What You Should Include on a Bill of Sale The seller will not be able to claim that they told you otherwise. It also records the condition of the vehicle at the time of purchase, it case it is later discovered that there were severe damages which the seller never disclosed. A bill of sale protects you, and proves a transfer was made. If they are ever successful at this, it means you will lose the car and never see the money you paid for it ever again.

It is possible that after you purchase a car from a private party, they may later try to claim that they never sold you the car and that it is legally still theirs. It also acts as a receipt for your own personal records.

A bill of sale provides solid proof that a transfer was made, and therefore all liability now rests with the new owner. If the person buying your car causes an accident with it after the sale, they could potentially deny having purchased it from you, and you could be held at least partially responsible for what the new owner did with your car. Why Sellers Should Use a Bill of SaleĮven though it is not a legal requirement in Texas, you have every reason to complete a bill of sale when selling your car. Though a certificate of title will also serve this purpose, a bill of sale is an excellent form of extra protection against fraud or misunderstanding.

A bill of sale is an important way of recording that the vehicle sale has taken place, and it’s always a good idea to create a paper trail in case you need to prove you are no longer liable for the vehicle after you transfer it. Buying or selling a car privately instead of through a dealership can be a complicated and risky process.

Simple automotive bill of sale