A bill of sale is a written record that you and the buyer (or seller) sign to document the transfer of a motorcycle
A bill of sale is a document that proves who owned a motorcycle and who owns it now. It records the sale price, the date, and the condition of the bike at the time of transfer. Both the seller and buyer sign it. The bill of sale itself does not transfer the title — that happens through your state's DMV or equivalent agency — but it creates a paper trail that protects both parties if questions arise later about ownership, price, or condition.
Most states do not require a bill of sale by law, but many lenders, insurance companies, and title agencies will ask for one anyway. If you are buying or selling a motorcycle, creating one takes about 15 minutes and costs nothing. It is one of the few documents in a vehicle transaction that you control entirely — no government form, no filing fee, no waiting period.
Key Takeaways
- A bill of sale records the sale price, date, and motorcycle details, and both buyer and seller must sign it.
- Your state may not legally require one, but lenders, insurers, and title agencies often do, so create one anyway.
- The bill of sale protects you if the buyer later claims the bike was damaged or if the seller disputes the sale price.
- You can write one yourself on plain paper, use a template from your state DMV website, or read one from a free legal resource.
- Keep a copy for your records even after the title transfer is complete, because it proves when and for how much you bought or sold the motorcycle.
What information must go in a motorcycle bill of sale
The bill of sale should include the seller's full name and address, the buyer's full name and address, and the date of the sale. It must describe the motorcycle clearly: the year, make, model, color, and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The VIN is the most important detail because it ties the document to the specific bike and prevents confusion if the seller or buyer owns multiple motorcycles.
Write the sale price in both numbers and words — for example, "$3,500 (three thousand five hundred dollars)" — so there is no dispute later about whether the amount was $3,500 or $35,000. Note the condition of the motorcycle at the time of sale: "as-is," "good condition," "needs new tires," or whatever is accurate. If the bike has known problems, list them. This protects the seller from later claims that the bike was damaged during the sale, and it protects the buyer by creating a record of what was wrong when they took ownership.
Add a line stating that the seller warrants they own the motorcycle free and clear (or note any liens if the bike is financed). Both parties sign and date the document. Some people add a line saying the buyer has inspected the bike and accepts it in its current condition, which further protects the seller.
Where to find a bill of sale template
Your state's DMV website often provides a free bill of sale template designed for that state's requirements. Search "[your state] DMV bill of sale motorcycle" to find it. If your state does not offer one, the National Association of Secretaries of State maintains links to each state's DMV, and many state sites have downloadable forms in PDF format.
Free legal document sites like LawDepot, Rocket Lawyer, and Nolo also offer motorcycle bill of sale templates. These are generic — they work in any state — but they include all the standard fields. You can also write one yourself on plain paper or in a word processor. There is no magic form; any document that includes the seller, buyer, motorcycle details, price, date, and both signatures counts as a bill of sale.
If you are buying from a dealer, they usually provide their own bill of sale. If you are buying from a private seller, you bring the template or write one and ask them to sign it. If you are selling, you can prepare one in advance and bring it to the meeting with the buyer.
How to use the bill of sale during a motorcycle purchase or sale
When you buy a motorcycle, ask the seller to complete the bill of sale before you hand over money. Fill in the VIN, price, date, and condition together so there are no surprises. Both of you sign and date it. You keep one copy, the seller keeps one copy. Do not leave without it.
After the sale, take the bill of sale to your state's DMV or title agency along with the signed title (or process for title if the seller lost theirs). The bill of sale proves you bought the bike and at what price. Some states require it; others do not, but having it speeds up the title transfer and protects you if the seller later claims they did not sell it or disputes the price.
If you are selling, keep your copy of the signed bill of sale for at least three to five years. It proves you no longer own the motorcycle and when you transferred ownership. If the buyer later gets a ticket or is in an accident and the police contact you, the bill of sale shows you sold the bike and are not responsible.
What a bill of sale does and does not do
A bill of sale proves that a sale happened, at what price, and on what date. It does not transfer the title. The title transfer happens when you submit the signed title document and bill of sale to your state's DMV. Until the DMV processes the title, the seller is still the legal owner on record, even though you have the bill of sale.
The bill of sale also does not cover the motorcycle's history, accident damage, or whether it has been stolen. For that information, you order a vehicle history report (Carfax or AutoCheck) before you buy. The bill of sale records only what the seller told you about the bike's condition at the time of sale.
A bill of sale is not a warranty. If the seller says the bike runs great and it breaks down the next day, the bill of sale does not give you a legal claim unless you wrote "warranty" into the document itself. Most private sales are "as-is," meaning the buyer takes the bike in whatever condition it is in. If you want a warranty, negotiate that separately and write it into the bill of sale.
Differences between states in bill of sale requirements
Most states do not legally require a bill of sale for a motorcycle. However, some states — including Florida, Kentucky, and Ohio — ask for one or a similar document when you register the bike. A few states have a specific form they prefer, though they usually accept a private bill of sale if it includes the required information.
The safest approach is to check your state's DMV website before you buy or sell. Search for "motorcycle title transfer" or "bill of sale requirements" and see what your state says. Even if your state does not require one, your insurance company or lender may, so creating one costs nothing and solves the problem.
If you are buying a motorcycle from out of state, the bill of sale becomes even more important because you will need to prove ownership when you register it in your home state. Bring the bill of sale, the signed title from the seller's state, and any other documents the seller provides.
Common mistakes to avoid when writing a bill of sale
Do not leave the VIN blank and fill it in later. Write it down at the time of sale, in front of the seller, so you both confirm it is correct. A wrong VIN makes the bill of sale useless for title transfer.
Do not accept a bill of sale that the seller has already signed but left blank for you to fill in the price or date. Fill in all details together, in front of each other, and sign at the same time. This prevents disputes about what was agreed to.
Do not skip the condition section. Write something — "as-is," "good condition," "needs new battery" — so the buyer cannot later claim the bike was in perfect condition when they took it. This protects both of you.
Do not lose your copy. Keep it with your title documents, insurance papers, and maintenance records. If you sell the bike later, you may need to prove when you bought it and for how much.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a bill of sale if I am buying a motorcycle from a dealer?
Dealers usually provide their own bill of sale or sales contract, which serves the same purpose. Read it to make sure it includes the VIN, price, date, and condition. If the dealer does not provide one, you can ask for one or create your own. Either way, you should have a signed document before you leave the lot.
What if the seller will not sign a bill of sale?
Do not buy the motorcycle. A seller who refuses to sign a bill of sale is a red flag. They may not actually own the bike, may have a lien on it, or may be hiding something. A legitimate seller has no reason to refuse a straightforward, free document that protects both of you.
Can I use a bill of sale instead of a title transfer?
No. The bill of sale documents the sale, but the title transfer makes you the legal owner. You must submit both the signed title and the bill of sale to your state's DMV to complete the ownership change. The bill of sale alone does not register the motorcycle in your name.
How long should I keep a bill of sale after I sell my motorcycle?
Keep it for at least three to five years. It proves you sold the bike and when, which protects you if the buyer gets a ticket or is in an accident and authorities contact you. After that time, you can discard it, but there is no harm in keeping it longer.
What if the motorcycle has a lien on it?
The bill of sale should note that the bike is financed or has a lien. The seller's lender must release the lien before the title can transfer to you. The bill of sale is not the place to resolve this — that happens between the seller, their lender, and your state's DMV. Ask the seller to provide proof that the lien will be paid off at closing.