Bill of Sale: Choosing the Best Form to Sell Your Car

There seems to be a trend to get out of debtIf you are not used to working with legal forms
and sell one of the cars. People like Dave Ramseythen you may not be aware of using a Public
are attracting millions to their radio talk showsNotary. These people are licensed by the state
with the main subject being "becoming debt free."and their job is to validate signatures to legal
Getting out of debt often means selling the cardocuments. They check your identification, watch
that is depreciating faster than you can say Blueyou sign, and then they date and sign the
Book. Just with a few hours preparation, one candocument and use an official seal. No one can say
earn many thousands of dollars more by sellingwith any credibility that those signatures are
retail rather than wholesale through a dealer.forged. When selling a car, for the protection of
Selling retail means selling it yourself. Take picturesall, signatures are notarized. The notary charges a
and post your ad on for free or close to free.small fee or your bank may let you use their
Next, prepare for success with a great Bill of Salenotary for free. We would not recommend any
Form. This is more important than you may think.forms without a space for a notary.
By the way, more and more people are buyingIf You Have the Title
from individuals because they find that the leastIf you already own the car, then you will have
expensive way to own a car is to buy it usedthe title. Signing the back of the title with an
from an individual. Even though the seller usuallyodometer statement is your bill of sale. Most
provides the form, if you are the car buyer, thenlikely, you don’t need a bill of sale from the
you may want to provide the bill of sale form toInternet.
the seller for your own protection.If You Owe Money on the Car
When you go to a restaurant and receive aIf you have a loan on your car, then you will
receipt, you are in a sense receiving a bill of salewant to use a special bill of sale form. You must
for payment of your meal. This is the simplestpay off the loan, receive the title and sign over
kind with the most advanced kind being the onethe title. Most buyers do not want to hand over
your attorney writes to sell a business or a home.money so you can pay off your loans unless you
The best and most expensive kind of bill of saleprovide them with a form that gives them
for selling your car is one written by yourconfidence to their ownership. This form should
attorney. It is guaranteed to be tailor-made toshow the name of your loan company and an
your circumstances. But, perhaps you do notestimated time when you will receive the title and
need a tailor-made suit from Saville Row inhand over the title to the new owner. Most
London. Perhaps one off the rack with a fewpeople put 30 days, however we recommend
alterations will do the trick. What is calledthat once you have cleared funds, that you wire
boilerplate or standard bill of sale forms may bethem to the loan company and pay to have the
what you want.title sent overnight. Get the transaction done as
Go to the Internet and search on "bill of sale" orsoon as possible. You don’t want delays.
"bill of sale form." You will find a thousandStatement That the Car is Sold "As is"
examples and most will work fine, however, weAn "as is" statement is very important for people
are here to talk about the best. We want to saveselling their own cars. It basically says you are
you the time of an exhaustive search on Google.giving no guarantees. You do not want to have
Free Formssomething major happen to the car a month
Most of the "free" forms are worth what youafter the sale and then have the buyer take you
pay for them. They are very simple and remindto court because she/he said you said everything
us of the restaurant receipt. They give little or nowas great. Let the dealers give warrantees with
protection and your buyer could be scared out oftheir higher sale prices. You want the "as is"
the deal.statement on your bill of sale for your future
Bill of Sale Forms for Specific Statessafety.
These forms are suggested minimum forms forOdometer Statement as Part of a Bill of Sale
each specific state. The states are doing a serviceMany states require an odometer statement and
to their citizens by suggesting forms. They mayin fact have one on the back of the title. The
not give you the protection you desire. If youodometer statement tells the buyer the amount
want more protection and you should, you willof miles on the odometer. Not only should you
have to either go to your attorney or find formshave your signature notarized on this statement,
with better protection. Some of these you willyou should have the buyers signature notarized.
find below.You want him to publicly agree with you for the
CAUTION! An Inadequate Bill of Sale Form Can Killmiles statement.
a SaleBill of Sale Form Satisfaction Guaranteed
Why do people pay thousands of dollars more forWhenever I buy something on the Internet, I
a car from a dealer than from an individual?make sure there is contact information with a
Because the dealer takes the fear out of the sale.toll-free 800 number and a Satisfaction Guarantee
The dealer will take a trade-in, give financing andStatement. I suggest when buying a Bill of Sale
smoothly run through the paperwork. You alsoForm on the Internet, you use the same policy.
want to have high quality paperwork so theReceiving Payment for Your Car
buyer feels safe. Make sure you provide a bill ofIt’s a good idea to meet at your bank to sign
sale form that makes your buyer feel confidentpaperwork and receive money. Ask for cash,
and secure. The form must be professional andwired funds, cashier’s check (be careful,
look like something they would sign at asome people are printing fraudulent cashier’s
dealership. Otherwise they could get cold feet andchecks-call the bank. Use the number from the
change their minds and go to a dealer.phone book, not the one on the check.), or a
Make Sure the Form can be Editedcleared personal check. Make sure all money is
Many forms sold on the Internet are in PDFcleared before you sign the Bill of Sale. That is
format. Some of these forms require ownershipwhy you want cash, wired funds, or a
of PDF software in order to fill in the blanks. Mostcashier’s check—you want to sign the
people own the free PDF software to read a filedocument while your buyer is with you and the
but they don’t own the software to edit afunds instantly clear.
file. If you do not have this software, then buyUse a document with all of these safety features
the form in MS Word. It is important that theand you and your buyer will be happy and secure
blanks be typed. If you hand write in the blankand you will see a smooth transaction with no
spaces then your form will not build confidenceworries for the future.
with the buyer.For one of the only companies that meet all
Bill of Sale Forms with Better Protectionthese features we recommend Best Bill of Sale.