Motorcycle Bill of Sale — Free Fillable Form.
A one-page motorcycle bill of sale you can type into or print, with an odometer statement built in. Download it free, then see what your state asks for: some don't title small or older bikes, and a few require a notary.
Download the Free Motorcycle Bill of Sale
One page, fillable fields, an odometer statement and a notary block for the states that need one. Type into it in any PDF reader, or print it blank.
Download the PDF (free)Buying? Check the motorcycle's VIN first
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Quick Answer
- What is a motorcycle bill of sale?
- A signed record of a motorcycle changing hands: who sold it, who bought it, which bike by VIN, for how much and when. For a titled motorcycle it backs up the signed title. For a bike the state does not title, it can be the main proof of ownership: Maine, for one, does not title a motorcycle or moped under 300 cc.
- Does it need an odometer reading?
- For most bikes, yes. A motorcycle is self-propelled, so federal odometer disclosure applies unless it is old enough to be exempt: in 2026, that means model year 2010 and older. The legal disclosure goes on the title; our form records the same reading for both of you.
- Does it need to be notarized?
- Only in some states. Louisiana and West Virginia require a notarized bill of sale, and 10 more ask for one in specific situations. Our free form includes a notary block for those cases.
Selling or buying a motorcycle, in five steps
The bill of sale sits in the middle. The checks before it protect the buyer; the paperwork after it gets the bike registered.
- 1Find the VIN on the bikeFederal rules put a motorcycle's label, with its VIN, as close as practicable to where the steering post meets the handlebars. Match it to the title.
- 2Fill in the bill of saleSeller, buyer, the VIN, engine size, odometer reading, plate and title number, the price and the date.
- 3Record the odometerTick whether the reading is the actual mileage. On a titled bike the seller also signs the mileage disclosure on the title.
- 4Sign, and notarize if requiredBoth sides sign. A notary is needed only where the state asks for one, such as Louisiana and West Virginia.
- 5Hand over the titleThe signed title plus the bill of sale. The buyer then registers the motorcycle, which California requires for a moped or scooter too.
What a Motorcycle Bill of Sale Is For
For most road motorcycles, the certificate of title is what moves ownership, and the bill of sale is the receipt behind it: who paid what, and on which day. It counts for more when the paperwork is messy. California's DMV puts it plainly: if the seller is not the owner whose name is on the title, the buyer needs a bill of sale signed by both the seller and the person named on the title.
It carries more weight still when there is no title at all. Some states leave small or old bikes out of their title laws, and then the bill of sale and the registration are the paper trail. The section on untitled motorcycles below covers four of them.
A bill of sale protects the seller too. It is a dated record of when the bike stopped being theirs, which helps if it is ticketed, towed or crashed after the sale.
Some states have their own form
California's DMV publishes an official Bill of Sale, the REG 135. Where your state has one, use it for the state filing and keep ours as your own signed record. Our bill of sale guide lists each state's form.
What to Put on a Motorcycle Bill of Sale
Six groups of details, all of them on our free form. The VIN and the odometer are the two that cause trouble later if they are wrong.
Seller and buyer
Full names, addresses and phone numbers for both sides, exactly as they will appear on the title application.
VIN and title number
The VIN copied from the bike itself, and the title number and state. Both should describe the same motorcycle, character for character.
Engine size
In cc. Some states draw lines by displacement: Maine's title law does not cover a motorcycle or moped under 300 cc.
Odometer reading
The miles shown, and a tick box saying whether that is the actual mileage, over the mechanical limit, not actual, or exempt by age.
Price, date and terms
The sale price, the date, how it was paid and what came with it, like a helmet, spare keys or luggage. Sold as is, with any lien listed.
Signatures
Both parties sign and print their names. A notary block is there for the states that require one.
Get the Form, Then Check the Bike
Download the free bill of sale. If you are buying, run the motorcycle's VIN first to confirm the year and model, and see the title, lien and odometer records on file.
Download the PDF (free)The Odometer Statement: Who Has to Give One
A motorcycle has an engine, so the federal odometer rules that skip trailers do apply to it. The exemptions are by age. A vehicle of model year 2010 or older is exempt once 10 years have passed since January 1 of its model year; model year 2011 or newer, once 20 have. For a sale in 2026, that makes model year 2010 and older exempt, and 2011 and newer still in.
The disclosure itself does not go on the bill of sale. Under 49 CFR 580.5, a seller whose name is on the title discloses the mileage on the title, not on a separate document. When a title has no space for it, the state supplies a secure form: California's REG 262 is printed on security paper, which the DMV says makes it compliant with federal odometer disclosure regulations.
Our form records the same reading so both sides keep a copy, with four boxes: the actual mileage, over the odometer's mechanical limit, not the actual mileage, or exempt by age.
Compare it with the records
A reading lower than an earlier record is the warning sign. Our full report lists the odometer readings on file for the VIN, with dates. More on the rules in our odometer disclosure guide.
Motorcycles With No Title
Not every motorcycle gets a title. Where there is none, the bill of sale does more of the work, and some states say exactly what it has to contain. Four examples, read from each state's own agency or statute.
Maine's title law exempts a motorcycle or moped with an engine under 300 cc, and off-road vehicles. Larger bikes are titled if they are model year 2001 or newer, as of January 1, 2026.
Georgia's Department of Revenue asks for a bill of sale if the vehicle is 1985 or older and does not require a title. Newer vehicles transfer on the assigned title.
For a vehicle outside the title law, New Hampshire requires a bill of sale with the make, model, color, VIN, model year, body type and number of cylinders, and both parties' names, signatures and addresses.
The RMV requires a bill of sale for a title-exempt older vehicle transferred on a prior registration, and when the old title has no space for the sale price.
If a bike that should have a title arrives without one, ask why before you pay. “Too small or too old to be titled” is a real answer in some states. “I lost it” is a different one: a replacement title is the seller's job, and it is easier to get before the sale than after.
Does a Motorcycle Bill of Sale Need to Be Notarized?
In most states, no. From our review of each state's official bill-of-sale rules, Louisiana and West Virginia require a notarized bill of sale. California goes the other way in writing: its DMV manual says a bill of sale is not required to be notarized or witnessed.
Another 10 states require notarization only in specific situations: Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wyoming. The triggers vary: a title the owner cannot produce or has not released (Hawaii, North Dakota, Oklahoma), errors on the title (Iowa), or a pre-1940 antique with no recent title (Nebraska).
Our form includes a notary block for the states that ask for one. Everywhere else, leave it blank.
A notary is not a check
A notary confirms who signed, not what was sold. It says nothing about a lien, a salvage brand or a rolled-back odometer on the bike. That is what the VIN check is for.
Check the Motorcycle Before You Sign
A bill of sale records what both sides say. The bike and its records are how you check it.
Match the label to the title
Look near the steering post for the label with the VIN. It should match the title, character for character.
Run the VIN
A decode confirms the year, maker and model. The full report lists the title brands, lien records and odometer readings on file.
Check who is signing
The title should be signed by the owner named on it. If the seller is someone else, California wants a bill of sale signed by both.
Related Tools and Guides
Motorcycle lookups, and the bill of sale rules for everything else.
Where These Facts Come From
State rules come from each state's motor vehicle agency or statute, and the odometer and VIN label rules from federal regulation.
Our form is a general template, not legal advice. Motorcycle title, registration and notary rules differ by state and change; check with your state's motor vehicle agency before you file.
Prüfen Sie die Fahrgestellnummer immer vor dem Kauf
Die kostenlose Vorschau zeigt Title Brands (US-Titel-Kennzeichnungen), Diebstahlstatus und offene Rückrufe in Sekunden und meldet, ob Unfall- und Tachodaten vorliegen. Die vollständige Historie kostet 19,95 € — einmalig, ohne Abo.
Motorcycle Bill of Sale — Frequently Asked Questions
Titles, odometers, notaries and what to check before you buy.
What is a motorcycle bill of sale?+
It is a signed record of a motorcycle changing hands: the seller, the buyer, the bike's VIN, the price and the date. For a titled motorcycle it backs up the signed title. For a bike the state does not title, it can be the main proof of ownership; Maine, for example, does not title a motorcycle or moped with an engine under 300 cc.
Is a bill of sale enough to register a motorcycle?+
Usually not on its own. Where the motorcycle is titled, the buyer needs the signed title, and the bill of sale supports it. It can be enough where no title exists: Georgia asks for a bill of sale for a vehicle from 1985 or earlier that does not require a title, and Maine titles only motorcycles of 300 cc or more that are model year 2001 or newer. California requires anyone who buys or is given a motorcycle, moped or scooter to register it with the DMV.
Does a motorcycle bill of sale need an odometer reading?+
It should have one. Federal odometer disclosure applies to self-propelled vehicles, including motorcycles, unless the vehicle is exempt by age; for a sale in 2026, model year 2010 and older are exempt and 2011 and newer are not. The legal disclosure goes on the title itself, or on a secure form your state issues when the title has no space for it. The bill of sale records the same reading for both parties.
Do I need to notarize a motorcycle bill of sale?+
Only where the state requires it. Louisiana and West Virginia require a notarized bill of sale, and 10 more states require one only in specific situations. California's DMV says a bill of sale is not required to be notarized or witnessed. Our free form includes a notary block for the states that need it.
Where is the VIN on a motorcycle?+
Federal rules put a motorcycle's certification label, which carries the VIN, on a permanent part of the bike as close as practicable to where the steering post meets the handlebars. Copy the VIN from there onto the bill of sale and check it against the title character by character.
Can I use this form for a scooter, moped or dirt bike?+
Yes for a scooter, a moped or a street-legal dirt bike; the form has a type field for each. Whether a title or registration is needed is a separate question: California requires a moped or scooter to be registered with the DMV like a motorcycle, while Maine's title law exempts off-road vehicles and any motorcycle or moped under 300 cc. For an off-road-only dirt bike, our ATV bill of sale fits better, with boxes for hours and the off-highway plate or ID.
How do I check a used motorcycle before I buy it?+
Find the certification label near the steering post and make sure its VIN matches the title. Then run the VIN: a decode confirms the year, maker and model, and the full report lists the title brands, lien records and odometer readings on file. A reading lower than an earlier record is a reason to stop and ask.
Download Your Motorcycle Bill of Sale
One page, ready to type into or print. Buying the bike? Run its VIN below first.
Download the PDF (free)CarCheckerVIN is an independent vehicle-history service and is not affiliated with any state motor vehicle agency. The motorcycle bill of sale is a general template provided free for convenience and is not legal advice. Records in our reports reflect what was reported to our data providers.
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