In Massachusetts, a bill of sale is needed whenever you buy or sell a motor vehicle. Before the buyer can register the car title in their name, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles will require that a motor bill of sale and the car's certificate of title be presented as proof of the sale or transfer. Fortunately, you can obtain a blank bill of sale for free.
The Internet provides hundreds of resources for bill of sale templates that can be used to transact the sale of a vehicle in Massachusetts. You can use a search engine to quickly locate sites where you can download a form that will meet the requirements of the Massachusetts RMV. To find these sites, enter search terms like 'car bill of sale' or 'Massachusetts bill of sale form.' The search engine will display hundreds of links where you can download the form for free.
Massachusetts does not require that a vehicle bill of sale form be notarized. However, if you want to further insulate yourself from potential liability, or if the buyer is making payments to you for the vehicle, you may want to have the bill of sale witnessed by a Notary Public to give the document more credibility, should you ever need to present a bill of sale contract in court.
Unlike some other states, Massachusetts does not provide a standardized bill of sale template that can be used for buying or selling a vehicle. Almost any vehicle bill of sale template that you download on the Internet should suffice. Generally speaking, a vehicle bill of sale form is acceptable in Massachusetts if it contains the following information:
Although a bill of sale with the above required information is acceptable in Massachusetts, you may want to consider adding additional information or contract language. For example, if you are selling the vehicle without a warranty, you should ensure that the bill of sale states that the vehicle is being sold 'As Is' and without a warranty. Additionally, if the buyer is making payments to you on the car, make sure that the bill of sale states that the vehicle has not been fully paid for as of the date of the form signing.
Once you download a template for a bill of sale form, you'll find that filling in the blanks is rather easy. In fact, most of the information you'll need to fill in is completely self-explanatory. When searching for template forms, try to find a PDF file that you can fill in using your computer. If you do download a template that needs to be filled in by hand, make sure to fill out the form legibly and put forth your best handwriting.
