California Bill of Sale for a Car: How to Write One (REG 135)
California doesn’t require a bill of sale for most private car sales — but in four situations the DMV won’t complete your transfer without one. Here’s exactly when you need REG 135, how to fill it out, and the deadlines that follow.
TL;DR
- Not required for a standard private sale: when the seller named on the title signs it over, the signed title — not a bill of sale — transfers ownership.
- Required in 4 situations: the seller isn’t the owner named on the title, the ownership chain is broken (“title jumping”), an out-of-state purchase lacks a clean chain, or DMV asks for proof of the chain of ownership.
- Use the free REG 135 from dmv.ca.gov — or handwrite your own. DMV accepts both. No notarization is required.
- Seller’s jobs: provide a smog certificate issued within 90 days, then file the Release of Liability (REG 138) within 5 days of the sale.
- Buyer’s job: apply to transfer the title within 10 days of the sale.
- Gifting a car? Use REG 135’s gift line (relationship + gift value) and claim the use-tax exemption with a Statement of Facts (REG 256).
Last verified against dmv.ca.gov: October 20, 2026
Is a Bill of Sale Required in California?
For a normal private-party sale, no. When the person selling the car is the owner named on the Certificate of Title and signs it over to you, California law does not require a separate bill of sale — the signed title is the document that transfers ownership. DMV publishes REG 135 as a free form for anyone who wants the extra paper trail, and it is always smart to complete one: it records the price (which the buyer’s use tax is calculated on) and the date (which starts both parties’ legal deadlines).
But there are four situations where DMV does require a bill of sale. Skip it in these cases and your transfer stalls:
| Situation | Bill of sale needed? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Standard private sale — you are the owner named on the title and you sign it over | Not required | The signed title transfers ownership. REG 135 is still the best proof of price and date. |
| The seller is not the owner named on the title | Required | DMV requires a bill of sale signed by both the seller and the person named on the title to prove the chain of ownership (DMV Procedures Manual §1.020). |
| Buying a vehicle from out of state, and the seller isn’t the owner on that title | Required | Bills of sale must show a complete chain of ownership to you — or DMV may require a motor vehicle bond instead (Manual §12.005; brochure HTVR 9). |
| You bought from someone who bought it but never titled it (“title jumping”) | Required | One bill of sale for every link in the chain, so DMV can trace the car from the titled owner to you. |
Two myths to ignore: form-selling websites that claim a bill of sale is always required to register a car in California (false for a standard sale), and the opposite claim that it is never needed (false whenever the chain of ownership needs paper proof). Sales between California-licensed dealers are the one clear exception — no bill of sale is required there, or on dealer-to-retail sales with a properly endorsed title.
What Is REG 135?
REG 135 is the California DMV’s official Bill of Sale form. It is free, fits on one page, and is printed in duplicate: the form literally says “CUT ON LINE AND SAVE FOR YOUR RECORDS” — the top and bottom halves are identical, so the buyer and seller each tear off and keep a signed copy.
Download the genuine form from the DMV itself: REG 135 (PDF) on dmv.ca.gov. You never need to pay a template site for it.
How to Fill Out REG 135, Field by Field
The form takes about five minutes. Work through it in the order the fields appear:
Writing Your Own Bill of Sale
Don’t have a printer? A handwritten bill of sale is fully valid in California. DMV does not mandate its own form — any document that identifies the vehicle and accurately establishes the chain of ownership is acceptable, typed or handwritten. (California’s Commercial Code §2201 also requires a signed written record for sales of goods of $500 or more to be enforceable — your bill of sale satisfies it.)
Your homemade version needs the same data points as REG 135:
- Vehicle: VIN, year, make, and license plate number (engine number for a motorcycle).
- People: printed names of seller and buyer, plus the seller’s address and DL/ID number.
- Deal: sale date and the true selling price — or, for a gift, the relationship and the car’s value.
- Terms: one line stating the vehicle is sold “as-is” if that’s the agreement, so there’s no implied promise about its condition.
- Signature: the seller signs and dates it. Make two copies and sign both.
Bill of Sale vs. Title: What’s the Difference?
These two documents do different jobs, and confusing them is the most common private-sale mistake:
| Document | What it proves | Who issues / completes it | Can it replace the other? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Title (“pink slip”) | Legal ownership — in DMV’s words, “a valid California Certificate of Title proves ownership of a vehicle or vessel” | Issued by DMV; signed over by the seller at the sale | It is the ownership document — a transfer cannot be completed without it |
| Bill of Sale (REG 135) | The transaction — price, date, parties, and terms (“as-is”), plus supporting evidence of the chain of ownership | Completed and signed by buyer and seller (free DMV form) | No. A bill of sale alone does not transfer ownership and cannot replace a missing title |
Lost the pink slip? The owner must apply for a duplicate title first — see our guide to the California duplicate title (REG 227). A buyer holding only a bill of sale cannot register the car.
The Complete Private-Sale Paperwork Checklist
A clean California private sale takes six documents or steps. The bill of sale is only one of them:
| Document / step | Who handles it | Deadline or validity |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Title, signed over (Line 1a; “AND” owners both sign, “OR” either signs) | Seller → buyer | At the sale |
| Smog certificate — the seller must provide a valid one at delivery | Seller | Issued within 90 days before the sale (VC §24007) |
| Odometer disclosure — mileage recorded on the title, or REG 262 if there’s no space | Seller | Vehicles under 20 model years old (in 2026: model year 2007+) |
| Bill of Sale (REG 135 or your own document) | Both sign | At the sale; each party keeps a copy |
| Notice of Transfer & Release of Liability (REG 138) — filed online or by mail | Seller | Within 5 calendar days (VC §5900) |
| Transfer application (REG 343) with the title, fees, and use tax | Buyer | Within 10 days (VC §5902); late penalties apply |
Sellers: the smog certificate is your legal duty — our smog check guide for selling a car covers it in full. No certificate is needed for gasoline cars from 1975 and older, diesels from 1997 and older, electric vehicles, or motorcycles; for cars 4 or fewer model years old there’s no inspection, but the buyer pays an $8 smog transfer fee (per the Bureau of Automotive Repair). Transfers between close family members are also exempt from the transfer smog inspection. For transfer fees and use-tax amounts, use DMV’s official fee calculator rather than guessing — rates vary by city and county. Sellers should also read our Release of Liability guide before the buyer drives away.
After the Handshake: Two Deadlines
Two clocks start ticking on the sale date shown on your bill of sale:
- Seller — 5 days: file the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138). It’s free online and takes minutes. This is the filing that tells DMV the car is no longer yours.
- Buyer — 10 days: apply to transfer the title into your name (REG 343 + title + fees/use tax). Late transfers draw penalties that grow with time.
Why the seller’s 5-day filing matters: drivers report the same nightmare in legal Q&A forums again and again — toll bills, parking tickets, and even an impound notice arriving months or years after the sale, because the buyer never transferred the title and the car was still in the seller’s name. One seller was called by police about a motorcycle he’d sold, found abandoned; his bill of sale gave police the buyer’s name and number. Your signed bill of sale (date, price, buyer’s name and address) plus your REG 138 confirmation is the evidence that ends those arguments. A bill of sale alone doesn’t replace the Release of Liability — file both. Our step-by-step guide explains how the Release of Liability protects sellers.
Special Cases
The seller’s name isn’t on the title (“title jumping”). This is exactly when the bill of sale becomes mandatory. DMV requires a bill of sale signed by both the seller and the person named on the title — one document for every link in the chain of ownership between the titled owner and you. If the seller can’t produce that paper trail, walk away or expect serious delays at DMV.
Buying a car from out of state. You’ll need the out-of-state title signed for release, REG 343, a VIN verification (REG 31), and a California smog certificate (out-of-state smog doesn’t count). If the person you bought from is not the registered owner on that title, you also need a REG 135 or REG 262 showing a complete chain of ownership — or DMV may require a bond. New California residents must register within 20 days of establishing residency.
Gifting a car. Use REG 135’s gift section: write the relationship and the car’s gift value instead of a price, and sign as usual. Genuine gifts and family transfers are generally exempt from use tax — claim the exemption with a Statement of Facts (REG 256) — and family transfers skip the transfer smog inspection. See our full guide to transferring a car to a family member.
No title at all. A bill of sale can’t fix a missing title. The owner applies for a duplicate with REG 227 (see our duplicate title guide); where no title exists at all — common with older or out-of-state vehicles — DMV may require additional documents or a motor vehicle bond.
Common Mistakes That Cost Sellers Money
- Not keeping a copy. The form is printed in duplicate for a reason. No copy = no proof of the date, price, or buyer if anything surfaces later.
- Leaving the price blank. The price drives the buyer’s use tax and anchors the deal. A blank field invites disputes.
- One wrong VIN digit. The bill of sale must identify the vehicle exactly. A single transposed character can stall the buyer’s transfer — and bounce the problem back to you.
- Backdating or a fake “$1 sale.” The seller signs REG 135 under penalty of perjury. Recording a false price or a fake gift to dodge use tax is a real legal risk, not a loophole.
- Skipping the Release of Liability. “The bill of sale covers me” — it doesn’t. The REG 138 filing is what takes your name off the car in DMV’s system. Do both, within 5 days.
- Forgetting the smog certificate. Providing it is the seller’s legal duty. A sale without one can unravel — and the buyer can come back to you for the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a bill of sale legally required in California?
Not for a standard private-party sale where the seller named on the title signs it over. But DMV does require a bill of sale when the person selling you the car is not the owner named on the title (it proves the chain of ownership), and for out-of-state purchases with a broken ownership chain. Either way, DMV’s free REG 135 is worth completing for every sale.
What is REG 135?
The California DMV’s official Bill of Sale form. It’s free from dmv.ca.gov, fits on one page, and is printed in duplicate — you tear it on the cut line so the buyer and seller each keep a signed copy.
What information goes on a California bill of sale?
The vehicle’s VIN, year, make, and license plate number (plus engine number for a motorcycle); the seller’s and buyer’s printed names; the sale date and price (or, for a gift, the relationship and the gift’s value); and the seller’s signature, date, driver license/ID number, and address. REG 135 has all of these laid out.
Does a California bill of sale need to be notarized?
No. California does not require notarization or witnesses for a bill of sale — the official REG 135 doesn’t even have a notary section. (Notarization is only required for certain other documents, like part of a REG 227 duplicate-title application when a lienholder is listed.)
Can I handwrite a bill of sale in California?
Yes. DMV accepts any bill of sale — typed or handwritten — as long as it identifies the vehicle and accurately establishes the chain of ownership. Include the same details as REG 135 and have the seller sign it.
Is a bill of sale the same as a title?
No. The Certificate of Title is the legal proof of ownership (DMV’s words); the bill of sale is your receipt and record of the deal — price, date, parties, terms. You need the signed title to transfer ownership; the bill of sale supports it but can’t replace it.
Can I register a car with only a bill of sale and no title?
No. DMV requires the title (or a REG 227 duplicate-title application from the owner). If no title exists at all — common with older or out-of-state vehicles — DMV may require additional documents or a motor vehicle bond. A bill of sale alone is not enough.
What if the seller’s name isn’t on the title?
This is “title jumping” territory, and it’s exactly when a bill of sale becomes mandatory: DMV requires a bill of sale signed by both the seller and the person named on the title to establish the chain of ownership — one for every link in the chain. If the seller can’t produce that paper trail, walk away or expect DMV delays.
Who provides the smog certificate — buyer or seller?
The seller, by law (Vehicle Code §24007). The certificate must be issued within 90 days before the sale. Exceptions: vehicles 4 or fewer model years old (buyer pays an $8 smog transfer fee instead), gasoline cars from 1975 and older, diesel from 1997 and older, EVs, motorcycles, and transfers between close family members.
What deadlines apply after a private sale?
Two clocks start on the sale date: the seller has 5 calendar days to file the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138, free online), and the buyer has 10 days to apply to transfer the title into their name. Late buyer transfers draw penalties.
How do I write a bill of sale for a gifted car?
Use REG 135’s gift section: fill in your relationship to the recipient (parent, spouse, friend…) and the car’s gift value rather than a sale price, and sign as usual. Genuine gifts and family transfers are generally exempt from use tax — claim the exemption with a Statement of Facts (REG 256) — and family transfers skip the smog inspection. Never record a fake price: the form is signed under penalty of perjury.
I sold my car and I’m getting tickets and tolls in my name. What happened?
Almost always one of two things: the buyer never completed the title transfer, or you never filed your Release of Liability. Your signed bill of sale (with the date, price, and buyer’s name and address) plus your REG 138 confirmation is your evidence that the car left your hands on that date. File the REG 138 now if you haven’t, and keep both documents permanently — see our Release of Liability guide.
Related Guides
Selling or Buying a Car Privately?
Start with the official form — REG 135 is free from the California DMV, takes five minutes, and protects both sides of the deal. Then file your Release of Liability (sellers) or title transfer (buyers) before the deadlines hit.
Get REG 135 on dmv.ca.gov → DMV Renewal HubLast verified against dmv.ca.gov: October 20, 2026. Requirements change — confirm current rules with the DMV before your sale.