Fill Out a California Bill of Sale Online in 2026

A California bill of sale is a written document that records the transfer of ownership of personal property—including motor vehicles, vessels, and other assets—from a seller to a buyer. It captures the key terms of the transaction: party information, a description of the item, the sale price, and the date of the sale.

For motor vehicle transactions, the California DMV provides Form REG 135 (Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form) as well as other forms specific to different sale types. A bill of sale supplements the signed title and is used to establish the purchase price for vehicle registration and use tax purposes.

A California bill of sale is used to formally document the transfer of personal property and protect both parties in a private sale. Specifically, it is used to:

• Document the transfer of personal property (vehicle, boat, firearm, equipment, or other items) from seller to buyer
• Establish the agreed purchase price on record — California DMV uses this to calculate applicable sales tax, use tax, or registration fees when the buyer applies for a new title
• Protect the seller from future liability related to the property after the sale date
• Give the buyer proof of ownership pending receipt of a new title
• Serve as evidence in any dispute about the terms, price, or condition of the item at the time of sale
• Support insurance documentation — the buyer can present the bill of sale to their insurer as proof of acquisition and value

1. Open the form – Use CookPDF's online editor to access a pre-loaded California Bill of Sale template. No uploading or printing is required. Form REG 135 is also available from the California DMV website.

2. Enter seller details – Provide the seller's full legal name and current address.

3. Enter buyer details – Include the buyer's full legal name and address.

4. Describe the property – For vehicles, include year, make, model, color, body type, and VIN. For other items, add a detailed description and any serial number.

5. Record the odometer reading – Required by federal law for all motor vehicle sales.

6. State the purchase price – Write the agreed amount clearly.

7. Add the date – Record the exact date the sale takes place.

8. Sign the document – Both the buyer and the seller sign and date the bill of sale.

A complete California bill of sale should include the following information:

• Full legal name and current address of the seller
• Full legal name and current address of the buyer
• Detailed description of the item being sold — for vehicles: year, make, model, color, body type, and VIN; for other property: a clear description with any serial number
• Agreed purchase price
• Date of the transaction
• Current odometer reading at the time of sale (required by federal law for all motor vehicle transfers)
• Signatures of both the buyer and the seller

California law does not require a separate bill of sale for all private sales. For motor vehicle transfers, the seller must sign the pink slip and submit a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability to the California DMV within 5 days of the sale. A bill of sale is not mandatory but is strongly recommended to document the purchase price for California use tax purposes.

If no bill of sale is provided, the California DMV may calculate use tax based on the vehicle's fair market value rather than the actual amount paid.

No. California law does not require a bill of sale to be notarized for most personal property transactions, including vehicle sales. A California bill of sale is valid and enforceable without a notary.

California DMV does not require notarization for vehicle title transfers. That said, parties to a high-value sale may choose to notarize voluntarily for added protection.

A California bill of sale has no expiration date. Once both parties sign it, it becomes a permanent legal record of the transaction. Neither party needs to renew or re-execute the document—it remains valid indefinitely as long as it accurately reflects the completed sale.

Both the buyer and the seller should keep their signed copies for their personal records. For vehicle transactions, retain the bill of sale until the California DMV has processed the title transfer and issued a new title in the buyer's name. The document may also be needed as proof of purchase for insurance, tax verification, or future ownership disputes.

CookPDF provides a ready-to-use California Bill of Sale template preloaded in our online editor. There is no need to download or upload anything in advance—simply open the form, fill in all required fields, add your electronic signature, and download the finished document as a PDF.

The official Form REG 135 is also available directly from the California DMV website for vehicle transactions. CookPDF helps you prepare and download the document; delivering the signed bill of sale to the other party and submitting it to the California DMV for title transfer remains your responsibility.

CookPDF makes it easy to sign your California Bill of Sale online without printing or scanning. Once you have completed all required fields in the form, use the Sign tool in the editor. You can draw your signature with a mouse or trackpad, type your name, or upload a saved signature image. Position the signature in the designated field for the seller — if both parties are signing digitally, the buyer can do the same before the final download.

When your signatures are in place, click Done to download the completed PDF to your device. Electronic signatures are generally accepted for private-party bill of sale transactions in California. If you plan to submit the bill of sale to the California DMV as part of a title transfer, confirm in advance whether an original ink signature is required.