Wisconsin General Bill of Sale
Wisconsin does not require a bill of sale, but the Wisconsin Department of Transportation recommends one. Fill in the form below and download a free, one-page Wisconsin item bill of sale PDF that includes everything the Wisconsin Department of Transportation looks for, matching the fields on MV2928 (instructions with sample bill of sale). Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Seller
Buyer
Item details
Price and terms
How to sell a item in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin item bill of sale above with the buyer. Record the Serial no..
- Both parties sign and each keeps a copy. Wisconsin 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.
Wisconsin at a glance
- Bill of sale
- Not required, strongly recommended
- Notary
- Notarization optional
- Official state form
- MV2928 (instructions with sample bill of sale)
- Where the buyer registers
- Wisconsin Department of Transportation (wisconsindot.gov)
- License plates
- Stay with seller
Wisconsin writes the selling price on the title and the Department of Revenue investigates suspiciously low prices; the DMV's MV2928 includes a bill of sale for convenience but says it is not a required form. Sellers complete the online seller notification after a private sale. Plates stay with the seller.
Checked October 2026 against the state's own guidance. Rules change; confirm before you file.
Other Wisconsin forms
- Wisconsin Vehicle Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Motorcycle Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Boat Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Trailer Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Firearm Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Mobile Home Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin RV Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin ATV / UTV Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Dirt Bike Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Golf Cart Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Jet Ski Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Snowmobile Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Scooter / Moped Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Equipment Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Tractor Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Horse Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Dog Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Livestock Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Business Bill of Sale
General Bill of Sale in other states
Wisconsin item bill of sale questions
Is a bill of sale required to sell a item in Wisconsin?+
Wisconsin does not require a bill of sale, but the Wisconsin Department of Transportation recommends one. Wisconsin writes the selling price on the title and the Department of Revenue investigates suspiciously low prices; the DMV's MV2928 includes a bill of sale for convenience but says it is not a required form. Sellers complete the online seller notification after a private sale. Plates stay with the seller. Wisconsin publishes MV2928 (instructions with sample bill of sale) for this; the PDF from this page carries the same information and is accepted alongside it.
Does a Wisconsin item bill of sale need to be notarized?+
Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?+
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.