Trailer bill of sale form for Connecticut
Answer a few questions and print it filled in, ready to sign. Connecticut’s notary rule and deadlines are built in.
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We found no Connecticut rule asking to notarize this bill of sale.
Updated October 2026Rules checked against each state’s own pages, with sources
Seven things a bill of sale has to say
Each has its place on the page. We ask for them in this order, and anything you skip stays a ruled line.
The seller and the buyer
Full legal names, exactly as on the title, and both addresses. Two owners on the title? Both are named, and both sign.
What’s being sold
Year, make, model, type and color: enough that nobody can mistake which trailer changed hands. The plate, and the title number if it has one, tie it to the state’s records.
The VIN and the weight
Copy the VIN from the tongue or the frame rail, not from memory. The weight goes on too: in many states it decides whether the trailer is titled at all.
Price and payment
The amount in figures and in words, and how it was paid. Write the real price: the buyer’s tax is usually figured on it. A gift says so, with $0.
The date of sale
The day the keys and the money changed hands. It starts your state’s clocks: the seller’s notice of sale and the buyer’s title transfer.
“As is” and liens
Most private sales are “as is”: the buyer takes it with any faults. The seller also states it’s free of loans, or names the lender if it isn’t.
Signatures
The seller signs, and many states and most buyers want the buyer’s signature too. Some states want a notary in some cases; your state’s rule is in the table below. Print two copies; each of you keeps one.
Notary, forms and deadlines by state
Whether a notary is needed, the state’s own form if it has one, and what each of you does after the sale.
| State | Bill of sale notarized? | State’s own form | After the sale | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Connecticut titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Alabama | Not asked forSource | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Alabama titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Alaska | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Alaska titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Arizona | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Apply for registration or a title within fifteen days after the seller transfers the vehicle. Source | Start |
| Arkansas | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Arkansas titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| California | NoSource | REG 135 · Bill of Sale | Seller Tell the DMV within 5 calendar days of the sale by filing a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability. Source Buyer Report the change of ownership to the DMV within 10 days and update the title. Source | Start |
| Colorado | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Colorado titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Delaware | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Delaware titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| District of Columbia | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if District of Columbia titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Florida | Not asked forSource | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Seller For a trailer of 2,000 pounds net or more, notify FLHSMV within 30 days after the sale, such as on form HSMV 82050. Source Buyer For a trailer of 2,000 pounds net or more, apply for the title within 30 days after it is delivered. Source | Start |
| Georgia | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Georgia titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Hawaii | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Hawaii titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Idaho | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Idaho titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Illinois | Not asked forSource | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Illinois titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Indiana | NoSource | State Form 44237 · Bill of Sale | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Indiana titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Iowa | In some casesIf the title or other transfer papers have errors or changes, the county may require this bill of sale to be notarized. Source | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Apply for a new registration and title at any county treasurer within thirty calendar days after the purchase. Source | Start |
| Kansas | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Seller Always remove the license plates from a vehicle or trailer you have sold. Source | Start |
| Kentucky | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Kentucky titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Louisiana | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Seller Give the OMV written notice of the transfer within fifteen days. Source | Start |
| Maine | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Maine titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Maryland | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer For a trailer rated over 2,500 pounds, get the title and application to the MVA within 30 days after delivery, or you may be charged an extra service fee. Source | Start |
| Massachusetts | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Apply for a certificate of title within ten days from the purchase. Source | Start |
| Michigan | Not asked forSource | TR-207 · Trailer, Watercraft or Snowmobile Bill of Sale | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Michigan titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Minnesota | Not asked forSource | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer For a titled trailer, apply for a new title within 20 calendar days after the title is assigned to you. Source | Start |
| Mississippi | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Mississippi titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Missouri | In some casesThis bill of sale must be notarized if it proves ownership of major parts of a rebuilt vehicle, or if the Department of Revenue asks. Source | Form 1957 · Bill of Sale or Even-Trade Bill of Sale | Seller Report the sale to the Department of Revenue within thirty days, using Form 5049 or Form 1957. Source Buyer Apply for the title within thirty days after you acquire the vehicle or trailer. Source | Start |
| Montana | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Apply for title and registration within 40 days after the transfer. Source | Start |
| Nebraska | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Seller For a refund, turn in the registration, plates and decals with an Application for Refund within sixty days of the sale. Source Buyer Get a certificate of title within 30 days of the date of purchase. Source | Start |
| Nevada | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Nevada titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| New Hampshire | Not asked forSource | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if New Hampshire titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| New Jersey | In some casesFor a used trailer under 2,500 pounds, which has no title, the seller’s statement must be notarized. Source | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if New Jersey titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| New Mexico | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if New Mexico titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| New York | Not asked forSource | MV-912 · Vehicle Bill of Sale | Buyer For a trailer with an unladen weight of 1,000 pounds or more, apply for a new title within thirty days after the transfer, and register it at a DMV office. Source | Start |
| North Carolina | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if North Carolina titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| North Dakota | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if North Dakota titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Ohio | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Ohio titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Oklahoma | YesSource | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Oklahoma does not require a private or farm trailer to be titled or registered; you may register it for a plate (no title is issued). Keep this notarized bill of sale as your proof of ownership. Source | Start |
| Oregon | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Oregon titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Pennsylvania | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Submit the title transfer paperwork to PennDOT within 20 days of the notarization. Source | Start |
| Rhode Island | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Rhode Island titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| South Carolina | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if South Carolina titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| South Dakota | Not asked forSource | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Seller Remove the license plates; you get credit for the unused months when you put them on another vehicle. Source Buyer Apply for the title within forty-five days after the date of assignment. Source | Start |
| Tennessee | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Tennessee titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Texas | NoSource | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Seller For a trailer over 4,000 pounds gross, file a Vehicle Transfer Notification with TxDMV; if TxDMV gets it within 30 days of the sale, the buyer is presumed the owner from the sale date on. Source Buyer A trailer over 4,000 pounds gross must be titled in your name within 30 days from the date of sale. Source | Start |
| Utah | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Utah titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Vermont | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Vermont titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
| Virginia | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Apply for the title within 30 days of the purchase. Source | Start |
| Washington | No rule found | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Seller Report the sale to the Department of Licensing within five business days. Source Buyer Apply for the title within 15 days of getting the vehicle or boat, or you may pay a late fee. Source | Start |
| West Virginia | In some casesThe DMV’s own bill of sale form must be notarized, so if you hand this one in, sign it in front of a notary. Source | DMV-7-TR · Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle, Trailer, or Boat | Buyer If you hand this bill of sale in to the DMV, include legible copies of both the buyer’s and the seller’s driver’s licenses. Source | Start |
| Wisconsin | Not asked forSource | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Seller Leave the plates on a trailer you sell. Source | Start |
| Wyoming | In some casesIf the trailer or boat has no title because it was last transferred before 2010, sign this bill of sale in front of a notary. Source | No state form: any written bill of sale works | Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Wyoming titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source | Start |
ConnecticutBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Connecticut titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
AlabamaBill of sale notary: Not asked for
- Bill of sale notarized?
- Not asked forSource
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Alabama titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
AlaskaBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Alaska titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
ArizonaBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Apply for registration or a title within fifteen days after the seller transfers the vehicle. Source
ArkansasBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Arkansas titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
CaliforniaBill of sale notary: No
- Bill of sale notarized?
- NoSource
- State’s own form
- REG 135 · Bill of Sale
ColoradoBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Colorado titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
DelawareBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Delaware titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
District of ColumbiaBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if District of Columbia titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
FloridaBill of sale notary: Not asked for
- Bill of sale notarized?
- Not asked forSource
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
GeorgiaBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Georgia titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
HawaiiBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Hawaii titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
IdahoBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Idaho titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
IllinoisBill of sale notary: Not asked for
- Bill of sale notarized?
- Not asked forSource
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Illinois titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
IndianaBill of sale notary: No
- Bill of sale notarized?
- NoSource
- State’s own form
- State Form 44237 · Bill of Sale
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Indiana titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
IowaBill of sale notary: In some cases
- Bill of sale notarized?
- In some casesIf the title or other transfer papers have errors or changes, the county may require this bill of sale to be notarized. Source
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Apply for a new registration and title at any county treasurer within thirty calendar days after the purchase. Source
KansasBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Seller Always remove the license plates from a vehicle or trailer you have sold. Source
KentuckyBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Kentucky titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
LouisianaBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Seller Give the OMV written notice of the transfer within fifteen days. Source
MaineBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Maine titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
MarylandBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer For a trailer rated over 2,500 pounds, get the title and application to the MVA within 30 days after delivery, or you may be charged an extra service fee. Source
MassachusettsBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Apply for a certificate of title within ten days from the purchase. Source
MichiganBill of sale notary: Not asked for
- Bill of sale notarized?
- Not asked forSource
- State’s own form
- TR-207 · Trailer, Watercraft or Snowmobile Bill of Sale
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Michigan titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
MinnesotaBill of sale notary: Not asked for
- Bill of sale notarized?
- Not asked forSource
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer For a titled trailer, apply for a new title within 20 calendar days after the title is assigned to you. Source
MississippiBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Mississippi titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
MissouriBill of sale notary: In some cases
- Bill of sale notarized?
- In some casesThis bill of sale must be notarized if it proves ownership of major parts of a rebuilt vehicle, or if the Department of Revenue asks. Source
- State’s own form
- Form 1957 · Bill of Sale or Even-Trade Bill of Sale
MontanaBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Apply for title and registration within 40 days after the transfer. Source
NebraskaBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
NevadaBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Nevada titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
New HampshireBill of sale notary: Not asked for
- Bill of sale notarized?
- Not asked forSource
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if New Hampshire titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
New JerseyBill of sale notary: In some cases
- Bill of sale notarized?
- In some casesFor a used trailer under 2,500 pounds, which has no title, the seller’s statement must be notarized. Source
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if New Jersey titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
New MexicoBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if New Mexico titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
New YorkBill of sale notary: Not asked for
- Bill of sale notarized?
- Not asked forSource
- State’s own form
- MV-912 · Vehicle Bill of Sale
- After the sale
Buyer For a trailer with an unladen weight of 1,000 pounds or more, apply for a new title within thirty days after the transfer, and register it at a DMV office. Source
North CarolinaBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if North Carolina titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
North DakotaBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if North Dakota titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
OhioBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Ohio titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
OklahomaBill of sale notary: Yes
- Bill of sale notarized?
- YesSource
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Oklahoma does not require a private or farm trailer to be titled or registered; you may register it for a plate (no title is issued). Keep this notarized bill of sale as your proof of ownership. Source
OregonBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Oregon titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
PennsylvaniaBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Submit the title transfer paperwork to PennDOT within 20 days of the notarization. Source
Rhode IslandBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Rhode Island titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
South CarolinaBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if South Carolina titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
South DakotaBill of sale notary: Not asked for
- Bill of sale notarized?
- Not asked forSource
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
TennesseeBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Tennessee titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
TexasBill of sale notary: No
- Bill of sale notarized?
- NoSource
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Seller For a trailer over 4,000 pounds gross, file a Vehicle Transfer Notification with TxDMV; if TxDMV gets it within 30 days of the sale, the buyer is presumed the owner from the sale date on. Source
Buyer A trailer over 4,000 pounds gross must be titled in your name within 30 days from the date of sale. Source
UtahBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Utah titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
VermontBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Vermont titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
VirginiaBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Apply for the title within 30 days of the purchase. Source
WashingtonBill of sale notary: No rule found
- Bill of sale notarized?
- No rule found
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
West VirginiaBill of sale notary: In some cases
- Bill of sale notarized?
- In some casesThe DMV’s own bill of sale form must be notarized, so if you hand this one in, sign it in front of a notary. Source
- State’s own form
- DMV-7-TR · Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle, Trailer, or Boat
- After the sale
Buyer If you hand this bill of sale in to the DMV, include legible copies of both the buyer’s and the seller’s driver’s licenses. Source
WisconsinBill of sale notary: Not asked for
- Bill of sale notarized?
- Not asked forSource
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Seller Leave the plates on a trailer you sell. Source
WyomingBill of sale notary: In some cases
- Bill of sale notarized?
- In some casesIf the trailer or boat has no title because it was last transferred before 2010, sign this bill of sale in front of a notary. Source
- State’s own form
- No state form: any written bill of sale works
- After the sale
Buyer Title and register the trailer in your name if Wyoming titles it; the state’s page below has the steps and deadlines. Source
Checked October 12, 2026 against each state’s motor vehicle, revenue or boating agency pages; every rule links its source. Rules change, so check the source before you rely on it.
The title moves ownership. The bill of sale proves the deal.
When you’ll want a bill of sale
In most states the signed title is what transfers ownership. A bill of sale is your record of who sold what to whom, for how much, and on what day. You’ll want one when:
- Your state or the title office asks for it; the table above shows yours
- There’s no title, as with many older cars, trailers and boats
- A ticket or toll shows up after the sale and you need to prove the date
- The buyer needs to show the price for tax
Title vs bill of sale
The title is the state’s ownership record: the seller signs it over, and the buyer takes it to the title office. The bill of sale is the record between the two of you. Bring both.
Never hand over a signed title before the money is in your hand, and never leave the buyer’s name blank on it.
What people ask before they sell
Does a bill of sale need to be notarized?
For a trailer, usually not. We found a state rule asking for a notary in 6 of the 50 states and DC: Iowa, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
In Oklahoma, every sale like this needs one.
Pick your state and we say exactly which applies, at the step where it matters.
Is a bill of sale legally required?
It depends on the state and on what you sell. Many states transfer a titled car with the title alone, but ask for a bill of sale for untitled vehicles and boats, or when the title doesn’t show the price. Even where it’s optional, it’s the simplest proof of the day it stopped being yours.
Can I use a bill of sale for a gift?
Yes. Choose Gift, and the bill of sale says it was given with no payment. Some states add a form for gifts: Texas uses Form 14-317 for a gift from an eligible relative, and Pennsylvania uses Form MV-13ST. We show your state’s the moment you choose Gift.
Is this an official state form?
No. Eliten Forms is a private service, not a government agency. Where your state publishes its own bill of sale form, the state table links it; those forms are free on the state’s website.
What does “as is” mean?
The buyer accepts it in its current condition, faults included, and the seller makes no promises about it. That’s the norm for private sales. If you do promise something, say a rebuilt transmission, choose “With a promise” and describe it.
Who signs it, and who keeps it?
The seller always signs. There’s a buyer line too, because many states and most buyers want both signatures. Print two copies, both of you sign both, and each keeps one.
What if there’s no title?
Then the bill of sale carries more weight: it may be the main proof of ownership, as it is for many older cars, trailers and boats. If a title exists but is lost, the owner on record usually applies for a duplicate before selling; a bill of sale doesn’t replace it.
Can I fill in some parts by hand?
Yes. Tell us what you’re selling and the state; every other question is optional. Anything you skip prints as a clean blank line, and the last screen lists what’s left to write, so nothing gets forgotten at the curb.
Have these within reach
- The title or registrationMany light trailers have only a registration
- The trailer’s VINOn the tongue or the frame rail
- The buyer’s full name and addressAnd a phone number: some states’ seller notices ask for it
- The trailer’s weightEmpty weight, or the gross rating on its plate
- The agreed price and how it’s paidCash, a cashier’s check or a bank transfer
- The lien release, if there was a loanFrom your lender, if the title still names them
Who is behind Eliten Forms
A private company, not a government site.
Applabel LTD, Cyprus (EU)
The company that runs eliten.ai, registered in Cyprus. The EU’s data protection rules (GDPR) apply.
Not affiliated with any agency
We are not a DMV or any other state agency. The state rules here are summarized from each agency’s own pages, and each one names its source.
Questions? Write to us
About a form or your draft: eliten@support-team.app
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Start with the first question
Trailer · Connecticut is picked. Your bill of sale fills in as you answer.
Selling something else?