New York Vehicle 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 vehicle 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
Vehicle details
Price and terms
How to sell a vehicle in New York
A car bill of sale records who sold which vehicle to whom, for how much, and on what date. The buyer uses it to register and pay tax; the seller keeps a copy as proof the car changed hands before any tickets or tolls showed 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 vehicle bill of sale above with the buyer. Record the VIN and the exact odometer reading.
- Both parties sign and each keeps a copy. New York does not require a notary.
- Sign the title over to the buyer exactly as your name appears on it, and complete the odometer section on the title if the vehicle has one.
- File a notice of sale or release of liability with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles if New York 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
- Bring the signed bill of sale (or New York's MV-912), the signed title and your ID to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.
- Expect to pay sales or use tax on the price shown on the bill of sale, plus title and registration fees.
- Register within New York's deadline, commonly 10 to 30 days from the sale date, to avoid late penalties.
Before you sign
- Copy the VIN straight off the dashboard plate or door-jamb sticker, not from memory.
- Write the odometer reading at the moment of sale; federal law requires it for most vehicles under 20 model years old.
- Both parties sign, and each keeps a signed copy.
- Sellers: remove the plates if your state keeps plates with the seller, and file a notice of sale or release of liability if your state offers one.
Why a bill of sale matters for a vehicle
- Proves the sale date, so the seller is off the hook for tickets, tolls and accidents after the handoff.
- Shows the DMV or county tax office the price paid, which sets sales tax.
- Backs up the signed title if the title is lost or has no price field.
- Documents an as-is sale so the buyer cannot come back over a repair later.
Selling a vehicle? The $19 sell-your-vehicle kit adds a signed release of liability and a New York checklist to the pack, so the handoff is finished the day you sign.
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 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 General Bill of Sale
- New York Business Bill of Sale
Vehicle Bill of Sale in other states
New York vehicle bill of sale questions
Is a bill of sale required to sell a vehicle 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 vehicle 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.
Where does the buyer take the bill of sale in New York?+
To the New York State Department 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 car bill of sale need to be notarized?+
Most states do not. Louisiana and West Virginia require it, Maryland requires it for vehicles 7 years old or newer sold below book value, and several states ask for it only when the bill of sale stands in for a missing title. The ready-to-sign pack includes a notary page for any state.
Is a bill of sale the same as a title?+
No. The title is the state ownership record and must be signed over separately. The bill of sale is the receipt for the transaction. Most buyers need both to register.
What does "as-is" mean on a bill of sale?+
The buyer accepts the vehicle in its current condition with no warranty from the seller. It protects a private seller from claims over mechanical problems found later.