The Commonwealth of Massachusetts does not require a Bill of sale form for vehicle transactions if a Certificate of title is available. However if the vehicle transaction involves a car that is exempt from titling, a Bill of Sale (along with the previous registration) must be presented in order for the new owner to register the vehicle.
A Bill of Sale is a document created by the seller with a buyer to document the sale of a motor vehicle.
To be a legal document, the Bill of Sale must contain the following information:
- The buyer’s name, address, and signature
- The seller’s name, address, and signature
- Model, make, model year, and Vehicle Identification Number of the vehicle
- Date of purchase
- Purchase price
- Odometer reading
Massachusetts Bill of Sale Form
In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a Bill of Sale does not need to be notarized.
Click here to download and print a generic Massachusetts Bill of Sale Form for vehicle transactions that involve a car that is exempt from titling.
Specifically in a private sale to obtain a Title for a used vehicle purchased from a non-dealer, the following are required:
- A completed and signed Registration and Title Application – the old RMV-1 Form. If the vehicle is going to be registered, the Registration and Title Application Form must be stamped by the insurance company.
Checklist for a vehicle purchased from an individual.
- One of the following documents must be submitted along with the completed Registration and Title Application or the old RMV-1 Form:
– The previous owner’s Certificate of Title or
– The previous registration and a Bill of Sale, if no Title is required for the vehicle because of its age. In Massachusetts, a 1980 model year or older passenger vehicle purchased by the current owner prior to November 26, 1990 would be exempt from titling. Other states may exempt vehicles from their titling requirements based on the model year of the vehicle. If a Bill of Sale is being submitted, the document must list all required information. However additional documentation is required for imported foreign/grey market vehicles and specialty vehicles. - Certificate of Title fee, due at time of submission of the Registration and Title Application.
More about a vehicle transfer
Basically when a customer sells a motor vehicle in a private transaction, he/she must write the following on the Assignment of Title section provided on the back of the Certificate of Title:
- Date of sale.
- Purchase price.
- Name, address, and signature of the buyer(s).
- Name, address, and signature of the seller(s).
- Odometer reading.
Note: If the Title does not have a sales price section or if the vehicle was exempt from title, then the customer must complete a Bill of Sale.
See the Title Fees section for the applicable fee – Revised January 2022.
Transferring Salvage Vehicles for Individuals
The owner of a Total Loss Salvage motor vehicle must disclose to the buyer or transferee that the vehicle has a Salvage Title.
The owner of a Total Loss Salvage motor vehicle for which a Salvage Title has been issued must sign the Title over to the new owner. Consequently the old owner needs to sign on the space provided on the Title and deliver the Title to the new owner. The new owner must apply for a new Salvage Title within ten days of delivery.
If an owner wishes to sell a salvaged vehicle that he/she has repaired, he/she must take it through the salvage inspection process and apply for a Reconstructed or a Recovered Theft Title, whichever applies. Surely if the vehicle has not been repaired, the owner should advise the buyer that the inspection and Title process is required before the vehicle can be registered to drive.
How to fill out the Massachusetts Bill of Sale Form
This Massachusetts Bill of Sale Form is composed of three sections. Below you’ll understand step by step how to fill out this form:
Section 1
The first section contains all the vehicle information – Make, Model, Year, Style (Body type), Color, VIN or Vehicle Identification Number. Afterwards it records the Odometer Reading at the time of transfer (use only digits, no tenths), seller registration number. Also please answer if you previously filed an application for title of this vehicle:
Section 1 of the Massachusetts Bill of Sale
Section 2
In the second section fill out first the Seller information. This means the full PRINTED name of the seller. So use only Capital Letters to write SELLER’S NAME. Then seller’s street address, seller’s city and state. Further you will need to fill out the Buyer information – the full name of the buyer. The buyer’s name must be PRINTED. This means to use only Capital Letters to write BUYER’S NAME. Additionally fill out buyer’s street address, buyer’s city and state. After these details you will have to write the sum of the transfer price of the vehicle (or the word GIFT). Correspondingly, if this vehicle was a gift, you need to indicate the relationship with the buyer (e.g. parent, spouse, friend):
Section 2 of the Massachusetts Bill of Sale
Section 3
The last section of the form, Section 3, is the seller’s statement about the details contained in this Bill of Sale. Lastly fill out seller’s signature and date:
Section 3 of the Massachusetts Bill of Sale
Please note that you can fill out this Bill of Sale form by hand. However please don’t forget to use a pen with blue or black ink and not a pencil. If you complete this form on your device (phone, tablet, computer) this form is a fillable PDF that works best with Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Find out more about the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles
For more information go to Massachusetts Department of Transportation – Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles
The Registry of Motor Vehicles Division is responsible for operator licensing and vehicle registrations. Furthermore the transactions may be processed online (if applicable) or at any of the RMV branch offices across the Commonwealth. The RMV also oversees commercial and non-commercial vehicle inspection stations.
Significantly its mission is to deliver excellent customer service to people who travel in the Commonwealth. Furthermore its mission is to provide our nation’s safest and most reliable transportation system in a way that strengthens our economy and quality of life. Undeniably the Massachusetts Department of Transportation is an organization focused on customer service and safety.
