 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
- Describe the item the way an insurer would: brand, model, size, color, serial.
- Note any defects in the terms field.
- For multiple items, list them in the description or attach a sheet.
- Both parties sign and keep a copy.
Why a bill of sale matters for a item
- A written receipt for anything worth arguing about.
- Records the serial number for electronics and bikes, which helps if they are stolen.
- An as-is clause ends disputes over condition.
- Businesses need it to book an asset or expense.
Want both parties to walk away with a signed copy and a notary page ready? The $9 ready-to-sign pack adds them.
New York at a glance
- Bill of sale
- Required in common cases
- Notary
- Notarization optional
- Official state form
- MV-912
- Where the buyer registers
- New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (dmv.ny.gov)
- License plates
- Stay with seller
New York's MV-912 is the standard proof of ownership transfer for a private sale and the buyer must sign it, even for a gift; other acceptable proofs exist. The new owner gives the original to the DMV when registering and pays sales tax or claims an exemption. Plates stay with the seller.
Checked October 2026 against the state's own guidance. Rules change; confirm before you file.
Other New York forms
- New York Vehicle Bill of Sale
- New York Motorcycle Bill of Sale
- New York Boat Bill of Sale
- New York Trailer Bill of Sale
- New York Firearm Bill of Sale
- New York Mobile Home Bill of Sale
- New York RV Bill of Sale
- New York ATV / UTV Bill of Sale
- New York Dirt Bike Bill of Sale
- New York Golf Cart Bill of Sale
- New York Jet Ski Bill of Sale
- New York Snowmobile Bill of Sale
- New York Scooter / Moped Bill of Sale
- New York Equipment Bill of Sale
- New York Tractor Bill of Sale
- New York Horse Bill of Sale
- New York Dog Bill of Sale
- New York Livestock Bill of Sale
- New York Business Bill of Sale
General Bill of Sale in other states
New York item bill of sale questions
Is a bill of sale required to sell a item in New York?+
New York requires a bill of sale in common situations, such as when the title does not show the purchase price. New York's MV-912 is the standard proof of ownership transfer for a private sale and the buyer must sign it, even for a gift; other acceptable proofs exist. The new owner gives the original to the DMV when registering and pays sales tax or claims an exemption. Plates stay with the seller. New York publishes MV-912 for this; the PDF from this page carries the same information and is accepted alongside it.
Does a New York item bill of sale need to be notarized?+
New York does not require notarization. Two signatures are enough. If you want extra certainty, the ready-to-sign pack includes a notary acknowledgment page you can use anyway.
Does the buyer need to file a item bill of sale in New York?+
No. Items 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.
When do I need a general bill of sale?+
Any time you sell something valuable enough that you would want proof of the sale: furniture over a few hundred dollars, electronics, tools, collectibles. For vehicles, boats, trailers and the other categories here, use the specific form so nothing is missed.
Is a general bill of sale legally binding?+
Yes. Once signed by both parties it is a contract documenting the sale and its terms.