for the sale of private vehicles, but it is considered best practice to document the transaction by drawing one up yourself and having it notarized. It must include the name, address, and signature of both the buyer and the seller, the date of sale, sale price, the make, model, and year of the vehicle, as well as the vehicle’s odometer reading.

If a vehicle is purchased from a North Carolina car dealership, a bill of sale will be required.

While a bill of sale isn’t required for most private transactions, it is considered best practice for a private vehicle sale to have one, so we've put together a handy guide with all you’ll need to know about completing a bill of sale in North Carolina.

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What is a bill of sale?

A bill of sale acts as a receipt for a private vehicle sale. A bill of sale will contain general information about the vehicle, including the make, model, year, vehicle identification number (VIN), and odometer reading. It will also include the names, addresses, and signatures of both the buyer and the seller.

Do note that a bill of sale does not constitute legal ownership of a vehicle in North Carolina—only a certificate of title can do that.

Is a bill of sale required in North Carolina?

While a bill of sale is not required for private vehicle sales in North Carolina, it’s a good idea to draw one up anyway in order to document the transaction.

For vehicles purchased at a dealership in North Carolina, a bill of sale is required.

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What is required in a North Carolina bill of sale?

If you’re drawing up your own bill of sale for a

private North Carolina vehicle sale

, it should include the following information:

The names, addresses, and signatures of both buyer and seller

The date of sale

Purchase price

Vehicle make, model, year, VIN

Odometer reading

The bill of sale should also be notarized.

What should I do after I get a bill of sale in North Carolina?

The seller will need to fill out a

Damage Disclosure Statement

(Form MVR-181) to be given to the buyer for their records. If the vehicle’s model year is 2011 or later, the seller must also fill out an

Odometer Disclosure Statement

(Form MVR-180).

To transfer ownership of the vehicle through a

North Carolina title transfer

, the buyer must complete the

Title Application

(Form MVR-1), and their signature must be notarized.

The seller is required by law to remove the license plates from the vehicle and return them to the North Carolina DMV. Insurance should be canceled after the license plates have been turned in, as North Carolina requires continuous liability insurance on all vehicles registered in the state.

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