Does the DMV supply a bill of sale?
It depends on the state. Several motor vehicle agencies publish an official form and prefer or require it. California has REG 135. Florida uses HSMV 82050, which doubles as the notice of sale that releases the seller from liability. Others publish nothing at all: Texas, for instance, handles the transfer through the signed title and Form 130-U, and does not require a bill of sale, though TxDMV still recommends keeping written records of the sale.
Where your state publishes an official form, use it. Where it does not, a complete bill of sale like the one here does the same job.
When the DMV actually requires one
The common triggers are the same across states: the seller is not the person named on the title, the title has been lost, the vehicle is old enough that it is no longer titled, or the price has to be evidenced for sales tax. Gift transfers often need paperwork too, since the tax treatment differs.
Even when nothing requires it, the bill of sale is what proves when the vehicle stopped being yours. That is the part sellers regret skipping.
What the DMV cares about on the form
The VIN, copied from the car rather than old paperwork. The odometer reading, with the federal disclosure wording. The full names and addresses of both parties. The price and the date. Signatures from both sides. Our vehicle template covers all of it, and adds an as-is clause and a lien certification that state forms often leave out.
Do not stop at the bill of sale
Two things matter more than the receipt. The signed title is what actually transfers ownership. And the seller's release of liability — filed with the DMV, usually within days — is what stops tickets, tolls and liability following you after the car is gone. California gives sellers 5 days; Texas protects sellers who file a Vehicle Transfer Notification within 30.
Questions
Does the DMV give you a bill of sale form?
Some do. California publishes REG 135 and Florida publishes HSMV 82050. Many states publish none and accept any complete bill of sale. Check your own DMV's forms page before assuming either way.
Does a DMV bill of sale need to be notarized?
In most states, no. A few require notarization of the bill of sale, and several more require the title endorsement to be notarized instead, which is a different document. Page 2 of our template is a notary acknowledgment if you need one.
Can I use my own bill of sale instead of the DMV form?
Usually yes, where the state does not mandate its own. The form needs to identify both parties, the vehicle and its VIN, the price, the date, the odometer reading, and carry both signatures.
What if my state has no bill of sale form at all?
Use a complete template like this one. The transfer still runs on the signed title and your state's application form; the bill of sale is your record of the deal.