Kentucky doesn’t require a bill of sale for private vehicle sales, but it’s still a good idea to have one. A bill of sale creates an official record of the transaction that can protect you from legal and financial hassles down the road.

Selling a car privately can be a great way to get the best deal, but it’s important to cover all your bases. In Kentucky, just following the steps laid out by the DMV might not be enough to protect your interests.

If your buyer fails to complete the appropriate process to register the car and transfer the title, you could still be on the hook for the vehicle—unless you can provide proof of the transaction with a bill of sale.

To help you guard against that situation and others that could arise if you don’t thoroughly document the sale,

car insurance

comparison and broker app

Jerry

has compiled a guide to creating your own Kentucky bill of sale.

What is a bill of sale?

A bill of sale is a formal receipt that documents the private sale of a vehicle. In general, a bill of sale contains information about the car, details of the transaction such as purchase price, and the signatures of both the buyer and the seller.

Creating a bill of sale demonstrates that the previous owner agreed to sell the car and that the buyer agreed to pay the price indicated on the document. If either party fails to complete the necessary steps to transfer the title or register the car, the bill of sale protects the other party from legal and financial trouble.

A bill of sale does not legally transfer ownership of the car from one party to another. For that, you’ll need to complete a

title transfer

Is a bill of sale required in Kentucky?

Kentucky does not require a bill of sale for any private vehicle sales. You won’t need to show a bill of sale at the County Clerk’s office when you register a car you bought from someone else, and there is no official form for such a document.

But just because Kentucky officials don’t require a bill of sale doesn’t mean you don’t need one. It’s a smart idea to create a bill of sale for any private car sale and keep a copy to protect yourself from any possible negative outcome.

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What should be included in a Kentucky bill of sale?

Since Kentucky doesn’t require a bill of sale, you don’t need to follow any particular format when you create one. Get creative if you like—but make sure you include the following essential information:

The sale price agreed upon by both parties

The date of the transaction

The names and addresses of both parties

The vehicle identification number (VIN)

The vehicle’s make, model, year, color, and body type

The odometer reading at the time of sale

The signatures of both parties and a notary public

Getting the bill of sale notarized gives it official weight and will help you if you need to use the document to prove that the sale took place.

What should I do after I get a bill of sale?

Once everyone has signed the bill of sale, make a copy for all the involved parties. Keep your copy in your records so that you’ll be prepared if anything goes wrong.

How to find affordable car insurance in Kentucky

Whether you’re selling or buying, finding car insurance is an important part of every vehicle sale.

Kentucky

ranks 10th nationwide for most expensive car insurance, but in just a few clicks,

Jerry

can help you find the lowest rate available in the Bluegrass State!

Download the app, answer a few questions about yourself and your car, and Jerry will search for competitive quotes from 50+ top companies. Once you’ve chosen the policy that works for you, Jerry will handle all the paperwork. That’s right, no more forms—just next-level savings from a licensed broker!

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